ZOMI CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, DELHI

By H. Kham Khan Suan

Biakna leh nampi lungsim a tonkhawm den hi a, Zomi Christian Fellowship, Delhi (ZCF, Delhi) zong hih sung pan hong pieng khia ahi hi. Biakna i gen ciangin a bia ding ‘mi’ kisam a, tua mite’n amau tungah a uk, thunei, leh a vanglian Pasien khatpeuh um in a san/pom kim ding uh thupi hi. Tua bang a piantheihna dingin mite sungah kituah-kilemna (kilunghualna), kipawltheihna leh kiukzawhna kisam hi. Biakna in mi kaikhawmin kihotheisak a, kilungtuaksakin kipumkhatna piengsak a, kiit, kilemna mengkhia sak hi. Khristiante sungah hih bang thuphate a om ding pelmawhin kingaihsun hi. Bang hang hiam cih leh Pa, Tapa leh Khasiengtho a kipumkhat bangin ei Thuummite zong kipumkhatin i om ding pen a thupi mahmah ahi hi. India ah zong ZCF kici kipawlna khopi lian tengah i nei thei ta a, lungdam huai hi. ZCF in Zomite sungah kiit, kilemna, kipumkhatna leh nampi lungsim hong piengsak takpi mah hiam cih pen i lungngaih kik ding thu lianpi khat hong suak hi.

ZCF Bang Hangin Ci Sese I Hi Hiam?

1980 pawl i gamlek hun zong hi a, mundang, gamdang ah a zinkhia zo i tam nai kei hi. Shillong, Allahabad, Delhi leh India khopi lian tuamtuam ah laisim, nasem, summetbawl tawmkhat i om thei ta a, giautau kisa in kipawlkhop ding i lunggulh tek hi. Zo ngeina, lai leh minam hihna (identity) a poimawh zia i phawk khiat san hun zong ahi hi. Hih bang a minam kipawlkhopna pen i theihsa bangin Kawlgam ah 1952 in Hakha, Falam leh Tedim biakna makaite’n Zomi Baptist Convention phuanin na pan khia zo uh hi. Zo minam sungah a tangzai zaw in Pasien na semin, biakna bangci hatsak ding cih lunggulhna pan ZBC hong piengkhia hi cih zong i phawk hi. India gamah zong hih bang ngaihsutna mah nei in ZCF i phuan khia hi. Delhi pan a kipankhia kipawlna pen a tungin Zomi Fellowship bek na kici hi. Kum 1988-89 pawlin Zomi Fellowship pan Zomi Christian Fellowship ciin a kilaih ahi hi. A tangthu tawm sut pak leng ZCF pen nam itna leh awlmawhna, kikholhkhopna/kipawlna kician lunggulhna leh Zomi hihna kepbit na dingin kiphuankhia hi cih i mu thei hi.

ZCF, Delhi hanciamna tawh Zo minam sung pau tuamtuam panin la khilkhawmin in ZCF labu i neithei hi. I paukam tuamtuam tawh lungkihualin biakna i nei thei a, manpha hi. Mun tuamtuam pan kipanin, pawltuamtuam ah a om kimlai Zo minamte sungah kimuh, kikholh, kithusan tuahtheihna hong piengsak a, sanggam-laizom i hihzia leh minam khat i hihzia hong phawksak semsem a lungdam huai hi. Khalam bek hilo in salamah zong kipumkhatna hong piengsak hi. I nasep theihna ding gam hong keksak a, i lungsim ngaihsutna hong tangzai sak hi. I pau leh lai, ngeina leh biakna hong kepbitsak in minam lungsim lianpi hong neisak hi. Zomi Christian International kici thukizakna a simkha te in limtak tel ding hi. Ahi zongin khopi tuamtuamah a om ZCF te’n kizopna i nei thei nai kei hi. Biakinn kician zong i nei zo nai kei hi.

