Sadar North Baptist Association
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Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA) is the largest Kokborok speaking Baptist community in Tripura. It is located within the West Tripura district of Tripura in India. As of 2014, SNBA had more than 21,000 members and 156 churches.
History
SNBA started as a small circle within the Central Baptist Association of Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU). It later on evolved and developed into a full-fledged association of TBCU with many churches affiliated to it. Today there are around more than 150 churches and fellowships within Sadar North Baptist Association. Some the pioneers of the Baptist's in Sadar North is Life Deacon Biralal Debbarma (one of the first three Christians in the Kokborok speaking community and the ex-President of SNBA) and the Late Rev. Rabindra Debbarma.
Birth
Before its birth as a full association the SNBA was one of the four Pastoral Circles under the Central Baptist Association. As churches grew rapidly with more new believers everywhere in the state, the Annual Assembly Session of Tripura Baptist Christian Union which was held in Subhash Nagar (North Tripura) on 23–26 February 1989 passed resolution that the Circles (e.g., South, Udaipur, Saisawm Sazai, and Sadar North) be given the full status of Associations. And it was how the Sadar North Baptist Association was established as an Association in the month of February 1989.
The leaders of the newly born Association with the kind presence of Rev. Hnehliana, the then General Secretary of TBCU, met prayerfully on 25 March 1989 at Durga Chowdhury Baptist Church and formed the first Executive Committee of the Association on ad hoc basis. The first members selected for the Executive Committee were:
- President: Mr. Birolal Debbarma
- Secretary: Rev. Rabindra Debbarma
- Treasurer: Mr. Chandra Kanta Debbarma.
Faith and doctrine
SNBA is based on the principles of Baptist theology and doctrines and is strongly threaded and bounded by firm faith on Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit and the one and only omnipotent Father God.
Organization
SNBA has the highest strength of Kokborok speaking Baptist community in Tripura.
Office
The association is led by the Executive Secretary, Rev. Chandra Kanta Debbarma, and has its head-office in Baptist Mission Compound, Arundhutinagar, Agartala.
The association is registered under the Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU). The association is located within the West Tripura district of Tripura state in India.
Baptist Pastoral Circles
SNBA has eight Pastoral Circles, namely:
- Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle.
- Dakdu Baptist Pastoral Circle.
- Champaknagar Baptist Pastoral Circle.
- Abhicharan Baptist Pastoral Circle.
- Jamilwng Baptist Pastoral Circle.
- Khumulwng Baptist Pastoral Circle.
- Hezamara Baptist Pastoral Circle.
- Borkathal Baptist Pastoral Circle.
Sadar North Baptist Women's Society (SNBWS)
- President: Mrs. Lalduhawmi Sailo (Agartala Baptist Church)
- Secretary: Mrs. Anjali Debbarma (Agartala City Baptist Church)
Sadar North Baptist Sikla Bodol (SNBSB)
- President: Pankaj Debbarma
- Secretary: Rev. Manmohan Debbarma (Secretary, Khumulwng Pastoral Circle)
Sunday School Committee
- Convener: Evan. Lalnunsiama
- Member: Rev. Nilmani Debbarma
- Member: Ord. Evan. C. K. Chhoma.
Affiliated organisations
Schools
The association runs four English Medium schools, namely:
- Yakhili Academy (in Khumulwng)
- Tipprah Academy (in Borokathal)
- Salka Academy (in Hezamara)
- Pohor Academy (in Burakha)
Hospital
The foundation for a new hospital under the association was laid on 30 September 2013 for which the construction is underway.
Sponsored by: Sadar North Baptist Women Society (SNBWS)
Location: Patni Village, Borokathal Baptist Pastoral Circle (around 20 km from Agartala city).
Institute of Community Transformation
Sponsored by Seva Bharat (Mission India)
Location: Madhab Baptist Church, Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle.
Statistics
SNBA Census
Description/Particulars | Total ( 2001 ) | Total ( 2010 ) |
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Churches | 84 | 129 |
Fellowships | 5 | 7 |
Members | 8,562 | 20,943 |
* Male members | 4,411 | 11,203 |
* Female members | 4,151 | 9,740 |
Minors | 2,972 | 4,533 |
Government Employees | 947 | 1,480 |
Christian Families | 2,128 | 4,332 |
Workers of SNBA | 13 | 52 |
Pastors | 8 | 10 |
Evangelists | 4 | 27 |
Others | 1 | 2 |
Deacons | 77 | 183 |
Life Deacons | 2 | 6 |
Workers
The workers of Sadar North Baptist Association have been grouped mainly into five categories as below:
- Pastor
- Pro-Pastor
- Ordained Evangelist
- Evangelist
- Evangelist-Teacher
- Office Worker
Pastors
The SNBA has 11 pastors working in various locations under it, except for Rev. R. K. Debbarma who is the Secretary of TBCU now and is posted for TBCU Head Office in Agartala.
