A blessed Sunday at EBCC Delhi. The afternoon’s youth-oriented service got going with Praise and Worship of the Lord led by the Worship Team. Offerings to the Lord were consecrated by Upa Thangkhosiam, soon after which Ms Kimremmawi took a brief moment to share her story–a testament.
Ms Remmawi was a victim of an unfortunate car accident months ago on the morning of Good Friday. Although still recuperating from the injuries, she had turned up at the service to share what her life’s story has been pre-incident and post-incident. She talked about how much things have changed for her; from being a busy, hard-working, career-oriented, and success-driven woman that she felt she was, with little time to spare for family and God. She said that post incident, her confinement at home had given her time to retrospect and introspect, and allowed for better understanding of her life, of others’ lives by empathy, of finding gratitude in the little ways and the simple things, and of God. She turned to Jeremiah29:11 to point out that God has a plan for her, and that God has promised her that she will come out of this. Ms Remmawi summed up what she said she has learnt in this way: one, ‘Problems are not punishment; they are wake-up calls from a loving God’; two, ‘Hands at Work, Heart to God’; and three, ‘Nothing comes before God and family’.
After the inspirational sharing, Ms Vungthianmuang performed a solo of the song ‘Nang toh houlim nuam bek ing’. Pastor H Biakson followed with a brief introduction of Local Upa V Vumlunmang, the main speaker for the afternoon. The service came to a close with a benediction by Upa Khamkhanpau Guite.
Khristian Tuailai leh Khopi Hindan
Local Upa V Vumlunmang delivered a talk on the topic ‘Christian youth and city life’, in an effort to enlighten and guide the youth on what living in the city means, what good things the new place might have to offer, and the challenges that are there that will test them.
To start with, the Local Upa put forward the question “Have you explored Delhi yet?” This was an exhortation aimed at building awareness of what exists around one, to see places and people and buildings and other things that make up the fabric of the city of Delhi; aimed, also, at realising that one is now in one’s dream destination through the Lord’s providence [Joshua 24:13], and that one may reflect upon oneself and get inspired, and renew the inspiration which had brought one here in the first place with the hope to do well in life.
The life of a believer is different in Delhi. According to the speaker, these are due to challenges arising from independence and insignificance. Unlike back home inLamka, one is free from the prying eyes of neighbours and society, or of the complimenting relatives and dear ones. One is independent and insignificant here in Delhi, which means that one is free to do as he or she wills. This poses a big challenge to one’s everyday conduct and dealings, especially in areas of money management, time management, and even one’s faith. The speaker expressed his admiration for those gathered for choosing to attend the worship service despite such challenges and other choices, and encouraged one and all to listen for one’s friends.
‘Are we ‘unprepared gladiators’?’ raised the speaker next. Much like a gladiator prepares not for peace but for battle, a believer needs to prepare for the test of discipline and strength of faith and the deception of temptation, for, the speaker warned, the enemy is a roaring lion [1 Peter 5:8] and it is invisible! The challenges of the mobile phone were also mentioned by the Local Upa, which he aptly termed ‘screen addiction’ and ‘digital distraction’. In today’s use of the mobile phone, blurred lines separate what is work and what is entertainment because it depends only too much on how and for what it is used. In conclusion, the Local Upa turned to Matthew 5:29 and Philippians 3:12-14, and cautioned against the life of mediocrity. He exhorted everyone to, like Paul the Apostle, press towards that goal of our own here in Delhi, despite the tests and temptations of city life.
Kamlianmung, Content Writer, EBCC Delhi