I pawlcin tawh kituakin pawltuam ngaihsutna, a tuamin kitun, kihuaikhopna lungsim zong hong pieng hi. Sum leh pai zekna ah i sanggam lom sung (tribe) ading mah ngaihsutna hong khang a, gamkek in, kigawm in a kipumkhat semsem ding kimlai kikhentamin kiamlam i manawh hi. Pawlkhat ngaihsutna panin hih bang a kikhentamna in nampi lungsim a neitheilo minam khat i hihna hong langsak hi ci thei uh hi. Amau ngaihsutna panin hih bang thu hong om pen dahhuai in limtak a lungngaih phat huai thu ahi hi. India leh leitung kiuli ah biakna kipawlkhop ding, gamkek ding mah a kithupi gen laitakin Zo minamte sungah neucikcik kilemlohna leh kitelkhialna hangin pawltuam phuan in, a kitamkham gawp ding i bang hi. A kigawm thei lo minam hi lim ding i hiam cih hong ngaihsun sak hi.

Pawlkhat leuleu ngaihsutna panin hih bang a mengkhiatna, leh pawltuam phuatna hangin khantohna leh gamkekna, nasep tangzaisakna in ngaihsun thei leuleu uh hi. Hih bang a ngaihsun te’n paubing siksanin pawlsatna, a za huaplualo in kikhenna in pawlpi sungah khat leh khat kiit, kilemna leh kipawlkhawmna hatsakin, pawlpi mite limtakin van zo zaw hi ci uh hi.

A thulai gen le hang: pawlpi (biakna ahihke’h biakna hilo) vai khat peuhpeuh pen thupisakin tangzaitak in na i sepkhiat theih nadingin pawlmi khat leh khat kithei in, tha kipia thei ding hi. Ukpi leh ukneu a hunkhop mah kisam ding a, amaute limtak kiZomin thu kihual thei ding hi. Thutanna leh ngaihsutna/gelkholhna khatpeuh kician takin nei in, limtakin zong semkhia thei ding hi. Mipi lungsim, uk, deih leh lunggulh, haksatna leh thanemna limtak theisiem in a kihualin na a semkhia thei ding kipawlna kisam hi; mipi so a dom thei ding hi. Tua in pawlpi lawhcinna dingin milip leh pawltampi a kikhen poimawh masa pen lo hi cih hong mukhia sak hi. Kiukzia leh kipawlkhopzia tawm laihin limtak vaihawm khawm thei leng na lianpi leh thupi zaw tampi kisem thei ding hi cih hong phawksak hi. United Nations kici leitung kipawlna lianpen nakpitak a lawhcinna in vaihawm siemna leh tavuan limtak hawmsiemna pan hong kipan hi ci leng kikhial lo ding hi. Roman Catholic Biakna leitung kiuli tengah kizelin tangzai takin Rome pan Pope ukna nuoiah a omtheihna zong tuabang uksiemna/vaihawmsiemna pan hong kipan ahi hi. Nasep leh tavuan hawmsiem leng milip then za, then tul i val phial zongin kiukna hamsa tuan lo ding hi cih i mu thei hi. Mosi leh Joshua in Israel te Egypt gam saltanna pan honkhia in, gammang lakah kum 40 sung limtak a makaih theihna dingin Pasien in vaihawmsiem thusim a lak hi: Israel nam 12 sung panin makai ding telkhiasakin tuate tawnin limtak vai a hawmsak hi. Minampi lungsim ngaihsun sakin, kipawlkhawm sak a, a lunggulh tawntung uh ‘khuaizu leh bawngnawi luanna gam’ Kanaan gam lutpih hi (Paikhiatna leh Joshua Laibu limtak sim in).

