Way back in 4th May, 2016, the Program Committee of the Sesquicentenary Celebration consisting of the President and General Secretary of GBC and the Executive Secretaries of all the 14 Associations gathered together in GBC Conference Hall for brain storming session to decide on the theme for the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of Rajasimla Church. Considering the significance of the event, the Committee felt that the theme should be relevant to GBC context, thought provoking, catchy and should strike a chord with people. As many as five different themes were proposed in that meeting. Themes from the earlier celebrations also figured in the discussion. Eventually, the Committee prayerfully settled for the theme “Revisiting the past, envisioning the Future” based on Jeremiah 31:3 & 4.
—Janang R. Sangma
Explanation of the biblical text: v.3 “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: Therefore with lovingkindness, I Have drawn you. v.4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt. O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who practice.”
These words came to Israel at a time when they were living in exile in Babylon. They were despised and mocked by their captors. Their lives had been shattered as they had lost everything. In Psalm 137, we get a clear picture of the situation they were in. The Jews would congregate by the banks of the rivers of Babylon such as the Kebar (Eze. 1:1). As they reflect back on the way things used to be in Judah and Jerusalem, they began to weep. They had lost their homes; they had lost their place of worship; they had lost their freedom. And in their desperation, they cried out to God for help and comfort.
It was in that context, Yahweh gave this word to Israel through His prophet Jeremiah. It was a word of encouragement and hope. Three things God wanted His people to know:
(1). That His love for the people of Israel is real and it is an enduring love. (2). That He has drawn them unto Himself in spite of their shortcomings and failures. (3). That He has already worked out wonderful plans for their future to build them up and to restore them to their former glory.
I strongly believe that these reassuring and comforting words of God are also meant for the present generation of members in GBC. Today, we are beset with myriads of social issues and problems. Poverty and underdevelopment still dog us. Violence and injustice continue to thrive among us. Corruption is rampant and the erosion of moral values is a pandemic. As a community, we are being held captive by these vices. Hence, our observance of the 150th-year milestone will be meaningless if we do not take the time to examine ourselves in the mirror of God’s word.
Why Revisit the Past?
As GBC celebrates the 150th anniversary of the planting of the first indigenous church in Garo soil, as a community of God’s people, we need to take the opportunity to ponder upon God’s love for us and be thankful to Him for His mercy and grace. Before the advent of the Gospel to Garoland, in the eyes of the colonial rulers, the Garos were only bloodthirsty savages who deserved to be wiped out from the face of this planet. But in the nick of time, through Divine intervention, the Garos embraced Christianity a masse and thereby the tribe was spared from imminent annihilation. In other words, the Gospel not only gave the Garos deliverance from sin, ignorance, illiteracy, and disease but it also gave them political liberation apart from newfound status and identity as a reformed tribe.
This is also a time to remember our former missionaries from the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society who toiled hard to bring the entire Garo tribe to the fold of Christ. They gave their all for our sake, giving up worldly comforts and sacrificing their own lives, to show us the Way. They were the first to provide our people with education and health care, taught us improved methods of farming, and also gave us the Bible in our heart language. Without them, we would have been nowhere today. While revisiting the past, we cannot forget their untiring efforts and contributions towards making the Garos civilized and God-fearing people.
As we retrospect on the journey that we have traversed together as a church body we also need to do some serious soul-searching as to where and what we are now and what we ought to be. Rather I rue the missed opportunities, wasted years, and lack of focus on the purpose of our existence. Oh, how I wish we could turn back the clock and set things right. But then there are silver linings too. Over the years it has produced outstanding leaders of faith and character who have blazed the trail and have set high standards for successive generations to follow. Amongst all other tribal Christians nurtured by ABFMS missionaries, GBC was the first to take the initiative to reach out to other unreached tribes of the region. Rev. Thangkan Sangma was one of the first tribal leaders from NE India to participate in an international mission forum. The Garos were also the first to introduce and practice the collection of ‘handgrip of rice’ in Christian homes which is used to support mission activities till to this very day. As an organization, it has withstood many challenges and has matured as an organization. From just a mere 391 members and 8 churches at the time of formation of the Convention in 1875, today it has grown to become the fourth largest convention under Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBDF) with more than 300,000 baptized members, 2500 organized congregations, 14 associations and more than 200,000 unbaptized children of Baptist families.
Why envision the Future?
Observance of the 150th milestone will not be meaningful and fruitful if we do not rededicate ourselves to God, offering ourselves as living sacrifices at His altar and allowing God to reveal His plans for the road ahead. Celebrations apart, GBC must take this opportunity to earnestly seek God’s face and discern His will for our role in God’s overall redemptive plan for mankind. In our endeavor to address the needs of society today, we must not lose sight of the heavenly vision which God has given us. The primary of teaching and disciplining, evangelism and mission, must be given due recognition above all things. In doing so, we must rise up to the challenges of our times and engage in prophetic ministry. We must also invest our God-given resources wisely and prayerfully in this age of materialism and consumerism.
In February 1993, when GBC celebrated the 125th anniversary of the foundation of Rajasimla Church, the great multitude of our members who assembled for the Sunday worship service had prayerfully adopted several resolutions most of which had been fulfilled today. They have dared to dream big. They have understood the mind of God. Today, it is our turn to envision the future and deliver accordingly.
Conclusion
In Jeremiah 33:3, God tells his people, “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” I wish and pray that every member of GBC will claim this promise of God and attempt bigger things for His glory so that we may expect greater blessings from Him.
Rev. Janang R. Sangma: “Revisiting the past, envisioning the future,” in Garo Baptist Church Sesquicentenary, Souvenir. “Celebrating the glory of God’s grace for 150 years.” Published by Souvenir Committee, ABDK Sesquicentenary 2017, pp 17-18.
