MBC holds meeting with ethnic communities of state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 23 2023:
Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) convened a meeting of all the 29 associations under it at Guwahati, Assam from August 19 to 22, which was first such meeting where all the major ethnic groups - Kuki-Zo, Meetei and Naga were together since the ethnic conflict erupted in Manipur on May 3 .
In a release, MBC informed that the meeting was facilitated by the Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India (CBCNEI) at their head office in Guwahati and chaired by MBC president reverend Mathotmi Vasha.
Participated by about 60 executive and cabinet secretaries of all the associations, the first day had MBC general secretary reverend K Losii Mao exhorting the attendees that they are bounded together in Lord Jesus Christ as one family irrespective of the socio-political turmoil and troubles ravaging Manipur presently.
He stated that the sole purpose of their gathering was to listen to grieves, pains and sorrows of one another brought about by the human-made disaster.
"When one part of the human body is injured, the whole body is affected.
Likewise, when one community is affected, the whole MBC is in deep groaning.
Therefore, the sole purpose of the meeting was to immerse in the pains and sorrows of one another and to seek God's mercy," the reverend conveyed.
In his address, CBCNEI general secretary reverend Dr Akheto Sumi reminded the participating church leaders from various ethnic communities across Manipur that even when one are bogged down in the depths of despair, one can look up to God who lifts us up.
The participants from various communities shared their tales of pains, sorrows and persecutions that they have been undergoing due to the social strife.
For example, Chongthu Baptist Churches Association, Kuki Baptist Convention, Meitei Baptist Association and Vaiphel Baptist Churches Association are unable to function properly or being functioning in temporary locations presently, besides personal losses and destruction of local church buildings and properties, the release stated.
MBC further said that despite all these pains, troubles and hardships, the participants pledged that they remain united as one in Christ irrespective of whatever is going on in the state and to continue to uphold each other through prayers and also through any physical and material assistance to one another.
The gathering concluded with prayers for peace and justice to prevail in the country and across all ethnic communities.