Tripura Baptist Christian Union
Encyclopedia
The Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU) is the largest protestant church body
in the India
n state of Tripura
. It has its head office in Agartala, the state capital. It has been found lending support to the banned terrorist organization, NLFT
.
TBCU was supported and funded from the beginning by the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society and they provided most of the staff till the 1960s. TBCU has now become an independent indigenous self supporting church organisation.
s and evangelist
s and runs community programs such as schools and dispensaries.
TBCU celebrated its Golden jubilee and Diamond Jubilees in 1988 and 1998 respectively with much fanfare.
Recently it has started partnerships with the Zoram Baptist Mission of Mizoram
.
The TBCU has affiliations to the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance
. It has 13 affiliated associations:
Every year a meeting of the Council Members of the TBCU is organized at one of the churches within the Union. The group has a partnership with Zoram Baptist Mission, the missionary organization of the Baptist Church of Mizoram
.
The TBCU runs the St. Paul's School which is situated in Arundhutinagar, Agartala. The school was started in the 1940s as the first English Medium school in the kingdom. The Principal of School is Rev. Lalrema Darlong and the Vice-Principal is Rev. Sukhendu Lal Nath.
The school is a Higher Secondary school with classes from K.G. to Class XII. It is affiliated to CISCE. There are more than 1500 students.
uncovered evidence asserting that the Baptist Church in Tripura has been helping Tripuri militants, such as the NLFT in the state. The NLFT militants, who are involved in armed struggle for the independence of Tripura, have been reported to be forcing some local tribals to convert to Christianity at gunpoint.
The Left-Front Government have accused the Baptist Church of Tripura of supporting this violent campaign of NLFT by providing funding and arms for the group. In April 2000, Nagmanlal Halam, Secretary of the Noapara Baptist Church in Tripura, was caught with a large quantity of explosives which were meant for the group. Halam later confessed to buying and supplying explosives to the NLFT for the past two years. Another church official, Jatna Koloi, was arrested in south Tripura in April 2000. According to the State Police, Mr Koloi had received training in guerrilla warfare at an NLFT base in 1999.
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
. It has its head office in Agartala, the state capital. It has been found lending support to the banned terrorist organization, NLFT
National Liberation Front of Tripura
The National Liberation Front of Tripura is a Tripuri nationalist militant organization based in Tripura, India.The NLFT seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state, and has actively participated in the Tripura Rebellion...
.
History
The group was formed under the leadership of Rev. M.J. Eade in December 1938 in Lakshmilunga, a village six miles from Agartala.TBCU was supported and funded from the beginning by the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society and they provided most of the staff till the 1960s. TBCU has now become an independent indigenous self supporting church organisation.
Information
TBCU employs many pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s and evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
s and runs community programs such as schools and dispensaries.
TBCU celebrated its Golden jubilee and Diamond Jubilees in 1988 and 1998 respectively with much fanfare.
Recently it has started partnerships with the Zoram Baptist Mission of Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
.
The Organization
Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
. It has 13 affiliated associations:
- Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA)Sadar North Baptist AssociationSadar North Baptist Association is the largest Kokborok speaking Baptist community in Tripura. It is located within the Sadar sub-division of West Tripura district of Tripura in India...
- Central Baptist Association (CBA)
- Kok Baptist Association (KOKBA)
- Udaipur Baptist Association (UBA)
- Sabroom Baptist Association (SBA)
- Kailashahar Baptist Church Association (KBCA)
- Jampui-Sakhan Baptist Association (JSBA)
- Achik Krima
- Amarpur-Raima-Sarma Association (ARSA)
- Saisawm-Sazai Baptist Association (SSBA)
- Dharmanagar-Longai Baptist Association (DLBA)
- Yapri Baptist Association (YBA)
- Kamalpur Baptist Association (KBA)
Every year a meeting of the Council Members of the TBCU is organized at one of the churches within the Union. The group has a partnership with Zoram Baptist Mission, the missionary organization of the Baptist Church of Mizoram
Baptist Church of Mizoram
Baptist Church of Mizoram, abbreviated BCM is a Protestant denomination of India and the second biggest Church in Mizoram state in Northeast India....
.
Office bearers of TBCU
- General Secretary: Rev. Rajani Kaipeng (SSBA)
- Associate General Secretary: Rev. Dakshina Ranjan Reang (YBA)
- Secretary: Rev. Rana Kusum Debbarma (SNBA)
Activities
The TBCU runs a Theology school/college from its mission compound in Agartala. TBCU ran its own Hospital until 1980 providing free treatment to the tribals and locals of the state.The TBCU runs the St. Paul's School which is situated in Arundhutinagar, Agartala. The school was started in the 1940s as the first English Medium school in the kingdom. The Principal of School is Rev. Lalrema Darlong and the Vice-Principal is Rev. Sukhendu Lal Nath.
The school is a Higher Secondary school with classes from K.G. to Class XII. It is affiliated to CISCE. There are more than 1500 students.
Controversial links with militant outfit
The Government of TripuraTripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
uncovered evidence asserting that the Baptist Church in Tripura has been helping Tripuri militants, such as the NLFT in the state. The NLFT militants, who are involved in armed struggle for the independence of Tripura, have been reported to be forcing some local tribals to convert to Christianity at gunpoint.
The Left-Front Government have accused the Baptist Church of Tripura of supporting this violent campaign of NLFT by providing funding and arms for the group. In April 2000, Nagmanlal Halam, Secretary of the Noapara Baptist Church in Tripura, was caught with a large quantity of explosives which were meant for the group. Halam later confessed to buying and supplying explosives to the NLFT for the past two years. Another church official, Jatna Koloi, was arrested in south Tripura in April 2000. According to the State Police, Mr Koloi had received training in guerrilla warfare at an NLFT base in 1999.