The Worship Service was on the theme of ‘Thanksgiving’ (Psalm 50:14,23) in commemoration of 30 years of EBCC Delhi to give thanks and praise to the Almighty God.At the outset, Pastor Lamkhanthang welcomed the congregation and after highlighting the programme, committed it to the Lord in prayer.
Pastor read out Psalm 126 and explained the context relating it to EBCC Delhi. Just as the LORD had done great things for Zion, He had done great things for EBCC Delhi and we are filled with joy. But the Church needs to be firmly established according to His plan and purpose in the years to come. We need the Holy Spirit to move in us and fill us. Saying that the Holy Spirit will move through our prayers, he exhorted the congregation to be prayerful and keep on sowing seeds so that we will reap a harvest in the coming years.
Led by the worship team, hymns of praise were sung by the congregation in a spirit of gratitude and praise. Thereafter, ordained elders G Khamkhanpau and T. Khamkhansuan shared their experiences on how the Church started in the early 1990s.
G Khamkhanpau
“A few of our people were already studying in Delhi even before the 1980s. In the late 1980s, people started coming slowly. At that time, worship service was held under the banner of ZCF. It was from the early 1990s that people started coming in good numbers. Church of Christ was already established during those times. A need was felt among our people to establish a Shurch of our own. In June 1992, ECC – Munirka and Pushp Vihar was established. Pastor Lalkhogin conducted the first sacrament. During those times, members of the church still attend the ZCF service at Free Church, Parliament street. As time passed, Kukis and Hmars went out of ZCF and established their own fellowship. It was in March 1993 that ECC worship service was held at Free Church, Green Park. The history of the Church can be traced through its decadal growth – establishment of ECC in 1992, EBCC at Nasirpur, Dwarka in 2010 and birth of EBCC, Central Delhi in 2020. Now after thirty years, the Lord has given us a bigger place for another church building”.
T. Khamkhansuan
“We give thanks and praise to God, the owner of the Church. As we looked back on how the Church started, let us introspect on what Christ wants us to do. God has blessed and leadeth us to complete 30 years of existence from 1992 to 2022. It is our duty to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20) and seek to do his will in the coming years. In 1992, some of our people had settled in Munirka and Pushp Vihar. We attended worship service under ZCF. On 21 June, 1992 ECC was formerly established and worship service was held at Pa Khamkhanpau quarter, Pushp Vihar though we continue to attend the ZCF also. The number of members who gave tithes this year was 8. In March 1993, permission was granted to us for use of Green Park Free church and worship service continued to be held there till November 2000. The rent for using the church was Rs 250 along with an additional Rs 250 for using the rooms for the Children Department’s Sunday school classes. It was very difficult to meet the rent and the Church Committee decided to mobilise people to attend church and give tithes. In the same year, the Church was recognized by EBC Headquarters. At the EBC Convention in 1994, a request was made for acquiring land and a local Pastor for the Church. The first Pastor Paukhanmang Guite came to shepherd the people in 1995. Looking back, God has indeed blessed the little things we do. If we do our part, He will do the rest. It’s also time to give back to God for what He’d done for us. Let us give tithes and offerings and keep the Day of Rest as God commanded”.
Ordained elder T. Goukhangin led the congregation in Thanksgiving prayer. He introduced the first Pastor of the Church T. Jamkhothang who gave a short speech and prayed at the end of the mass Thanksgiving prayer.
