India (MNN) — A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.
Usually, the first thing that comes to mind is a long marriage. The same could be applied to the recent Chorei Golden Jubilee celebration in northeast India.
Mawii Pudaite with Bibles for the World says early last month, many believers gathered in Assam and Tripura states to mark what God has done in and among the Chorei trib
Dr. Jacob Pudaite, Principal of the BFTW Trinity College and Seminary, along with his wife, Zingi, marked the long relationship as a missionary in region. Mawii shared some of Jacob's story. "In 1962, my father, Rev. Ramlien Pudaite, was the District Superintendent of Cachar District. When my father learned that there were no Christians among the Chorei people, he went and shared the Gospel with them."
The timing was right because soon "he helped build a church for the new believers. He worked with Pastor Vanphun Manik and Mr. Ngirvansiek, who were among the first believers. Today, there are 50% believers among tribe!"
Who are the Chorei? They're somewhat isolated in India, and Jacob goes on to say, "The Chorei people are absorbed heavily by the Bengali Hindus. As a result, there are a large group of them who have adopted the Hindu religion. Those who are not Christians are largely Hindus. Let us pray for the Chorei Christians that by the time they celebrate their Centenary, 100 % of them will be followers of Christ!"
In that 50 years as the "bride of Christ," there's been the kind of growth that you'd expect to see in a growing marriage. Again, Mawii, sharing Jacob's account: "They have established 17 EFCI (the Evangelical Free Church of India) churches. Because the first believers among them such as Pastor Vanphun Mani and Mr. Ngirvansiek are still alive, everything seemed to be in order."
He goes on to say that the celebrations were especially notable because "all the various denominations who work among the Chorei tribe were all united in the Chorei Christian Gold Jubilee Celebration. Many different groups are now working among the Chorei tribe: seven different denominations such as Kuki Christian Church, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Independent Church of India, Assembly of God, and the Evangelical Free Church of India."
Mawii says as with all relationships, the unity–after half a century–speaks volumes. "God is doing a beautiful thing for the Chorei people and other tribes in the area. We need many laborers to teach and preach the Word of God. We have young men and women who feel the call of God to serve in the unreached peoples group in Cachar and Tripura. They need sponsors and prayer partners."
In describing the celebration, Mawii described it as "joy unspeakable. But the work's not done yet. Although you cannot be there in person, you can send a national missionary. Please let us know if you would like to empower a national Christian missionary to spread the Good News in regions beyond."
Check our Featured Links section for ways you can help the Chorei reach their next milestone.