A tomin gen pak le’ng: kipawl/kizopna in khat leh khat hong kitelsak semsem ding hi. A cingtak minam in minauta sungah a hoih leh a hoihlo, a thulim leh a thulimlo, a hat leh a hatlo te theisiem in lungkihualin na semsak thei ding hi. Si leh sa ah kinaite kaikhawmin ‘kipawlkhop lunggulhna’ (corporate will) pia ding hi. Minampi tawh kisai laigelh minthang mahmah Hans Kohn in hih bangin ‘kipawlkhop lunggulhna’ a om ciang bekin pau leh ham, ngeina leh khangthu, biakna leh nam kibangte tunkhawmin kaikhawm thei ding a, gam leh minampi bawl thei bek ding hi ci hi.

ZCF Babel Tausangpi Suaksak Lieng Ding I Hiam?

Thuciam Lui sungah tausang a tallang mahmah pen Babel tausangpi ahi hi. Noah hunlai Tuiciin tunkhit mite pilna, siemna leh thupina a langsak dinga kibawl hih tausangpi in tuhun tumlam gam nampi lungsim piankhiatna a sut/kan te’n gentehna in zang thei uh hi. Babel tausangpi pen thupi in a etlawm mahmah hangin a cim (collapse) dinga kilam na hi lel tak hi. A tau cip pen a pammaih pen na hi lo zaw a, a lipkhap huai zaw khat in: a cip ma in minampi leh paupi khat a nei Noah’ suante pen tausang a cip zawh ciangin nam tampi, pau tampi in hong kikhen uh a, kithutuah leh kipumkhat ding hong hamsa hi (Piancilna 11). Tua mah bangin ZCF hong piankhiatna a thupi pen, a tawpkhawk i tunna lim (symbol) hisak lieng ding i hiam cih zong i ngaihsun ding hi. Kei ngaihsutna panin ZCF pen Zo minampi ngaihsutna (national consciousness) a om lai teng mang lo ding a, hong kho semsem in hong manpha semsem zaw ding hi.

Biakna leh Nampi Lungsim

I biakna, ngeina leh hihna a tangzaizaw in i kep ut leh ZCF i phungvuh semsem ding hi. ZCF in Zo minampi bawlding tavuan lianpen in nei lo ding a, ahih hangin ZCF tawnin minam dangte’n Zo minamte pen ‘Pasien tel minam, minam hamphate hi’ cih hong muh ding uh thupi pen ding hi. Tua bang hong piantheihna dingin khat-leh-khat kiit in, kikem, kizunin, kipawlkhawm thei ding hi hang. India leh gam tuamtuam ah a om ZCF kipawlkhawmna te kanin, amaute tawh kizom in limtak thu kikumkhawmin i kalsuan ding hi. Sangamlom (tribe) pansanin biak kipawlna a neite tawh thu kisangtuah in, i pangkhawm ding hi. Mizawng, tagah, meigong, pagong leh khangham te i huh ding hi. A nangte huhin, thazawm (sa leh khalam) a kisate tha i pia ding hi.

I gamah Lungdamna Thupha hong tun cil lai in, a Thu bek hong lut lo hi cih zong i tel ding hi. Zomi Baptist Convention phuat ding a ki ngaihsut lai in Lokhawh Sang (Agriculture Institute), Zato (Hospital) leh Laisiengthou Sang (Bible College) tawh phuh ding na limbawl uh hi. Lungdamna Thupha in khalam thu bek tawh kisai lo a, pumpi cidamna, laipilna leh nek leh tak cihtheihna tawh zong kizom hi cih i mangngilh kei ding hi. Laphuah siem khat in ‘Jesuh pen samsiatna a kizelhna dong ah gupkhiatna a pia dingin hong pai hi’ na ci hi. Biakna in gupkhiatna i ngahna, Topa minthanna, itna leh hehpihna i phawkkhiatna ahih ding ahi hi. Khat leh khat kiZomin, i kilem theih nading, kipawlthei in, i kipumkhat theih nading (Johan 15) leh nampi lungsim i neih theih nading i Biakna in hong sinsak hi cih lungai kikkik ni. Zo minampi ading bek hilo in leitung bup mikhempeuh nampi khat hi in, Topa lenggah huanah a om lenggah hiangte hi hang a, i leggah kungpi pen Jesuh hi cih i tel semsem ding hi. Jesuh sungah pumkhat a suak ding hi hang cih i phawk den ding hi.

