India Mission Summit gets underway in Kohima

Alice Yhoshü KOHIMA, OCTOBER 2 Over 1000 delegates from Baptist organizations across India and abroad gathered at the NBCC Convention Centre, Kohima on Thursday to partake in the four-day Indian Mission Summit which got underway here this evening. The Summit is being held in commemoration of the 200th year anniversary celebrations (2014) of the American Baptist International Ministries (ABIM) erstwhile called the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society in India, as a tribute to the contributions of American Baptist missionaries who brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to India. In addition to the celebrating the past, the Summit will also focus on future missions, engage in theological reflections and endeavour to understand trends and issues affecting India in the 21st century. Delivering the greetings during the opening service of the Summit, ABIM Board of Directors treasurer, Rev. Paul A Vick said it brings great joy to be able to celebrate with Baptists from across India and South East Asia the many blessings that God has given to the ABIM as well as to the people worldwide. He recounted a brief history of how the American mission society came into being. As we celebrate 200 years of God’s faithfulness, we remember all those who answered to His call, he said. He asked the Indian delegates to keep praying for the ABIM as it would do so for them so that they may continue to serve as God’s ambassadors for the healing of the nations. Earlier in the programme, Rev. L Anjo Keikung delivered the welcome address while Biranjan Mandal pronounced the offertory prayers for the future India Baptist Youth Conference. ABIM executive director, Rev. Dr. Reid S Trulson from Pennsylvania USA delivered the main message and the Word of God. The Summit is being organized by ABIM and hosted by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on behalf of Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI). Besides the US and South East Asia delegates, others are from Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Churches Association, Banjara Baptist Sanghevur Malawo, Arunachal Baptist Convention, Assam Baptist Convention, Garo Baptist Convention, Manipur Baptist Convention, Karbi Anglong Baptist Convention, CBCNEI, NBCC and Banjara Development Trust. Delegates from Abundant Life Ministerial Associates and Baptist Convention of Telugu Churches were yet to arrive as on Thursday evening. On Firday, the devotional programme will commence from 8.30 am and throughout the day plenary sessions on Christian Stewardship, Human Trafficking and Youth and Future Leaders will be held. The evening service will be held at 5.30 pm where Jaksil Sangma of Garo Baptist Church will deliver the main speaker.