Manipur Baptist Convention

Manipur Baptist Convention
ClassificationChristianity
OrientationEvangelicalism, Protestants
TheologyBaptist
Associations31
HeadquartersMBC Christian Centre, Manipur, NE India
FounderAmerican Baptist Foreign Mission Society
Origin1928 (1928)
Congregations1,564 Churches
Members240,754
Official websitewww.thembc.in

Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) is a Baptist Christian denomination in Manipur, India. It is affiliated with the Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India and the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (Baptist World Alliance).[1][2] The General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention is Jolly Rimai.

History

Baptist history in Manipur began in February 1894 when Scottish missionary William Pettigrew of the American Baptist Mission arrived in the state. He baptized 12 Tangkhul Naga men in 1901 and established the first church in Manipur in 1902—the Phungyo Baptist Church in Ukhrul.[3]

Pettigrew initially arrived in the region to evangelize the Meitei people. However, due to strong local opposition, he shifted his focus to the hill tribes of Manipur. Following these initial baptisms of Tangkhul Nagas, Angom Porom Singh was baptized on 5 April 1903, becoming the first Meitei convert to Christianity.[4]

The first Baptist church in Manipur was established in Ukhrul in 1902 known as the Phungyo Baptist Church. It is widely recognized and historically referred to as the "Mother Church of Manipur."[5]

With the establishment of more churches, the need for fellowship and uniformity became apparent. Thus, thirteen delegates from five churches in Manipur gathered at Ukhrul in November 1916 and formed the first association, called the Manipur Christian Association (MCA).

However, due to the rapid expansion of Christianity across various tribes and geographical areas, the association required a more comprehensive organizational structure. Therefore, in 1928, the MCA was reorganized into a convention, officially named the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC). Since then, the MBC has served as the main umbrella organization, with headquarters in Imphal.[6]

Statistics

According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 221,436 members and 1,503 churches.[7]

The statistics for the MBC is given below with the number of churches and number of Baptized Church members only as on 2011.[8]

Children and non Baptized family members are not included in the statistics.

Sl. No.AssociationChurches + Assn.Members
1.Aimol Baptist Association15+42,160
2.Anal Naga Baptist Association     52+86,995
3.Chin Baptist Association                        162,521
4 Chiru Rem B/Churches Association 12 5,162
5.Chongthu Baptist Churches Association616,110
6Chothe Baptist Churches Association11+21,300
7.Gangte Baptist Association14721
8. Gorkha B/Churches Association 25+5 860
9.Inpui Naga Baptist Churches Association223,617
10. Kharam Baptist Churches Association 4+1 745
11. Koireng Baptist Association 7 1,000
12Komrem Baptist Churches Association58+95,412
13.Kuki Baptist Convention31434,952
14.Lamkang Naga Baptist Association233,593
15.Liangmei Naga Baptist Association78+1013,010
16.Mao Baptist Churches Association40+510,020
17.Maram Naga Baptist Association19+14,514
18.Maring Naga Baptist Association58+106,648
19.Meitei Baptist Association40+451,785
20.Monsang Naga Baptist Churches Association5+41,190
21.Moyon Naga Baptist Association8+31,287
22.Poumai Naga Baptist Association63+2126,000
23.Rongmei Naga Baptist Association20228,501
24.Sadar Baptist Association20+32,470
25.Simte Baptist Churches Association4370
26.Southern Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association84+315,265
27.Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association10048,050
28.Tarao Baptist Association4+1465
29.Thadou Baptist Association575,365
30.Thangal Naga Baptist Association11+32,074
31.Vaiphei Baptist Churches Association1+2 400
Total1,428+1352,42,562

References

  1. ↑ Cbcnei.org Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Apbf.info Archived 2010-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Elungkiebe Zeliang, A History of Manipur Baptist Convention, 28
  4. ↑ Rev. William Pettigrew’s Mission Reports and Letters: 1891-1932, 16, cited in Champhang Jajo, ed., Ukhrul: Phila Jajo, 1999, 16; William Pettegrew Diary entry, 5th April, 1903)
  5. ↑ Elungkiebe Zeliang, A History of Manipur Baptist Convention, 28
  6. ↑ (v. Phanitphang, Manipur Baptist Convention, CBCNEI: 1960-1961, 61)
  7. ↑ Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
  8. ↑ http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/28370/12/12_chapter%206.pdf, p.152
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