Laigielpa’n tulaitak in Department of Political Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi ah Lecturer sem hi. Tuoleh ZCF, Delhi ah 2001-2004 sung Youth Department Secretary na sem ngei hi.

News ZCF, Zomi, Zomi Christian Fellowship

Upa N Chinsum

“A hoihzaw gam zuan a zin, Gamdai nisatna ka pai;
Pa, Na khut in honlen in, Honpii honhuai zel in.” - Ira D Sankey.

Ahoihzaw gam, Vangam zuana zin lam I pailai in I biak Pasien in A khut hat-a honglen in hong tonpih a… Delhi Zomi Christian Fellowship (DZCF) in kum 25 mel mu ahita. Thupi mahmah maw. Hun nuam hun haksa-a hong taisan/ ensan ngeilou I biak Pasien minthangta hen! Ama’n Delhi Zomite hichieng hong tunpih lai in, DZCF’ hun paisa, tuhun leh mailam hun ngaihsut louh theihlouh thu ahi. Tua’man in tawm kikum dih ni.

HUN PAISA: A’ khawvak mu masalam mi bangzahhiamte’n 21 January 1972 in, I Silver Magazine uh Editor, T. Zamlunmang Zou pianna khua, Daijang khawta, Manipur CCpur district ah Zomi National Congress (ZNC) ana phutkhia ua, tua pen ei Manipur Zodawn suakte laka Zomi (Zo suan) nationalism hong kipatna hidan in chiamteh theih hi. ZNC president leh secretary masa Pu T Gougin, leh Pu Semkhopau Samte @ Pu SK Samte te ahi uh.

ZNC piannung kum 10 pai manlou in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi akipan Pu S Thangkhangin Ngaihte leh Pu LS Gangte te’n M Phil hon zoukhia uhi (1979 in). Nuam. Pu Ngaihte dissertation, History of the Zomi of Mizoram and the surrounding Areas: Aspects of pre-colonial society chih hia; Pu Gangte aa, Zomi polity in transition: A case study in Manipur chih ahi hi.

JNU akipan graduate khethei I om tawh kiton chih theih phial in Pu N Gouzagin s/o Pu Enpum Naulak (RIP), Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency apan MP hongching viahviah – 7 Canning Lane, New Delhi ah solkar-inn luahsak in om hi. 7 Canning Lane pen India khawpite laka Zomite Hq. masa; ALZOSA (All Zomi Students’ Association) bang, DZCF bang pianna mun, mun poimawhtak ahong hita.

DZCF a Secretary masa Pu H Thangzamuan in Annual Report, 1982-83 a gelhna ah hibang in taklang (vide, ZCF Delhi Secretary’s Annual Report 1982-83 dated 4.9.1983):

The Worship Service at 7 Canning Lane was started by Zomi believers in Delhi on the 27th February, 1982. The main objective of the Fellowship service being a common sharing of believers in the Lord and group prayers and praises to God, it is believed that this Fellowship will enable the believers to strengthen one another in the Lord. Apart from aiming at glorification of God’s name and the extension of Christ’s kingdom, this Fellowship, it is believed, will bring the believers closer to each other.

