Tripura Baptist Christian Union

The Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU) is the largest Christian Groups in the Indian state of Tripura. It has its head office in Agartala, the state capital. The TBCU is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF)[1] and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA).[2] It is also a member church in the North East India Christian Council (NEICC), a regional church body of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI).[3] As of 2015, TBCU had 84,795 members in 845 churches.[4]

Logo of the Tripura Baptist Christian Union

History


The union was formed under the leadership of Rev. M.J. Eade in December 1938 in Lakshmilunga, a village six miles from Agartala. TBCU was supported and funded from the beginning by the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society (NZBMS) and they provided most of the staff till the 1960s. Since then TBCU has now become an independent indigenous self-supporting church organisation. Rev. M.J. Eade was appointed as the first General Secretary of the Tripura Baptist Christian Union. Rev. Lalhuala Darlong was the first national General Secretary.[5]

TBCU employs many pastors and evangelists and runs community programs such as schools and dispensaries. Since the early 80s, it has been working in partnerships with the Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) and also with the Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM) from Mizoram. Both BCM and ECM have many workers in Tripura working as missionaries and evangelist/teachers in various TBCU churches and schools.

TBCU celebrated its Golden jubilee and Diamond Jubilees in 1988 and 1998 respectively with much fanfare.

Organization
Rev. C. K. Debbarma (Executive Secretary, SNBA) and Rev. Ngaituahsunga Darlong (general secretary, TBCU) during the Sadar North Baptist Youth Fellowship 2006 in Abhicharan Baptist Church

Office

TBCU has its office in the Baptist Mission Compound at Arundhutinagar, Agartala.

The Mission Compound was established in 1938 under an official land grant by the then King of Tripura Kingdom, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya, to the Baptist missionaries from New Zealand.[6]


Associations

It has the following affiliated associations:

Every year a meeting of the Council Members of the TBCU is organised at one of the churches within the Union.

Schools

•St. Paul's School
Main article: St Paul's School, Agartala

The TBCU runs the St. Paul's School which is situated in Arundhutinagar, Agartala. The school was started in the early 1940s as the first English medium school in the Kingdom of Tripura.

Currently, the Principal of School is Miss Thanzuali and the Vice-Principal is Mr. James Muankima.

The school is a higher secondary school with classes from K.G. to Class XII. It is affiliated to CISCE. There are more than 1500 students.[7]

Darchawi S.B Bengali medium school, at Darchawi village in Unakoti district of Tripura, was also developed by the NZBMS with the financial aid of the Government of Tripura.

KOKBA
  • Kok English Medium School is located in Baijal bari, Khowai , Gomoti Tripura. The school is affiliated to TBSE for Nursey to Class -X. It is run by KOKBA.

JSBA

The JSBA currently runs two schools.

•St. Thomas English Medium School

St. Thomas English Medium School, located at Vanghmun village, was established in 1979. It educates to the mostly scheduled Tribes students living in and around Jampui hill. Pu Lalnunsanga is the headmaster of the school. The school has KG to Class X standards. The school is affiliated to the Tripura Board of School education (TBSE). Every year a considerable number of Madhyamik students appear for their examination and come out with flying colors. The school has contributed greatly to the educational development of the people of Jampui hill. It has a boarding house for both male and female students. A stipend is provided by the Tribal Welfare Department of Tripura, through which each year a number of poor students can pursue their educational careers at the school.

•Pohor English Medium School

Pohor English Medium school was established in 2008 at Chawmanu under Chailengta Sub-Division of Dhalai District.

•St. James Higher Secondary School

St James Higher Secondary School is located in Gongrai Molsom village, P.O Kendraichera, Sepahijala Dist. Tripura. It was established in 1980. The school is mainly for the scheduled Tribes students. The school is affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education For KG to Class - X and For Class - XI & XII it is affiliated to TBSE.

•Nazareth English School

Nazareth English School is Located in Tuidu Bazar ,Gomati District ,Tripura. Mainly For Classes for KG to Class VIII.

Udaipur Baptist Association(UBA)

• St. John's High School

St John's High School is located in Raio, Killa, Udaipur, Gomoti Tripura. It was established in 1972. The school is affiliated to CBSE for Nursery to Class -X. It is run by Borok Hoda Thong(BHT).

•Elem English School

Elem English School is located in Dulukma, Amarpur, Gomoti Tripura . The school is affiliated to TBSE for Nursery to Class -X . It is run by Baptist Church of Mizoram(BCM).

•Hamari English School

Hamari English School is located in Bangphur, Amarpur ,Gomati Tripura. The school is affiliated to TBSE for Nursery to Class-VIII .It is also run by BCM.

•Nograi Mission English School

Nograi Mission English School(NMES) is located is located in Nograi, Ompi , Gomoti Tripura . The school is affiliated to CBSE for Nursery to Class -VIII .It is run by Chekiye Village Baptist Church(CVBC), Nagaland.

Theology college

The TBCU runs a theology college from its mission compound in Agartala where mission workers are trained in Biblical doctrines and other theological studies. The former General Secretary of TBCU, Rev. Rajani Kaipeng is the principal of the college.

