Further stressing on the important role of church in achieving God’s blessing, the MLA said that America is blessed as more than 200 church leaders pray unceasingly for the country and exhorted the churches of Kangpokpi under the aegis of KTCF to pray ceaselessly for the town and the people.
TFM Kangpokpi Representative
Kangpokpi AC MLA Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday lauded the role taken by churches of Kangpokpi town in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The various activities and services initiated to save the people of Kangpokpi during the first and second wave were ultimately successful only after churches in the town took an active part, she said.
Nemcha Kipgen was speaking at the occasion of Kangpokpi Town Churches Fellowship (KTCF) Silver Jubilee Celebration and Advent Christmas. The local MLA stressed the vital roles of the church in building a strong and peaceful society.
“When churches are strong, the society grows and becomes strong,” added the MLA.
Further stressing on the important role of church in achieving God’s blessing, the MLA said that America is blessed as more than 200 church leaders pray unceasingly for the country and exhorted the churches of Kangpokpi under the aegis of KTCF to pray ceaselessly for the town and the people.
She also stressed on the importance of preserving land stating that when we use the land we occupy in a proper way that can glorify God and according to his will, only then our land will be blessed.
She said that our forefathers despite their illiteracy could have a vision for us and understood the importance of protecting land that we, along with our land, have been protected under a constitutional law but there is a need on our part to preserve our protected land by avoiding cultivation of crops and plants that cause detrimental to the land and the society.
She continued that her message to the people on this auspicious Advent Christmas celebration is that “we are now well literate compared to our forefathers and being a responsible christian, it is our duty and responsibility to preserve our land while adding that with our knowledge and wisdom of segregating good and bad, we must ignore that can destroy to our land”.
The Advent Christmas celebration also strongly emphasizes on following COVID protocols/SOPs/guidelines provided by the government.
The local MLA exhorted the people to maintain the unity they have extended to the government during the first and second waves if the third wave arrived and also urged the churches of the town to take an active part again.
ADC Sadar Hills caretaker chairman, Haokholal Hangshing who attended the celebration as guest of honour also strongly urged the people of Kangpokpi to maintain and follow the COVID guidelines and SOPs anytime and anywhere while urging the churches to pray for the town and the people.
Pastor J. Lunkim, moderator, Manipur Synod KCC, who attended as the main speaker of the celebration said that many precious lives had been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, including people from Kangpokpi town.
Paying tribute to all the departed souls, Pastor J. Lunkim said that as we celebrated Advent Christmas we remember all those whose lives have been lost fighting the pandemic during the first and second wave and we also prayed for the bereaved families.
He then said that as Jesus Christ is the ‘Prince of Peace’, we must celebrate his birthday, Christmas, for peace because unless we could celebrate ‘Christmas for Peace’, there would be no meaning of our Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace.
Condolence for the departed souls of former KTCF leaders was observed by the congregation during the celebration.
A souvenir published to commemorate the Silver Jubilee celebration of KTCF was released by the local MLA during the Advent Christmas celebration organized by the KTCF.
Singing of Christmas gathering hymnals and Christmas group dance called Lamkol participated by all the churches and dignitaries including the local MLA marked the occasion. The local MLA also presented financial assistance to all the churches of the town as a Christmas gift.
Earlier, the Kangpokpi Town Churches Fellowship celebrated the 25 years of its existence and God’s blessing.
A monolith to commemorate the silver jubilee celebration of KTCF was unveiled by Rev. K. Hangshing, chairman KTCT in the presence of the local MLA and other dignitaries while a traditional Gong called “Dahpi” was beaten 25 times by the church leaders, KTCF leaders, the local MLA, KTC chairman, and other dignitaries.
Kangpokpi Town Churches Fellowship was established in 1996 after three years of its existence as Kangpokpi Town Churches Conference since 1993.