Baptist Church of Mizoram

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Baptist Church of Mizoram
Vector-BCM-LOGO.png
Classification Evangelicalism
Orientation Baptist
PresidentRev. K.V. Thanga
Associations Baptist World Alliance
HeadquartersBaptist Church of Mizoram Office, Serkawn, Lunglei, Mizoram, India
Origin11 January 1894
Mizoram, India
Congregations663
Members122,072
Official website www.mizobaptist.org

Baptist Church of Mizoram is a Baptist Christian denomination in India. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Lunglei, Mizoram.

Contents

History

Baptist Church of Mizoram Campus entrance BCM Entrance.jpg
Baptist Church of Mizoram Campus entrance

The Baptist Church of Mizoram has its origins in an English Baptist mission established in 1894, by Frederick William Savidge and James Herbert Lorrain of the Baptist Missionary Society. [1] In 1914, the first council of the Church was formed. [2] In 2000, it founded the Academy of Integrated Christian Studies. [3]

According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 663 churches and 122,072 members. [4]

A concise account of Mission Department

A concise account of the BCM Mission works, as it stands for 46 years (1966 – 2012) from the inception of the BCM Mission Department as the Zoram Baptist Mission, can be made as follows:

Missionary personnel

ZBM started cross-culture missionary work, employing only two full-time missionaries in 1939. Now, (in 2012) BCM Mission Committee has more than 800 mission workers including missionaries.

Mission fields and stations

BCM Mission Committee has 23 mission fields including mission stations in different parts of India and works in partnership with other mission agencies outside India.

Mission fund

The ZBM (as its previous name) had only Rs. 12.50p (Rupees twelve and fifty paisa) in its initial stage. Now the BCM Mission budget of 2012 - 2013 has grown to Rs.11, 79, 78,000.00(Rupees eleven crore seventy-nine lakhs and seventy-eight thousand).

Schools and students

At present Mission Committee runs 54 mission schools within and outside Mizoram, of which 10 are High Schools, 5 Middle Schools, 39 Primary Schools and having around 6500 students.

Beliefs

BCM is a member of the Baptist World Alliance.

Education

Academy of Integrated Christian Studies

Academy of Integrated Christian Studies,Tanhril, Mizoram AICS Mizoram 1.jpg
Academy of Integrated Christian Studies,Tanhril, Mizoram

The Academy of Integrated Christian Studies (AICS) is a BD Level theological institution established by the Baptist Church of Mizoram in 2000 under the leadership of Prof. Dr. R. L. Hnuni. This institution offers several programs such as Theological Training, Missionary Training, Ministerial Training, Music Training and Research and Development. The institution is located in Shekina Hill.

Baptist Higher Secondary School (BHSS)

Baptist Higher Secondary School, Serkawn BHSS School Bldg.jpg
Baptist Higher Secondary School, Serkawn

Baptist Higher Secondary School is a school owned by Baptist Church of Mizoram. The school enrolls students for Secondary and Higher Secondary levels. The current Principal of Baptist Higher Secondary School is Pu. R. Zosangliana. The current Vice Principal is Pu. R.Lalneihthanga.

The school has three hostels, one for Junior section, the Girls’ hostel and one for the boys. The over all administration is run by the Principal with the help of the two Vice Principals. The over all strength of the staff is around 80 in number. The school's motto is "The Utmost for the Highest".

Students gathering for a devotion Students for a devotion.jpg
Students gathering for a devotion

Baptist Church of Mizoram expanded the school into lower classes including Nursery to Middle Schools by merging with co-existing school called Baptist English School , thus, from 2005 it is known as Baptist Higher Secondary School Junior Section. It enrolls a number of 1,070 students in the 2019-20 Academic Session with 43 Teaching Staffs. The current Vice Principal for Baptist Higher Secondary School Junior Section is Pu. Z.D. Lalnunmawia.

Higher and Technical Institute of Mizoram (HATIM)

HATIM is the first Christian residential co-educational college in Mizoram, India, and is located in Lunglei.

Nursing College

The Baptist church of Mizoram has a nursing college operated under the Serkawn hospital and runs GNM course. [5] It has intake of 20 nurses per year at present. [6]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick William Savidge</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serkawn</span> Village in Mizoram, India

Sêrkâwn is a village within Lunglei Administrative Block, Mizoram, India. It is continuous with Lunglei within 1 km area. It is 107 km from the state capital Aizawl. The place chosen by British missionaries, it is the home of Christianity and formal education in southern Mizoram. The oldest schools and hospital in southern Mizoram were established there. It still is the centre of administration of Baptist Church of Mizoram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Christianity in Mizoram</span> Christianity in Mizoram

The history of Christianity in Mizoram covers the origin and development of all forms of Christianity in Mizoram since the British occupation at the end of the 19th century. Christianity arrived as a consequence of tribal warfare, raids of British plantations, and the ensuing punitive British military expedition called the Lushai Expedition of 1871. The subsequent annexation of the erstwhile Lushai Hills to the British Empire opened the gateway for British Christian missions to evangelise the Mizo people.

References

  1. Gerald H. Anderson, Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, USA, 1999, p. 410
  2. ToMz, Baptist Church of Mizoram : About & History, timesofmizoram.com, India, June 28, 2017
  3. ToMz, Baptist Church of Mizoram : About & History, timesofmizoram.com, India, June 28, 2017
  4. Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
  5. "GNM Admission Notice – 2023". mizobaptist.org. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  6. "Serkawn Christian Hospital Nursing School-a graduate". zonet. Retrieved 13 July 2023.