Mizoram Presbyterian Church was established and founded by Welsh missionaries. Foreign Missionary Society had formed the Welsh Church in 1840th in
Liverpool to provide Missionaries to
India . Chosen for Mizoram, Jones arrived in Aizawl on 31 August 1897. The pioneer Missionaries
FW Savidge and
JH Lorrain , Commissioned by Arthington Aborigines Mission, welcomed him and prepared him for his mission. The two missionaries had arrived in 1894 and started school, created Mizo script, and prepared grammar and dictionary. Jones stayed with them until the two departed on 31 December 1897 as Arthington Aborigines Mission handed over the mission field to Welsh Mission.
On his Birthday on 15 February the 1,898th, Jones opened a SCHOOL at his Bungalow which was used Subsequently As a congregational meeting place for worship and Such As SCHOOLS Sunday . [6] In August 1897, the Welsh Mission had Arranged a Khasi Christian Rai Bahadur and his Family from Khasi Hills to help Jones, Therefore the First enlisted members of the Congregation of Consisted in Addition to 6 Khasis Jones and his wife.
This is a fellowship for the young people in the church and is rightfully named Christian Youth Fellowship (Kristian Thalai pawl). The fellowship has always been and still is a very useful instrument of the Church. The main theme of the fellowship being 'Saved to serve', it has four main objectives. 1) To bring youths to the knowledge and likeness of Christ. 2) To shape youths in becoming faithful instruments of the Church. 3) To fulfill the work and ministry of the Church. 4) To spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. According to the report given in the General conference held during Feb 27-Mar 2, 2014 the KTP (Kristian Thalai Pawl) has 136670 members and 808 branches, and supports more than one thousand missionaries, inside and outside of Mizoram.
Mission[edit]
Synod Mission Board is the body in charge of the missionary works of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, within and outside India. It looks after 17 mission fields in India (including Nepal, Home Mission North and South), and sends missionaries to Taiwan, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, China, Nepal, United Kingdom, Samoa, Madagascar, American Samoa and Kiribati. Under Synod Mission Board, 1,758 workers are working for the Kingdom of God.
[1]
Statistics of Synod Mission Fields:
- Pastorate 94
- Number of churches 350
- Number of Branch Churches 502
- Fellowship 312
- Members 83,797
- Elders 514
Synod Mission Board established the Missionary Training Department from 1978. The Objective of this centre is to promote knowledge and understanding of the Bible, Missiology and Theology, growth in Christian discipleship and developing skill for cross cultural ministry. In 1991, a pre-service training for the 'would-be' missionaries was instituted, and has become a one year course, which each missionary of the Church has to go through. This missionary training centre was upgraded in 2010, and it became Missionary Training College, where anyone can study Missiology.
In addition to MTC, to equip missionaries and new believers, Mizoram Synod run many programmes and institutions. Among these, Presbyterian Hindi Bible School is meant to train new believers of Indian and Nepali. Mission Development Training Centre trained missionaries and new believers in the field of agrilculture, carpentry and dairy farming.
Education[edit]
The Mizo Synod operates many schools, from primary level to secondary level. Synod Higher Secondary School, Aizawl has a strength of 58 teaching staff and 870 students. 40% of its seats are reserved for students from rural areas. Presbyterian Girls' School is of Middle School level with 32 teaching staff and non-teaching staff and 484 students. Besides, there are 73 schools, run by the Churches with financial grant from the Synod.
Aizawl Theological College is the only theological Institution with M.Th. studies in the State and is upgraded to Doctoral studies in 2013. It is affiliated to Serampore College (University) as a graduate and post graduate college. This theological college is founded by the first Presbyterian missionary in Mizoram, Rev. D. E. Jones in 1907, then refounded by
J. Meirion Lloyd. The Master of Theology (M. Th) programme in Christian Theology had been introduced since 2002 and M. Th. (New Testament and Missiology) respectively are also being introduced from 2007 academic session. The college plans to add M. Th. studies in other disciplines in the years ahead. The college has already become a local centre for Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S), Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip. C.S.), and Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) programmes of the Senate of Serampore College.
School and Colleges under Presbyterian Church of India, Mizoram Synod:
- Colleges 2
- High schools 24
- Middle schools 113
- Primary schools 179
- Teachers/lecturers 1,853
- Students 34,924
Mizo Sunday School Union[edit]
The Sunday School Ministry of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church is a ministry that puts the Mizoram Church at a very important and outstanding place from all others Churches in India. There are 44,060 Sunday school teachers and 383,888 learners (students).
Healing Ministry[edit]
One of the most important in Christian ministries is Healing Ministry. Every mission and church undertaking healing ministry through miracle and medical sciences. Mizoram Presbyterian Church's also taking step in the field of healing ministry.
Durtlang Hospital operated by Synod is one of the pioneer medical centres in Mizoram, founded by Welsh missionaries. Besides, it has dispensaries and health centres in rural areas, and clinics inside Aizawl City.
- Hospital 2
- Dispensary & Health Centre 64
- Doctors 32
- Nurses 246
Association/Affiliation[edit]
- National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) : A member.
- World Council of Churches (WCC) - a member.
- World Alliance of Reformed Churches - a member.
- Maraland Presbyterian Church is an affiliated church under Mizoram Presbyterian Church.
