MELC DELHI NEW YEAR 2011 : A NEW DAWN

THE DAY has come! The New Year celebration began with a humble prayer of Mrs Lamneichiin. The program was chaired by a devotee lady, known for sincerity, Priscilla Hoipi. Though the morning was chill, yet, we moved on with Hoipi’s greeting: “Kumtha Chibai”.  She gave thanks to Almighty. “Firstly, let’s give thanks to God for giving us this beautiful new dawn,” Hoipi cheered up the people. The youth wing ‘Lutheran Youth Fellowship’ presented a beautiful chorus “Gospel Lungsietna’n Ka Pei Zel Ding”. The youth-singers were smart and very lovely. See the pics!

MELCD never left out prayer. Thus mass prayer becomes an important item in any event. It’s time for prayer, everyone bow down their heads in praying. Our prayer items include – i) Giving thanks to Lord Almighty for caring us throughout the year 2010 and seeking heavenly blessings for each and everyone for 2011.

Exhortation Speech

Some time we need to encourage each other. Therefore, we included this as one of the items during the program. Pastor Lalpu, the shepherd of MELC Delhi took this initiative. According to him, tithe is the most important gift we owe to God. The pastor read out 45 names who had given ‘tithe’ throughout the year 2010.

If these were not, it’s quite difficult to imagine, how the church will survive. Because of them, the church smoothly functioned. We can’t simply ignore them; they are truly the pillars of MELC church.

With almost tears coming out, the pastor exhorted saying, “O God give us a big hall to celebrate our Christmas and New Year. This was my prayer.” Then the shepherd prayed New Year’s blessing for them, including those who couldn’t give their ‘tithe’ or others.

Our pastor Lapu, introduced the new couple, Mr Daivd Zou and Mrs Ellen before the audience. MELCD is happy to celebrate the New Year with this couple.

*Dr David Zou, the first Zou, whose bio-data appeared in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. This writer accessed his bio-data on 29 December 2010. [For detail, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vumlallian_Zou].

The Pillars

After the pastor’s speech and prayer, MELCD chairman T Zamlunmang Zou happily encouraged the audience, saying, “God said tithe is mine. In our church we have may true followers who did accordingly. Today we’ll be giving a memento to them individually for giving tithe regularly to our church. It is not a prize but a token of appreciation from the Church Leaders. They are the one who makes live our church. I wish our good Lord bless them abundantly.”

Popularly known as Pupu zou, Zamlunmang, is the youngest son of Rev T Kamzakhup Zou, the founding General Secretary of the Jou Christian Association at Daijang village in Churachandpur, Manipur.  JCA was formed in February 20, 1954.

Pupu Zou was made the conductor at the auspicious JCA Golden Jubilee Celebration on 20 February 2004 at Zomi Colony in Churachanpur. Maybe, it’s the price his dad has paid in the bygone days. None can counter him!

His dad, ordained as a pastor in 1978, entered as the theological trainee at Aizawl Theological College in 1973. Thus MELC Delhi has many hidden personalities! It’s the mercy of God. Till today, Pupu zou is the backbone of Delhi’s MELC church. Imagine? And her mum, Pipi is the proud of us! Pipi is a blessing for all of us, too.

Then the tokens were distributed by Pipi.  Miss Naomi assisted our pipi in delivering those prizes. The appreciation token may be nothing. However, this is the only way in which the church shows their gratitude to its members who constantly follow-up in paying ‘tithe’. With the advent of this New Year, everyone hopes many more to come up.

The golden girl, Miss Naomi crooned a gospel song: “Mangpa’n ka tahsap te hing pe ding” (God will give my needs). Naomi’s sweet voice enthralls us throughout the end. Naomi, a nurse in Safdarjung hospital is the only lady, where many Zou’s whilst in distress calls her. And, she is 24X7 ready to help her people! Others, too!

Naomi, is a good girl, who patiently looks after everyone who were admitted in the hospital during late night or day with the love of Gospel. She says, she is always available for those who believe in Christ, not based on her wits and knowledge, she believed in Christ, the Savour.

The name, Naomi, may not be found any where, except in MELCD! She is healthy, a soft spoken girl and an innocent girl whom many women and men loves her. She is the face of Mary, the mother of Jesus! “Mangpa’n eite a hing lungsiet hi,” is one of her favourite lines. In other words, ‘Naomi’ is the ‘Mary’ of Zous in New Delhi.

Message

The New Year message, by Paul Pauzakham, The Moonlight Ministry, said: “Inviting me for the second, I am very glad to be with you all once again. Today we’ll share on different approach. We must change the way we approach the gospel and applied practically in our lives”.

Bro Paul further says 7+3=10 or 6+4=10 and there’s still many ways in which the result could be obtained the same. Paul consistently shared the gatherings saying, ‘Tie back yourself to God, There’s only one gospel. That’s the only source where we can hear the words of God”.

The speaker, Paul, who works among the Muslims, also added that Setan, the Lucifer is not far away from you. Lucifer is always beside you thinking how to deceive you.