TU HUN: DZCF kum 25 chingta. Ebenezer! Hiai santak ah, “Kum tenga Delhi Zomi kibehlap zungzung napi, DZCF a minkhum member bel kibehlap huthut hetlou…!” chih mi pawl khatte ngaihsutna ah om thei. A om diing mah zong ahi. Tua bang awlmawhna apailai in, DZCF Pawlpi leh a’ kakhia, inntuan Fellowship/ church te tungtang (muh theih kizopna) sang mah in I omkhakna tek ua mimal khat chiat leh siemtu Pasien kaal (muh theihlouh kizopna) feltak poimawh zaw hilou hiam, chi ut I hih chu. Mihing lampite’n TOUPA a suklungkim chienga TOUPA’N a melmate na-ngawn amah tawh kilem dia bawl hive’n! (Pau 16: 7). DZCF ah min khum mi khat I hithei (registered member), I hikei maithei (non-registered member). Ahihi hitaleh – think ‘Indian’ vis-à-vis ‘NRI’ - laizom Zomi, Zomi Khristian I hihna kidang theikei e.

Mihing’ lampi, a sep-le-bawl leh ngaihsutnate’n TOUPA lungkimsak zou vuallou hi (Rm 3: 9-18). Pa Pasien lungkimsak leh A lungkimna omsun Jesu Khrist ahi (Matt 3: 17). Tua Jesu Khrist, nang leh kei hinna naak (Kalvari tuihing lui), Pa Pasien in I pilna bang, I diktatna bang, I sianthouna bang, I tatna bang hiding in a bawlta (1 Kor 1: 30). Huai TOUPA vuak sidup leh dahsak Jesu Khrist’ sihna leh thawhkiikna na khelhna thoihna ‘thillat’ dia na zat/ hamphatpih peuhpeuh chieng in Pa Pasien in Tapa Jesu a A chisuan muta hi diing; Tapa Jesu tunga a lungdamna nang tunga a lungdamna hi diing ahi (Is 53: 10, Jak 1: 18). Toupa thupha maw! Van-inn paina lampi Khros; upna tawna, tua Khros a, Jesu tawh kikilhkhawm (crucified with Christ) mite in khentuam neilou uh, Khentuam neilou uh chichih-pauchihte, Fellowship chihte.

Rev Dr Hawlngam Haokip in IN SEARCH OF IDENTITY booklet Introduction, “The coming of Christ and the influence of Christianity has brought reconciliation and harmony between heaven and earth, Jews and Gentiles, and among people of different races, tribes, colour and creed,” chi’n pana, gen kha I sa hi. Dr Haokip in a gelhzom zelna ah, “It is sad to say that the Kuki-Chin, even though they claimed that they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and have been reconciled with God and love for Him, they have forgotten to reconcile with and love their own brothers which is an inseparable part of their life (Mark 12: 30-31). For a Christian, love should not only be vertical but also be horizontal,” chitou lai hi.

Hamsia banna sing Khros a Tapa Pasien in tatna naa a sepkhit nungsang, Pa Pasien lungsim ah, vanmi leh leimi kilem khinzou hi. Aw, hiai Thu, upna a san diing ngei! Khros atungzawng (vertical) in vantung mite leh leimite kilemna gen, apheizawng (horizontal) pen in leimi leh leimi - innsak-innkhang/ u-le-nau - kilemna gen/ ensak ahi, zong a kichi. Tua Khros laitaka kikhai Hondampa lamdang in ‘mihing’ a kichi khempeuh tatna (once and for all) semkhinzou hinapi, hih Tangthupha zata leh za nailou, huan, za napi-a a ummi (gingta mi) leh umlou mi ki-om chitchiat ahihman in, leitung mi nam (group) 2 phakiik chih thu ahi. ZCF leitung maikaih a omte leh Zomi sunga biakna pawlpi tuamtuam a member-te bel, Tangthupha za a um/ gingta/ zom vive hidan a ngaihsun I thahah ve, unau. I hikimna uh hiam?

