Centenary celebration of TBCA kick starts : Many hail God's Grace
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Ukhrul, October 13 2017:
The three-day centenary celebration of Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association (TBCA) Women Union began this evening at Mission Ground in Ukhrul town under the theme 'Celebrating God’s Grace' with a large number of delegates from across Manipur participating in the programme.
The celebration is to mark the founding of the first Christian women society in Manipur.
In 1917, Alice Pettigrew, w/o Rev William Pettigrrew, the first Christian missionary in Manipur organised Tangkhul Christian women society with a handful of women Christian converts.
Christianity first came to Manipur at Ukhrul in 1901 with the permission of the then village chief of Ukhrul, Raihao Awunga.
However, the first converts were mostly male folks .
Women baptism began in 1907.Women were not as enthusiastic as men after conversion.
'Back-sliding' was common among the women.
To prevent the habitual 'back-sliding', Alice Pettigrew organised the women society.
From a handful of women Christian it grew gradually, and by 1915 the number of women converts became very high .
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According to organizers, over two thousand delegates from different parts of Manipur have registered to participate in the three-day event.
The celebration is being organised by TBCA Women Union and hosted by Phungyo Baptist Church, the first Christian Church in Manipur.
The choir of the celebration has 100 members symbolizing 100 years of Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association (TBCA) Women Union .
TBCA Women Union executive secretary, Chonchon Kaping said the centenary is observed to celebrate the blessing of God to womenfolk in the past 100 years.
"It is through conversion to Christianity that women folks got enlightened to modern world view," she added .
The inaugural function this evening was graced by the president of Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association, Rev Jonah M Solo.
An interesting and remarkable aspect of the centenary celebration of Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association (TBCA) Women Union is that, the organizers are making sure that the gala event is environment friendly.
The organizers are trying their best that not a single tree is cut or affected while arranging the event .
Trash bins are made of waste water bottles adorning the venue in a symbolic way under the Clean Earth initiative of Phungyo Baptist Youth Society.
The centenary celebration will wind up on Sunday.