THE BCM’s MINISTRY ON SOCIAL CONCERNS

Greetings once again from the Baptist Church of Mizoram.
Amidst trouble and chaos in this world, the BCM is happy to serve the Lord as best possible and as need arises. Needless to mention, the BCM preaches the Gospel not only in Words, but also in Deeds. Here, it is not my primary wish to boast what the Church is doing, but we take pride in serving the Lord because we still have the privilege of ministering to the world.
I wish to highlight a few undertakings of the BCM, which is your undertaking. Please continue to join hands with us in prayer.

1. Responding to the Bamboo Famine.
This year Mizoram is confronted with a very severe famine occurred every 50 years. This famine is known as Mautam Tam or Bamboo Famine.
Thus, combating the Bamboo Famine is one of the main assignments of the BCM at present. Although the famine is widespread and covers the whole of Mizoram, the extent of the problem varies from village to village. So the BCM made a detailed and careful study of the situation so that relief work could be executed effectively and meaningfully. The Youth Department is entrusted for this task who then made on the spot survey. The BCM then gives relief as per the report.

In combating the Bamboo Famine, the work is carried out in two different streams – The Relief & Development Department of BCM and the Bamboo Famine Combating Committee.

Summing up both the works of the Relief & Development Department and the Bamboo Famine Relief Committee, the BCM has collected an amount of Rs. 7,499,073.00. The Church is glad to acknowledge the generous contributions of partner bodies viz. Churches Auxiliary for Social Action, Lowestoff Baptist Church UK, Baptist Missionary Society, The Sharing Way Canada, Global Youth Network Canada. The BCM also received donations from individuals, fellowship groups, other institutions and local Churches in Mizoram. Noteworthy is that every employee of the BCM donated their two days salary for this cause, and many government employees also donated their day’s salary for the same. The Church has distributed about 5,222 bags or 261,100 kilograms (261 tons) of rice to the needy villagers, covering about 600 villages, reaching about 2,800 households, The Church has also distributed 650 bags or 4550 kilograms of rice seeds to farmers and 940 boxes or 8460 packets of dehydrated vegetable soup mix (courtesy Global Youth Network, Canada) to villagers. So far, the BCM has utilized Rs. 5,266,640.00. The relieve work is still in progress.

The year 2009 will be no better than the present; in fact it could be worse. Last year, all the crops were destroyed by rats and other pestilences and thus there is no harvest this year which is the principal cause of famine. This year, farmers did their best in the fields. But the sad story is that rats and other vermin are still at large and harvest will still be at the minimum. So the year 2009 is surely to be a year of hunger again. So, the BCM will continue this relief work as best possible and the BCM is always happy to receive aids towards this crisis in cash or in kind.

2. Responding to the crisis in Orissa.
The BCM cannot turn a deaf year to our brothers and sisters in Orissa who are under persecution because of their faith. The BCM is a part of this suffering both in spirit and in truth. The BCM feels the pain, the BCM shed tears, the BCM prays, and the BCM is doing its best for the brothers and sisters in Orissa.

The BCM called for a state wide fasting prayer. This imperative programme was observed by local churches according to their own schedule. The BCM also published articles in its official organs regularly and in separate issuing letters so that Church members may be aware of the situations on which they may focus their prayers.

So far, the BCM has contributed Rs. 30,000.00 for Orissa via Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, Rs. 10,000.00 via CASA, and another Rs. 50,000.00 directly to All Orissa Baptist Churches Federation. The BCM is still collecting funds for the believers and presently has about Rs. 120,000.00 which will be given to the churches of the said state, either in kind or in cash as the committee decides. The BCM’s sources are individuals, fellowship groups, and local Churches of the BCM. The General Secretary of the BCM has sent a letter of concern and petition for the state of Orissa to the respected Prime Minister of India.

3. Responding to the Upcoming State Election.
The state of Mizoram is having its Members of Legislative Assembly election sometime in late November. The BCM cannot hide from the need of the state at times like the present. The BCM does not intend to support any political party or individual candidates. It will maintain its religiosity and remain unbiased. But the BCM has a task.

During the Pastors’ Conference in August, a seminar paper was presented, discussed and reflected on the coming MLA election. Pastors gained a better overview of the coming election. Besides the coming election being a regular prayer subject, the BCM has also decided to organize a special prayer meeting for the said event.

The BCM also issued an Election Manifesto. This Election Manifesto is carefully studied by a group of experienced leaders ahead of its being published. It is clear that it is free from bias or any other prejudice. The political parties and individual candidates, and the voters as a whole are expected to consider the Election Manifesto of the BCM as authentic, truthful, and a good standard.

Dear friends, please join hands with us in prayers. The BCM has enormous tasks and has no intention of being elusive from its tasks ahead. We need your prayer support in our ministry. God bless you all.

Rev. Dr. K. Thanzauva
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