MAILAM HUN: Jesu Khrist a-um Delhi Zomite, khat leh khat kinaiseem kawma TOUPA a kihihhat diing, Pasien min liansak/ thupisak diing, Khrist Lalgam keklian diing chia kum 25 paita-a patkhiak Fellowship, tuchia’n (singkung bang in ngaihsun tale’ng) zai/ ka pha simta; biakinn khat a kikhawm khawm theivual I hita kei. Leivui pana hong laamtou, Jesu hong itna hang bek ahi. Halleluijah! I kipatna Zogam lama pawlpi omsate mah DELHI a hongdin tiltil khawng, lemtang kibawlna, “I khangtou a ahi” chih phot tuak bang hi. I biakkhawmna pawlpi masa (DZCF a) tel zom lemtang I hithei, a.k.l. a kakhia pawlpi khat ah/ namdang Khristiante lakah biakna ah I tel ahithei. Bangleh-bangleh, “Zomi I hih mah nuam tei ei maw guai” chi’n, thil tengteng kituak taka gakkhawmtu ‘itna’ kisilhthuah in, I omna tek uah i Makaipa hong vaikhah - ‘The Great Commission’ (Matt 28; 18-20) eite lunglai luahtu 1na hi teitei leh maw! ‘Jesu’n hong vaksak…Nang na mun ah vak in, Kei ka mun ah’ chi I hih ngalsi leh. Selah.

Hichi’n ngaihsun le’ng. Nungzui masa Peter, Johan, Philip leh adg.dg.te’n zong Jerusalem biakinn tekteka a biakkhawm det louhpi uh! Ahilel gen in, Khrist leh muhtheih saptuam kizopna theichiente aa di’n gingtute sung ah “nou pawl, kou pawl” chia buai na’ng/ kidou na’ng om mahmah lou hi. Muhtheihlouh Saptuam (Abulpi) Jesu Khrist hia, muhtheih saptuam (Khrist a lamtouh) te ahihleh tuni a ‘saptuam’ chia lemtang kiguan a denomination min I kipiak tuamtuamte bang ahi. Hichi’n genteh le’ng: NE Express train tawnpi ah compartment tuamtuam om hi. Tua train compartment tuamtuam ah passenger-te enzuitu TT leh staff fel taktak duty uh. NE Express train tawnpi leh Jesu Khrist, huan, a compartment tuamtuam leh saptuam, hiai leitunga om zingzengte. I pastor-te uh leh TT-te, committee tuamtuama panmun lente leh train a staff-te…

Awle, ‘Nou/ Kou’ vachih khak baihlam mahleh, hiai thumal nihte zatdan I pilvan diing ahi. Khrist khen (divide)a a omlouh ziak in. “DZCF ‘te’ Pastor” chih sang bang in, “DZCF a ‘I’ pastor-pa” chidan bang in gen thei le’ng, bangzahta a neem in gawm simthu a kawk khazaw ale! “KWS ‘te’ chaplain” chih sang in, “KWS a ‘I’ chaplain,” etc. Khrist a innkuon khat, omna pawlpi tuam zekzek ziak khawnga tuampi banga kimuh & kidouna omthei zel pen setan lungtup tangtunna khat ahi, unau. ‘Diabol/ Setan mun awn kei un,’ chih gelh ahi. NE Express a tuangte kimidang etlou, Vangam zuan ‘Khrist Jesu’ um pawlpi mite kimidang et thei zelzel – setan pil sa ing! Setan lutang bel khet sidupsa ahive, unau; mun awt ahihchia’n a che-kin sim chih thu! Sanggam it, a hoihzaw gam zuan I zinlai in, anu’a Toupa Jesu kammal I ngaihsun phathak tek di ua’m –

“Guta zaw gu diing leh hihlum diing,
leh hihse diing lou in a hongpai kei.
Kei zaw hinna a neihna diing ua, tampitak a neihna diing ua hong Ka hi.
” (Jn 10: 10).

