I was lost for words to begin this report, I find it difficult to explain what we have done or rather what Hajom Kisor Singh Nongbri has exhorted us to do since Unitarianism was first established in the Khasi, and Jaintia hills District of Meghalaya and Karbi Anglong District of Assam. Initially I thought evangelical or evangelistic meeting will best describe the service we had at Bamkamar, but on a second though, I thought it is ‘too Christian.’ Perhaps evangelical or evangelistic is the term we find difficulty to accept in our liberal religion vocabulary. Our respect for other faith traditions tend to make us uncomfortable with the term as very often we would call ourselves ‘non-proselytizing’ religion.
In the Khasi Jaintia and Karbi Unitarian context, the practice to preached Unitarian faith among others has been in practice since its inception. In fact the founder has in the first hymn itself exhorted the followers of his religion to preach the new faith that he started among our friends and near and dear ones. He says “To ialap to pyrta ia ka niam U Blei/ Ba jingbha kan synshar ha ka pyrthei/” Go preach the religion of God that peace may reign/prevail in the world.
On the March 6, 2011, 23 Unitarians from Puriang, Jowai, Klew and Kyrdem congregated at the house of one Sirla Kshiar a resident of Bamkamar village to preach the gospel of Unitarianism in the village. Bamkamar is a village which is about 30 Km from Jowai and may be 20 Km from Puriang and Kyrdem is situated in the center of these two Unitarian Churches. We still have no member of church in the village and the goal is to have a Unitarian presence in the area. I personally think if we want our church to grow whether we like it or not, there is no alternative than to go evangelising. We might like the using the word evangelising but we need to go preached our religion and pay heed to the call H.K.Sinot ngh made 125 years ago.
The evangelical meeting was organized by Arki Kshiar who was originally from this village and he was supported by the two church of Kyrdem and Klew. The moderator of the two services was Mishein Myrboh Assistant Minister, Puriang and the Rev. H.H. Mohrmen preached on both the services. The first was led by Kitlan Kharlukhi and Jrin Nongrum led a prayer. The second service was led by Kyrpadlang War and Mrs. Lydia Nongrum led the congregation in a prayer. Arki Kshiar the main organizer proposed a vote of thanks and Omi Kshiar welcome the member to the services.
About 30 villagers neighbor of Sirla Kshiar along with her relatives join us in the services and Banpyrshang M Pdah from Klew was the organist during both the services.
In the Khasi Jaintia and Karbi Unitarian context, the practice to preached Unitarian faith among others has been in practice since its inception. In fact the founder has in the first hymn itself exhorted the followers of his religion to preach the new faith that he started among our friends and near and dear ones. He says “To ialap to pyrta ia ka niam U Blei/ Ba jingbha kan synshar ha ka pyrthei/” Go preach the religion of God that peace may reign/prevail in the world.
On the March 6, 2011, 23 Unitarians from Puriang, Jowai, Klew and Kyrdem congregated at the house of one Sirla Kshiar a resident of Bamkamar village to preach the gospel of Unitarianism in the village. Bamkamar is a village which is about 30 Km from Jowai and may be 20 Km from Puriang and Kyrdem is situated in the center of these two Unitarian Churches. We still have no member of church in the village and the goal is to have a Unitarian presence in the area. I personally think if we want our church to grow whether we like it or not, there is no alternative than to go evangelising. We might like the using the word evangelising but we need to go preached our religion and pay heed to the call H.K.Sinot ngh made 125 years ago.
The evangelical meeting was organized by Arki Kshiar who was originally from this village and he was supported by the two church of Kyrdem and Klew. The moderator of the two services was Mishein Myrboh Assistant Minister, Puriang and the Rev. H.H. Mohrmen preached on both the services. The first was led by Kitlan Kharlukhi and Jrin Nongrum led a prayer. The second service was led by Kyrpadlang War and Mrs. Lydia Nongrum led the congregation in a prayer. Arki Kshiar the main organizer proposed a vote of thanks and Omi Kshiar welcome the member to the services.
About 30 villagers neighbor of Sirla Kshiar along with her relatives join us in the services and Banpyrshang M Pdah from Klew was the organist during both the services.
I always say there is a difference between evangelising and proselytising. Evangelising is telling people some good news (like "come and join our beloved community") and proselytising is telling them they will go to hell if they don't join (which Unitarians don't believe anyway).
ReplyDeleteBut I agree that evangelising is a word that can make people uncomfortable! It does that to me.