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During one of my many meetings and conversations with Shri Chubatemjen, former Minister Nagaland, I expressed my desire and eagerness to meet Rev.Dr K.Imotemjen Aier one day if God willing. Shri Chubatemjen is the co- brother in law of Rev.Dr K. Imotemjen Aier and he willingly made arrangements for our meeting.
As planned, one day I went along with my son to visit the wonderful family of Rev.Dr Aier and were warmly welcomed by his wife Mrs Arenmongla Jamitsur of Ungma village. As we were pleasantly led inside the comfortable sitting room, Dr Aier also joined us from the adjoining room and we warmly shook hands for the first time. After exchanging some pleasantries, he started narrating about many things that I had never heard of earlier or learnt about and was surprised at his vast knowledge and experience. We continued our discussion over tea & snacks, then after praying together, decided to meet again.
On my second visit, he gave me many invaluable documents and manuscripts collected from different sources. While reading through these, I found him to be a very sincere, sharp and hard-working gentleman. As I learnt more about him, I found him to be an extremely meticulous person, who bestowed everything upon God, and this led me to be even more interested to know further about this man of God. He is truly a God chosen leader for the Nagas and a great man who is immensely blessed by God. Therefore, I decided that I should write an article on him so that others may also be blessed.
Rev.Dr K. Imotemjen Aier, son of Kariyongdang Aier and Tsuknungchila was born on 5th May, 1931 at Longjang village. After doing his early schooling in his village, he completed his Matriculation from Mokokchung in 1952. He then went on to study B.Th at the then Jorhat Bible College, presently the Eastern Theological College and later completed B.D at Serampore, Kolkata in 1961. The same year, he began teaching at the Bible School and High School, Impur. From 1963 January, he served as the Field Evangelist and also Chairman of the ABAM Executive Committee. During January and June 1963, he also served as the Acting Executive Secretary ABAM during the absence of Rev. Kijung. The same year in the month of December, he married Miss. Arenmongla Jamitsur at the Ungma Baptist Church.
After obtaining World Council of Churches Scholarship, he went for further studies at the Colgate Rochester Divinity School, New York (USA) in 1964, and returned to India in 1965 after completion. While serving in Impur thereafter, upon the request of CBCNEI to ABAM for his services, he began serving as the Associate Executive Secretary, CBCNEI Guwahati. Later on, he continued serving in the CBCNEI as the General Secretary from 1968 to 1988. During these years, there happened a great transformation and revival in North-East India and thus resulted in many new Churches being established under the banner of CBCNEI.
One of the most significant records during his 21 years of service at the CBCNEI was his appointment as the Vice President from India at the Baptist World Alliance. His leadership at the highest pedestal in the white men’s world was an achievement not only for the Nagas but Indians as well because Western world began to recognize the importance of CBCNEI at the Baptist International Ministry (BIM). Two major international events were celebrated during his tenure at the CBCNEI – the Centennial celebration of ABAM, Impur in 1972 where more than 40,000 delegates converged together to celebrate the 100 years of Christianity for the Ao-Nagas and Nagaland during which he was also the President of the Centennial Celebration. The second big event was the successful celebration of CBCNEI Sesquicentennial in Dimapur where more than 50,000 gathered to glorify His name.
During his services with the CBCNEI, he also represented and served in the following organisations:
1. North East India Christian Council
2. Baptist Union of India
3. National Christian Council of India
4. Asian Baptist Federation
5. American Baptist Foreign Mission society (the present Baptist International Ministry)
6. Baptist World Alliance
7. Baptist Council of World Nation.
After retirement from CBCNEI, his family was again invited by the Board of International Ministry (BIM) to serve as Missionary to the United States of America. As a Missionary for a couple of years in USA, he preached and travelled all across, reviving the people to Christ where the Churches were decaying. Thereafter, the BIM again commissioned him as India’s Residential Cross Cultural Missionary. His family was then based at Balasore Town, Orissa and administered in the BIM Mission fields of Bengal, Orissa, Bihar Baptist Church Association (BOBBCA). The American Baptist Foreign Mission Society which had established these mission fields hundreds of years ago, were unfortunately declining but he successfully introduced great revival to these areas and strengthened the Churches. After his services in these 3 Indian states, and as he was about to go for retirement, the erstwhile Baptist World Alliance, the present BIM, appreciating his sincerity, honesty and hard-work requested him to be the Power of Attorney to BIM properties in India. He said that this assignment was the biggest challenge in his life because he had to protect and preserve all movable and immovable assets of the BIM against all odds, including intimidation, wrong and willful accusations, insults and even court litigations. But with his prayers and strong faith in God, he was successful in the protection of properties worth crores of Rupees for the BIM and for which he was again highly appreciated and respected worldwide.
And after serving God for all his life, he retired from the BIM Power of Attorney in 2018. And at his ripe age of 90 years, he is still physically strong without any major health issues, nor is his clear eye sight, ears, teeth and his mind affected and he is as young and healthy as any able-bodied person. It should be our prayer that our Almighty grants him a long life for the glory of His name and as a blessing to our people. He is not only a living legend and a very important personality for the Nagas or Indians but a very indispensable figure at the international level of BIM. He is the first person from NEI to reach such a level of recognition, respect and honor, and I would like to request and advice younger generation to emulate and follow his footsteps.
I am sharing this brief account of his life because I believe that we have much to learn from this great leader, and it is high time that we should make efforts to take advice and blessings from him and also acknowledge his selfless contributions.
He and his wife have been blessed with 3 very successful children. Their daughter Dr Limatula is the District Immunization Officer at Mokokchung, son Er Lanusungkum is the Principal System Analyst at the NIC Kohima and youngest son Bendangyanger is a successful businessman at BBA CISCPO, California, USA.
An autobiography of Gods’ warrior Rev.Dr K. Imotemjen. Aier is being written by renowned author Tiala Imchen, and we hope to learn and benefit much more after the book is released.
May God bless you all.
I.Anungba Sanglir