Lucifer, the king of evils, is always using different strategies  to fool the Christians, especially the youths!

Paul says, if you don’t know how Lucifer attempts you, you’ll stumble down. Even Setan attempted Lord Jesus with the gospels, truly. How cunning is Setan!

“What we believe is true. That save us,” he added.

The message was simple and easy to understand. It gave lively thoughts and imaginations which lessen our miseries and sadness. Thus, this New Year message is truly a new dawn for those who attended the New Year celebration. We hope, everyone fills with enormous peace.

Competition

The much awaited competition of memorizing the 66-books of Bible began. The judges – Dr David Vumlallian, ACCURACY, Pa T Zamlunmang, LANGUAGE, and Pa Thangkhosiam, DISCIPLINE. Result Making Committee constituted Pa Thangboi Tungnung and Pa Muanlal.

In this grand competition, the participants were Mr Haulian Samte, Miss Grace, Pa Kunga, Miss Haumuanching, Mr David Kamlunmang, Miss Chiinnei, Miss Nenem, Mr Neithang, Mr Pauzalun, Mr Thangsuanhau, Mr T Kamlianmung, Mr T Thangnou, Miss Priscilla Hoipi, Miss Christy Hoinu and Master Bernard Mangminlun.

In the meantime, New Year tea was being served. What a nice taste, in this wintry breeze!

About Pipi

After the competition, there was a special number from our beloved Pipi. She sang  : “Mangpa Ke’n Sang Nuom Ing”. Pipi is the most regular devotee who sang songs usually in Sunday Worship Services. Here in our church, none fed up, we are always eager to listen to her songs and sharings.

Our beloved Pipi Niangzadim, married to Rev T Kamzakhup Zou in 1959.  Unfortunately, her sweet heart Rev Khup Zou left heavenly abode on 3 May, 1979.

Rev Zou was one of the founding fathers (Executive Members) of the Simte Christian Association and Evangelical Christian Association, and Founding General Secretary of the Jou Christian Association.

Today, pipi is the face of the old leaders who had struggled for our cause. So we are really proud to have such Pipi, most commonly known as Pastorpi Niangzadim [She was often called pastorpi, because her husband is a devoted pastor in those good old days. However, she is appropriate to give the title of ‘Mother of JCA’.]

Just imagine, Pipi is now over 60 year-old! It is quite amazing that she  could easily read the Scriptures and sang Songs without any lens. During her age, it’s a stumbling for many women. There was no schooling for the women folk in the Zou society.

Today we realized the importance of women, so MELCD had given them the best opportunity to conduct the Christmas service and New Year program with the leaderships of women. You may be surprise, why such a lady conducted MELCD’s Christmas and New Year Celebration. But to us, its not that’s much surprising,  we elevate them!  MELCD is always proud of having such an elderly who had experienced the beginning of the church.

The New Year’s offerings were collected by very innocent and beautiful, Miss Grace Mate, a geography student from Jamia Millia Islamia Unviersity.  MELCD pastor had the offertory prayer.

Grace Mate, infact not MELCD, but her devotion towards our church is praiseworthy. There are many others who attended our New Year celebration with love and grace.

Towards the end, we have a wonderful sharing of the words of God from brother, David Goukhenthang, M Div.

Brother David said “It’s only Bible through which we see the love of God. We should obey it”.  This young lad devoted his life for Christ. He works as the counsellor in a Delhi-based drug rehabilitation centre, The Last Resort in New Delhi.

Prize distribution

Now comes the prize distribution for Christmas and New Year’s competition. In addition to this, the prize sponsors were call-upon to have a short speech.  Pipi Niangzadim, who sponsored the prizes for Christmas’ competition, said: “This time I couldn’t join the competition. So I contributed the prizes for the glory of God”.

While Pa James Mamang and family came forward, and Nu Nenem (w/o Mamang) expressed her happiness, saying: “Since the establishment of this church, we thought this is the only way we can contribute to the church. So we did this and that’s all”.  We clapped our hands!

Everyone sat with their eyes wide open. Everyone is lending their ears to the Secretary to glimpse at the coveted result.

The result goes to Mr T Thangnou, FIRST, Miss Christy Hoinu SECOND, and Pa Kunga, THIRD. The first prize was given away by Pa James Mamang; second prize by Nu Nenem and third prize by Nu Ellen Chingngaihchiin (w/o Dr David V Zou).

How lucky they are! All the participants in New Year’s competition received consolation prize. Nu Ellen awarded them.

The FIRST prize for Christmas’ competition was awarded to Miss Siasiam by Pipi Niangzadim; SECOND Mr Haulian Samte and Miss Haumuanching by Pipi Niangzadim and THIRD prize Mr T Thangnou by Dr David Zou.

ELWA Prize

MELCD’s women wing ‘ELWA’ also awarded their prize in ‘Peipung’ (Talent).  For this Peipung, Rs 10 has been given to all the women in the church. The main target is to increase the ‘talent’ individually.

