REPORT OF THANKSGIVING DAY ON THE 20TH YEAR OF EBCC DELHI
(JUNE 3RD 2012: 11am-1pm)
EBCC , Dwarka , celebrated its 20th year of existence with a joint fellowship with the EBCC, Central Delhi this Sunday. Praise the Lord! In all these years the Lord Almighty has continued to guide us and shower us with prosperity.
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all the ages”. (Psalm 90:1) This verse was the theme of the joint fellowship. Since the inception of EBCC in 1982 God has indeed been our Rock of Ages.
Upa Thianzakham gave a brief report on behalf of the Souvenir Publication Team and read from Deuteronomy 32: 7-11 in which he emphasised on how our people have been led by God through all these years. The Team released a magazine KUMTAWN SUANGPI commemorating this momentous event.
This was followed by the dedication and release of the magazine by Pastor G. Kamzamuan and Pastor V. Nenglian respectively. There was a brief and interesting power point presentation by Upa Kamsuanthang recapitulating 20 years of our journey. The data and photographs shown to the congregation was an eye opener for many of those who have made Delhi their home in the last 2 decades.
The various departments of the church viz BDF, BYF (Dwarka and Central) and the BCD presented melodious songs followed by a special number by Upa Biakkhanmang Guite. On behalf of the EBCC, Central Delhi, Upa Tualzapau shared a brief commentary explaining the metaphor of a youth in his prime and our 20-year-old church. He pointed out on how time must be utilised productively and wisely.
The theme of Pastor V. Nenglian’s sermon was from Psalms 86:8-10, 90:1-2, and 2 Sam. 22:32. From these passages one can see the significance of the rock and its various representations as a refuge, shelter and haven. Christ is the Rock upon which we can safely build our lives. Very often we consider God as a rock upon which we build our materialistic progress, our career but rarely our spiritual life.
Whatever excellence and prosperity we have accrued in all these years can only be attributed to God and not to human agency. As Christians we often tend to interpret God’s benevolence and greatness in quantifiable terms such as financial stability, material wealth, good health or an enviable career. This, however, is the root cause of our moral and spiritual decay. We need to comprehend God for what He is and not what we want Him to be. As human beings it is a natural tendency that we are genial and co-operative with those who behave with us in a similar fashion. Blinded by our vanity and success we are unable to know and experience the true essence of God and godlike life. This insight will only be possible with genuine repentance which comes with humility. Only when we strip away all our worldly embellishments can we have a renewed respect for God’s love and greatness. Man plays an ugly game of deception with God and himself. A time will come when we will stand bare and naked, exposed with all our faults in the eyes of God and the world.
The pastor gave an example of the telescope which magnifies and brings distant hazy images into a clear and vivid perspective. This analogy is applicable for Christians too. God does not need the powerful and mighty. He wants and selects those who are marginalised and weak to show his power. It is only when we are feeble can we be resuscitated by God’s love and grace. He ended his sermon with a call to remain humble in the eyes of God and not to be swayed by the prosperity that we have acquired over the last 20 years remembering that we need God and not vice versa. While climbing the ladder of success let us not forget our humble roots and inextricable ties with God, Our Petra, Our Rock!
By- Grace Siamlianvung
(Media Team)