Food for thought: 1995 kum a WCBS, Portland, Oregan (USA) apan “When the World of Zomi changed” chih thulu tawh Doctor of Missiology na zoukhia, Rev Dr J M Ngul Khan Pau in, “The Church today needs to be aroused from sleeping, each member should thirst and hunger for the filling of the Holy Spirit. If not, we cannot live victorious and will not experience abundant Christian living. If we are true salt of the earth our life will create thirst in the lives of others with whom we encounter everyday. With our best efforts, planning and strategizing for church growth, working more than ever and exhausting ourselves in service, we fail to see the anticipated results. We don’t understand why and what more should be done?” chi (Baptist News, April-June 2004 issue, editorial).

Sia Paupu in tua editorial sung mah ah, “‘Even after rapture when the Spirit will be taken up into heaven,’ someone said, ‘some churches will still be having their services and not feel the difference.’ If this is true, then we are trying to accomplish the works of the Lord by our own strength without the help of the Spirit. It is no wonder then, why we are failing in gaining grounds. Without the anointing and the empowerment from the Holy Spirit all our efforts will end up only in failure. The Holy Spirit is no respecter of persons or churches, He will work in and through those who are willing to surrender themselves under His directions…A basic mark of true spirituality is the deep awareness of sin…it is the daily abiding in His holy presence; denying of self but lifting up Jesus and walking in the power of the Spirit. Let us pray to the Lord for deeper experience of His empowerment from above,” chilai hi. Blessings!

About the Author: Pu (L) Tualluai tapa; August 1995 in BA zou, Delhi tung; October 13, 1997 in Asstt. Grade, Ministry of Finance (Exp) nuai ah mu, sem ngal; December 28, 1998 in Ms. Chingliankim toh Pastor Chinkhotuan khut zang in EBCC Bungmual ah nupa suak zou. December 2005 in EBC Annual Assembly ah Rev Luaichinthang khut ah Hattuom upa hi diingin thau nilhna tang. June 23, 2006 in UPSC ah Section Officer in tou panta. Tate: Justin Luaithang (k 7), Mary Luanthianching (k 3).

Articles ZCF, zomi christian, Zomi Christian Fellowship

By H. Dongminthang Simte

The Author:
H. Dongminthang Simte, Matriculation: 1984 (CT High School), P. U. C : 1986 (CCpur Govt. College), B. A. Pol. Sc. (Hons) : 1990 (Ramjas College, D. U), M. A. ( Pol. Sc.): 1992 (D. U), Service: Inspector, Income Tax (1993), Promoted to Income Tax Officer (2001), Married: 1995 (one son and one daughter), With ZCF (D): As per record of ZCF, Present Add. 111-A, L-2, DDA Flats, Kalkaji, New Delhi – 19, Permanent Add (Parents): Sim Veng, CCpur. He is the former Secretary of the Zomi Christian Fellowship, Delhi.

I feel greatly privilege to have been invited by the Editorial Board to contribute an article for the Silver Jubilee Souvenir. Having been associated with the ZCF for s decade or so, I take this opportunity to jot down a few lines by taking a trip down the memory lane.

The Genesis:
Conscious of our common identical genesis and understanding the complexity of living in a multi-facet metropolitan city like Delhi, our pioneers started the Zomi Fellowship (the word Christian was later added) in 1982. Initially, a more or less weekly evening prayer meeting of a handful of persons, the fellowship has grown in number and strength over the years. Crossing the imagination of our founding fathers, the member had increased by leaps and bounds and within a decade of its commencement, it reached it zenith in the beginning of 1990s. Afterwards, it began to tumble leaving behind the sterner stuff who should be able to withstand the wind of secession.

