THE BEGINNINGS OF METHODOLOGY OF MISSION IN SOUTHERN MANIPUR

The
southern end of Manipur senvon was the place where Christianity came
first and Pu. Kamkholun, chief of senvon was well known in the History.
It was not possible always Dr.Fraser and Roberts at mission field at
Kawnzar, on behalf them Mizoram natives; both Evangelist and Teacher
together and started their missionary works at Kawnzar, near senvon.
The Evangelist was finding three new believers that there first
believers were well known even today, they are Thangrum, Thangur, and
Kaithang. The Missionary work started on 1911, under Taisena, an
educated and ordained man and the Evangelist Savawma, Thangchingpuia
and Vanzika. During the year 1914, Taisena was elected for chairman of
Thado Kookie Pioneer Mission. The missionary was cooperated by two
office likely England office under George Paisley secretary and American office at
Philadelphia
under H, H. Coleman general Secretary. There too many peoples to
evangelizes, the Leaders were also motivated and the peoples were also
ready to accept the gospels. Therefore, the missions Leaders agree one
another and (TKPM) was changed into North East India General Mission,
because they wanted to spread the good news not only to Southern Manipur
but also all NE Indian States! There are certain servants of cross to
be notable in this research especially among the Paite tribes or mission Field 2. A) H.H Coleman:
Pu H.H. Coleman was called, "Modern father of North East India General
mission" (NEIGM) was worthy to be noted, the historian reviewed. He was
the one who prepare and equipped for next generation Christian leaders
after him. From Maharaja, King of Manipur; he got feely a plot of land
for mission centre; they called Mission compound around 5km from Lamka,
Churachandpur. He visited thrice mission compound but did not lived
physically there, but always presents with us in his heart, history
stated.  Before Coleman, some Evangelist proclaim salvation by works, strongly Coleman emphasized, "Salvation not by our
work but by grace, by faith we received from God." He stated.  Rostard
and through him, the teaching about salvation is affirmed and Coleman
was the one who equipped great Leaders Pu Than and Pu Nengzachin for
Paite people 3.  B) Watkin Roberts: He is a founder of Paite Christianity and established Missions on 7th may 1910 at Senvon. He is a dynamic young Welsh missionary, who worked between Mizoram and Manipur.  The history believed that, he may be who founded Thado
Kookie Pioneer Mission in the year, 1914 at Senvon. He was conflicted with William Pettigrew. He  was also problem with church financial affairs, later he lost the position in NEIGM  and established new  mission namely  Indo Burma Pioneer Mission; this name entitled only to who residing out of India and the one who lived  in India they named Independent Church of India 4. C) Mr&Mrs Rostard
Tenupa: The first English Couple who stay with us was Mr&Mrs Rostard, newly both was graduated from Moody Bible Institutes.  In 1928, they opened Bible School at Lakhipur Pu Vungthawn, Pu Goihpum, and Pu.Zamkai was the first students in their college among the Paite tribes.  The
two couple was exemplary in their life. They loved to read Bible,
prayer and before they have done anything; they prayed before God. Once
it was said, Pu Rostard preach up to only  which we find in the Bible,  he never added beyond the Bible said in 1936, before he  left India due to second World War 5. D) Dinwiddie:  The (ECCI) Scholars which they wrote more about was Dinwiddie, who was established Dinwiddie Bible College. He is voluntarily missionary.  While
he heard the progress of Missionary at North East India, their he
himself came and visited all the important missionary fields.  Lakhipur
was the main mission centre he visited Champhai and he finished his
journey before he reach Aizawl, a place where he would like to go.  He is a very missionary minded, the place were he stayed; he can adjust and eat as the native peoples practices.  Then he visited Tiddim the place were Mr&Mrs. Cope worked, its located Burma.  The
Mizo young men's and women Buried him respectfully and while the
Mizoram Government Expanded the road, Dinwiddie bones were taken and
warmly welcomed and buried at ECCI campus, Nehrumargh,Lamka 6. E) The Methodology of Mission:  As
you know in the previously, Senvon, pherzawl, tinsoung, Lakhipur and
later at Mission Compound, Churachandpur are the mission centres. Above
all, Mission compound was the largest NEIGM Mission from 1930-1984,
until its relocated at Nehru margh Lamka, all the offices and Schools,
even Bible College. The missionaries and workers were strongly opposed
and beaten up while the native non Christian accused them. A part of
this, a financial provision was also the great struggling within the
missions. During the years between, (1925-1929 A.D), Rev.VT Kappu, an
NEIGM evangelist received Pay Rs. 4 per month and his area was
Kaihlamtung and Kaihlamnuai and also all Vangai areas. While he served
as an Evangelist in the year 1930, he established two local Missionary
methods 7. i)    Antangpham:
This is the most useful missionary method among the ebcc churches; even
all the hills and plains was doing so. Antangpham means, "the women's were kept apart a full of hand rice before they cooked for missionary work",
both morning and evening as their consent. Every Sunday it was
collected and brought to the church and women's departments took
responsibility. The highest and the lowest is reward once in a year. In
this way, everyone can serve and participants our God's Kingdom
Ministry 8. 
                 ii)
Singthohlawm: - During those time almost al the peoples were Jhuming
Cultivation. While they departed from paddy fields, women's were
brought a numbers of firewood for cooking. Before they reach the
village; there is a particular place to keep, prepare by women's
department. Everybody those who are cheerful and willing to offer were
keep only one for one time. The firewood has been collected and sale to
those who needy for missionary work. Come and see how much our God has
done great thing to these peoples. The ebcc retained all these methods
even today. The Paites peoples were a Missionary minded. They all were
dedicated the good things which they have for Gods Kingdom Ministry.
Not only their money, not only plants, not only domestic animals, not
only their tithes; but even a single clothes which is remaining in
them. Even their lives also offer for God! The
1948 Division tribe by tribes was including both advantages and
dis-advantaged even today churches. There was a proverb, "Divisions are
blessing" The Paite speaking groups fell in South eastern area
presbytery. There was inconvenience in spoken languages, though they
were many tribes. Each tribes wishes to worship there God in their own
mother tongues; nevertheless, Mizo languages was used for
communications, etc. This was the reason which they divided tribe by
tribes, or Presbytery. Slowly, the movement of the church has been
spread widely and each tribe's took responsibility to there own
brothers and sisters and now the 14 tribes were considerably all are
Christians. The Christianity and missionary works among southern
Manipur was yesterday, but today; behold they can praise their God and
glorify Him and work for God kingdom expansion ministry