Moderator’s Appeal – Manipur Appeal
Watkin Roberts had a burden for the people from the Hmar tribe in northern Mizoram and southern Manipur who had hardly been reached with the Gospel until then. He learned their language, which was very similar to the Mizo language, and secured copies of John’s Gospel to send as a gift to the village chiefs of the Hmar tribe. That is an interesting story which says that it was Miss Emily Davies, who gave the £5 to Watkin Roberts who inspired him and enabled him to do this work.
A message came back from the head of the Senvawn village across the border in Manipur asking someone to come and explain what was being said in the book to them and about God. But the village was in another state and missionaries from Mizoram were not allowed to go over the provincial boundaries that had been set by the British government and the Maharajah of Manipur. Despite the dangers and warnings that he would be killed by this fierce tribe, Watkin Roberts secured the permission needed to go there on a short missionary journey in 1910 together with four native colleagues from Aizawl.
After five days of learning about the Gospel there, the chief and four other men from the tribe there announced that they wanted to make peace with the God of the Bible and believe in Jesus Christ. The village of Senvawn in southern Manipur became a center for the Gospel that would have its impact on the rest of the state as a new school and a vibrant church was established there.
Although he did not have permission to stay there to work, Watkin Roberts kept in touch with this young church and supported them in establishing a mission which would include the first missionaries from Mizoram itself. Within two generations the Hmar tribe had turned almost entirely to the Gospel and thousands of churches had been established among a wide variety of ethnic tribes across the whole of Maniur Province.
Manipur Appeal – Jos and Owain 14 Summit Challenge
On Saturday, May 31st, father and son – Owain and Joseff Edwards – along with a group of friends, will take on the Welsh 3000s challenge. There are 15 mountains in Wales over 3000 feet, and their goal is to reach the summit of each one within 24 hours.
Back in March, on a special trip to Mizoram in North India, Owain and Joseff had the opportunity to meet refugees from Manipur – a community of around 40 families who were forced to flee due to violent ethnic conflict. They are now displaced and receiving shelter in Mizoram, where their needs are great.
Their response is to ensure that every mile they walk and every foot they climb helps raise funds for this special appeal by the Presbyterian Church of Wales.”
Saturday the 12th of April I will be taking part in an ‘Ultra Marathon’ in Pen Llŷn. The intention is to walk, and who knows, maybe run a bit of the 50Km (31 miles) around Pen Llŷn.
Every mile, every step indeed will be taken in order to raise money for the special Appeal of the Presbyterian Church of Wales this year, the ‘Manipur Appeal’.
Since May 2023 there has been a fierce ethnic conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo tribes in the state of Manipur in North East India. In that period thousands of homes and hundreds of villages and Churches of the Kuki-Zo Christians have been burnt down, and hundreds of them have lost their lives. Thousands and thousands of the tribe are located all over the region and the world, but especially in the neighbouring states in the North East.
As a Church here in Wales, our connection with the tribes of the North East of India goes back almost two centuries, and because of this special relationship we cannot bear to see the Christians of the Kuki-Zo, being persecuted in this way without raising a hand to help them and stand together in prayer and act with them.
On a visit to Aizawl, Mizoram in December last year, I had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with the community of 40 families from Manipur who had displaced there. This is what Robert said, one of the young Fathers I had the chance to speak to… ‘We long to return home, but at the moment that looks quite unlikely. We are needed so much, but we continue to hold on to hope’.
I intend to walk/run the journey to collect money to see Robert and many thousands of others like him regain their dignity and be allowed to return back to their homes and communities to rebuild in safety. On behalf of Robert and thousands of others of our Brothers and Sisters in Manipur, thank you for your generosity.
Moderator’s Appeal Podcast