The Pinnacle:
The end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s witnessed a large-scale influx of our people to Delhi in search of greener pastures and better education driven by either pull or push factors or both. This had far-reaching consequences on the future course of ZCF. Until the late 1980s, ZCF was more or less a household gathering, meeting in few numbers on Sunday in one house after another facilitated by some generous persons except on special occasions like Advent Christmas or Freshers’ Meet when members flocked in a big number. The beginning of the last decade of the 20th century, however, changed the landscape of the ZCF tremendously. Since then, the ZCF has been meeting in a Church, in the real sense of the term, in a big central located Church Building at Parliament Street, which continues until today. Credit for finding such a good place should go to Pu T Gwite, IPS retired, Pu P Gangte and Pu LT Ngaihte who always kept a watchful eyes for such a place, which could accommodate the growing numbers. After this, there was no looking back for the ZCF.

I can recall, in a twinkling of an eye, some of the unfading fond memories of those days: our beloved advisor, Pu T. Gwite skillfully playing on his key-board while Ngaihman was presenting her sweet numbers; the large gatherings on the days of advent Christmas and Freshers’ Meet when spirit of love and affection was being exchanged which made one feel ‘home away from home’ followed by a grand feast; the Christmas rendezvous at Pu L.T. Ngaihte’s residence with the whole night community singing(leengkhawm) to name a few, were, which marked those days that were gone by. Unfortunately, these things became things of the past. It was the ZCF that was! I call this period as the ‘Golden Period’ in the history of the ZCF when the pinnacle of the fellowship was reached, not in terms of what historians called it but in terms of the INCLUSIVESNESS of the fellowship when everyone could called it as his / her own. Recalling of those days cannot but make one feel nostalgic and void.

The Exodus:
As if the law of diminishing returns or utility was operating in the case of ZCF as well, the atmosphere of common brother was short-lived which started withdrawing from the common fold. In fact, the late 1980s and early 1990s witnessed the mushrooming of various students organisations in Delhi which provided the fertile ground for the subsequent sprouting up of various fellowships/ churches based on tribe, language (or dialect) and denomination as is the practice in the home state. This was followed by the exodus of one group after another from the main fellowship. This happened despite the fact that it runs anti- thesis to Christian teachings and the crying in agony of Christ on the cross. Thus, the original purpose of the founding fathers for a common ground is thwarted. Some people call this as the price of number as the number has grown so much so that it reached the unmanageable limits.

There is, however something deeper inside to be reflected upon rather than seeing at its face value. Why had all these things happened? Is it because the leaders of those days had not done what they ought to have done or had done what they ought not to have done? Or is it because narrow parochialism, denominationalism or linguistic chauvinism over-rides Christ teachings on the Mount Olive? Or is it because of a sense of insecurity being prevailed among the people? Or are we more concerned with the name than its value?

The attempt here is neither to point accusing fingers at somebody nor provides the answer to these questions. The answer lies with each one on the basis of one’s inclination and way of thinking which one is subscribed to. At best, it is complacently called as the ZCF becoming of age which like a mother (tree) has started bearing children (fruits) and enabling them to establish their own homes (branches). At worst, it exposes our real Colors willing to serve SELF before others. Old habits die hard. The bottom-line is that we are still what we are irrespective of where we are. This is a sad moment in the history of the ZCF and a sad commentary on it.

The survival:
Despite all odds and falls, the ZCF has survived. And it must. However, in order to not only survive but continue as a viable and effective instrument of God’s ministry, the fellowship has to re-orient itself with renewed vigor. The beginning of the 21st century has witnessed the ZCF being re-oriented itself into a full- scale Christian ministry. The engagement of a full-time Pastor is a case in point which is a move in the right direction. The ZCF has to not only survive as a symbol of a socio- culturally homogeneous groups of people but also as a symbol of a universal fellowship/church which is willing to reach the un-reach and providing new hope to the hopeless. The focus should be more on evangelization and soul- winning while edifying the saints. It is the ‘Sine quanon’ for its survival and continuity and is the ‘raison d etre’ of every Christian organisation. “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come”. 1 Tim.4:8. Gospel alone can heal our dying land. It is the crying need of the hour. Herein lies our survival and revival.

Articles ZCF, Zomi, Zomi Christian Fellowship