Making Rs 10 into a 100 fold, it became Rs 1000, thus Nu Julie Dimthuamching bagged the first prize, second Rs 500 by Nu Momoi and third Rs 500 by Naomi [Equal amount but hard work pays!]. The speaker Paul gave away all the ELWA prizes to the awardees.

After prize distribution, there was a time for important announcement. This was followed by the last song, and by the Lord’s Prayer.  The program ended at 3 O’clock. After the program was over, there were rounds of photo session. That’s the New Year clicks! You can check it out in zolengthe.net!

‘Lenkhawm’ began with singing and dancing. The icy weather doesn’t bother us! This was the time we all felt home sick. Most of our eyes were filled with tears like morning dews. In other words, ‘Leengkhawm’ became ‘Lungleeng khawm’. Yet, happily, we sang the song and danced!

At dusk, the feast began with enthusiastic approach. We all queued up, for the great feast. So everyone joined up the line. The ‘tuanvais’ served the dishes to every one.  It’s very tasty; they (chefs) were the talk of the hour, while eating….because they satisfied the taste of the people with the tasty dishes and rice. Everyone praised for their cooks!

Leengkhawm – Get Together

We have just barely an hour. After few minutes, this writer went to his room to get refresh. There he met his sister Christy, Miss Biakhoih, and Nu Rose Hmar and her daughter. Just only 30 minutes left for the ‘get-together’ program. We’re very conscious, because we want to reach the place in time.

However, Nu Rose opened her Bible and shared us the New Year massage, ‘the love of Jesus’. She said, she has message for me and my sister. Thus she came to our room. How perfect it was, we all met there. This writer looked up the roof in astonishing, as submission to God.

Undeniably, one of the wonderful things was that, every year we used to choose a verse for our family for the year. This time what my parent chose at home and what Nu Rose Hmar chose for us was exactly same.

Nu Rose encouraged us for more than 45 minutes, so we are late for the night ‘lengkhawm’ program. We didn’t blame for the late, but we are happy for her heart-touched massage!

The get-together night program began with Pa Thangkhosiam’s conductorship at 7.30 pm. Opening prayer by Nu Chiin (w/o LK Samte). This was the very beginning and it was very much appeased on the occasion for the sequences.

During the hour, the ‘tuanvaite’ were given a token of appreciation for their fantastic cooking. The appreciation for Nu Irene Tungnung and Nu Julie Dimthuamching were awarded by Mr Kamlianlal (Mphil student), and to Mr David Lamlunlal Samte by Miss Hohoi (Nurse, Gurgaon). This is how MELCD appreciated their cooks and others, who attended the fun!

Entertainment

In the meantime, Pastor Lalpu kicked-off some of his real-life experienced jokes, since he was in Delhi. Pastor Lal is well known for his dialogue: “Don’t worry, vive” (Nothing to Worry). It’s the hour full with laughter and screams. Then the New Year’s tea was distributed among the festive revelers at 9.30pm.  Then came, Mr Paulun, The Great at 9.45pm making the funniest speech which makes the night with full-loaded fun, happiness and joy.

Sharing

Nu Chiin (w/o LK Samte) encouraged the youths. She said: “In this new year, we should leave aside those which hinder our life. We should do good things”. Nu Chiin, was the first person who donated Rs 5000/- for MELCD Music Project 2010, her husband is an Indian army.

Pa L. Khamminthang, the then Chairen missionary (Manipur), who works as Tax Assistant in Directorate of Intelligence, ITO New Delhi contributed Rs 500 for tea and snacks, for the get-together program. Thank you, bro Min! But he left us shortly, after he left, it was only announced.

About our shepherd

During the get-together, the conductor Pa Siam received a letter requesting pastor Lalpu to present one special number. But…. He doesn’t.

Did you know who is pastor Lalpu? He is a man, Jack-of-all-trades! In Zogam he’s a popular pop Singer (The Zomi Fins, co-founder, 1985), an actor in ‘Tanglai Leh Tuhun’ (Thangkhal documentary and feature film, 1987), a martial arts expert (Kungfu), a comedian, a theological student, and now a Pastor. Now, he’s the friend of the Zou youngsters in the capital!

Surprisingly Pastor Lalpu turned down the request by offering to Pa Muanlal. Who is Muanlal?

Muanlal, a brilliant guy, from Imphal who came to Delhi for Civil Service exams, now married to a beautiful nurse is a good singer and an obedient boy. The song he sang pleased the audience with his romantic voice! He is a brilliant boy. We hope he success in the coming exams!

On the tip of the end, MELCD secretary Bruce K. Thangkhal compiled the needful vote of thanks, especially,  Pa Zamlunmang & his family, The Chefs (Tuanvaite), Youths (for Social Work), and Prize Sponsors, and Mr Paulun, the Great, who makes the program a successful ending. Unfortunately, we missed to present a gift to Mr Paulun. Yet, we didn’t forget him!

This time the clock struck 10.45. To mark the end of our celebration, Pipi rose up and sum-up her speech. Pipi’s prayer closed the get-together program. It ended in nostalgic moments. Many mur mur, Why?

- Secretary/MELCD

PICTURES HERE