The pastors under SNBA are.
- Rev. C. K. Debbarma (Executive Secretary, SNBA)
- Rev. Sukuram Debbarma (Secretary, Jamilwng Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Nilmani Debbarma (Secretary, SNBA)
- Rev. Mangal Debbarma (Secretary, Dakdu Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Ranjit Debbarma
- Rev. Biswa Debbarma (Secretary, Abhicharan Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Charanjoy Rupini (Secretary, Champaknagar Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Chandramoni Debbarma (Secretary, Borkathal Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Kishore Kr. Debbarma (Secretary, Mandwi Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Manmohan Debbarma (Secretary, SNBSB & Secretary, Khumulwng Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Barendra Debbarma (Secretary, Hezamara Pastoral Circle)
- Rev. Samendra Debbarma
The pastors are allocated their postings anywhere in the association. They have been trained by theological colleges from various parts of India like Bangalore, New Delhi, and Silchar.
Ordained evangelists
- Ord. Evan. C. K. Chhoma (E.C.M. Missionary)
- Ord. Evan. Hmingliana Darlong (K.B.C.A. Missionary)
- Ord. Evan. V. Pawha (E.C.M. Missionary)
- Ord. Evan. Lalnunsiama (Z.B.M. Missionary)
Evangelists
There are evangelists in SNBA.
- Evan. Shikha Debbarma
- Evan. Ajit Debbarma
- Evan. Sitaram Rupini
- Evan. Sushanta Debbarma
- Evan. Pradip Debbarma
- Evan. Kishore Debbarma
- Evan. Bijoy Debbarma
- Evan. Ratan Debbarma
- Evan. Sukuram Debbarma
- Evan. Nripendra Debbarma (Sat Para Baptist Church)
- Evan. Partha Sarathi Debbarma ( Abicharan Baptist Church)
- Evan. Sandhyaram Debbarma (on Training0
- Evan. Rajkumar Debbarma (on Training0
- Evan. Mithun Rupini (on training)
- Evan. Biswajit Debbarma (on training)
- Evan. Nitya Debbarma
- Evan. Brajendra Debbarma (on Training)
- Evan. Manoranjan Debbarma
- Evan. Kishore(Yarwng) Debbarma
- Evan. Arun Debbarma
- Evan. Ajendra Debbarma (on Training)
- Evan. Rwngthoma Debbarma
- Evan. Joseph Debbarma
- Evan. Manik Debbarma (on training)
- Evan. Somchati Debbarma
- Evan. Sunil Debbarma
- Evan. Malendra Debbarma
- Evan. Debojit Debbarma
- Evan. Sachin Debbarma
- Evan. Puskumar Debbarma
- Evan. Amit Debbarma
- Evan. Bijoy (Kothoma) Debbarma
- E/T John Rupini
- E/T Siari Debbarma
- E/T Mrs. Elemi Debbarma
- E/T Subasish Debbarma
- Mr. Rabindra Debbarma ( Driver )
Office staff
Mr. Mantu Debbarma Mr. Pitor Debbarma (Accountant)
Missionaries
There are eight missionaries working in SNBA. Missionaries are mainly from four organisations:
- Baptist Church of Mizoram
- Evangelical Church of Maraland
- Jampui Sakhan Baptist Association
- Kailashahar Baptist Christian Association
Affiliated churches
Some churches like Kisong Baptist Church, Bhuban Chontai Baptist Church and Khumulwng Baptist Church have huge strength of members whereas others like Roktia Baptist Church and Rasu Baptist Church have less strength of members.
The affiliated churches with foundation date are listed below according to the Pastoral Circles:
Abhicharan Baptist Pastoral Circle
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Borkathal Baptist Pastoral Circle
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Champaknagar Baptist Pastoral Circle
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Dakdu Baptist Pastoral Circle
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Hezamara Baptist Pastoral Circle
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Jamilwng Baptist Pastoral Circle
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Khumulwng Baptist Pastoral Circle
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Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle
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See also
- Tripura Baptist Christian Union
- Baptist World Alliance
- Christianity in Tripura
- Jampui Sakhan Baptist Association
References
- Debbarma, Sukhendu (1996) Origin and Growth of Christianity in Tripura: With Special Reference to the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society, 1938–1988, Indus Publishing, New Delhi. ISBN 81-7387-038-1
- Borok Baptist Convention, Rangchak Mukumu, 2010
External links
- SadarNorth.Org, the Official ePortal of Sadar North Baptist Association
- Baptist World Alliance