Hospital

Earlier, the TBCU ran its own hospital at their headquarters from the 1930s until 1980 when it was discontinued, providing free treatment to the people of the state.

Presently under SNBA a hospital is being constructed at Patni village of West Tripura around 20 km from Agartala city.

Social service

Since its inception. the TBCU has been supporting the several voluntary NGOs dedicated to the development of the poor tribals living in the remote hamlets of Tripura.

Institute of community transformation
  • Sponsored by Seva Bharat (Mission India)

Location: Madhab Baptist Church, Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Publications

Bibles

TBCU in partnership with the Bible Society of India has been active in translating the Bible and New Testament in various local languages of Tripura.


Firstly KAUBRU BAIBLE. As Bru people are called Bible kthar that is mean Holy Bible. New Testament= SMAIKTA, OLD Testament = SMAIKCHAM. The translation by * Rev. S.K. MSHA, and his team.

Smai Kwtal

The New Testament of the Bible in Kokborok language, the dialect of the native people of Tripura was first published in 1976.

The translation team were:

  • Rev. B.K. Smith, NZBMS
  • Rev. Jong Bahadur Debbarma, TBCU
  • Ramesh Debbarma, TBCU

Baibel Kwthar

The full Holy Bible in Kokborok language was published for the first time in 2013 by the Bible Society of India.[8]

The TBCU translation team were:

  • Rev. Jong Bahadur Debbarma, CBA
  • Rev. Anil Debbarma, CBA
  • Rev. Nilmani Debbarma, SNBA
  • Mark Debbarma, CBA
  • Chitta Debbarma, SNBA
  • Dn. Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, SNBA

Dan Thar

The New Testament of the Bible in (Molsom) language the dialect of the native people of Tripura. The translation team were:

  • Rev.Misilkumar Molsom
  • Rev.Sonabahadur Molsom
  • Decon. Lalkunga Molsom
  • Decon.CL.Nunhlima

Literature

Under the Tripura Baptist Christian Literature Committee and the Kokborok Christian Literature Committee (KCLC) various songbooks, tracts and study materials are regularly published by the TBCU.

Statistics

TBCU has more than 840 churches with a total communicant membership of more than 98,000.[9]

Sl. No.AssociationChurchesMembers
1.Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA)13621,000
2.Central Baptist Association (CBA)926,500
3.Udaipur Baptist Association (UBA)894,600
4.Kok Baptist Association (KOKBA)603,800
5.Yarung Baptist Christian Association (YBCA)504,600
6.Salgra Baptist Association (SBA)403,000
7.Yapri Baptist Association (YBA)331,900
8.Kailasahar Baptist Christian Association (KBCA)271,750
9.Dergang Baptist Association (DBA)244,100
10.Dharmanagar Longai Baptist Association (DLBA)232,000
11.Kamalpur Baptist Association (KBA)232,000
12.Jampui Longai Baptist Association (JLBA)232,100
13.Songang Baptist Christian Association (SBCA)12750
14.Jampui Sakhan Baptist Association (JSBA)116,700
15.Tripura Baptist A'chik Krima (TBAK)
16.Saizawm Sazai Baptist Association (SSBA)48
17.Hachuk Haphar Baptist Association (HHBA)12
Choir group from Mandwi Baptist Circle, Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA)


Office bearers of TBCU

Union
  • General Secretary: Rev. C.K. Debbarma
  • Associate General Secretary: Rev. Rantuasanga Darlong
  • Secretary: Rev. Lalthanliana

Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA)

Pastors of SNBA

  1. Rev. C. K. Debbarma (General Secretary, TBCU)
  2. Rev. Ranjit Debbarma (Executive Secretary, SNBA)
  3. Rev.Chandramoni Debbarma (Secretary, Sadar North Baptist Association)
  4. Rev. Nilmani Debbarma
  5. Rev. Biswa Kr. Debbarma
  6. Pastor Mangal Debbarma
  7. Pastor Manmohan Debbarma
  8. Pastor Barendra Debbarma (Shillong)
  9. Pastor Samendra Debbarma
  10. Evan. Shikha Debbarma
  11. Pastor Ajit Debbarma
  12. Pastor Sitaram Rupini
  13. Pastor Sushanta Debbarma
  14. Pastor Pradip Debbarma
  15. Pastor Mantu Debbarma
  16. Pastor Kishore Debbarma
  17. Pastor Bijoy Debbarma
  18. Pastor Ratan Debbarma
  19. Pastor Sukuram Debbarma
  20. Pastor Nripendra Debbarma
  21. Pastor Partha Sarathi Debbarma
  22. Pastor Sandhyaram Debbarma
  23. Pastor Rajkumar Debbarma
  24. Pastor Mithun Rupini
  25. Pastor Biswajit Debbarma
  26. Pastor Nitya Debbarma
  27. Pastor Brajendra Debbarma
  28. Pastor Manoranjan Debbarma
  29. Pastor Kishore (Yarwng) Debbarma
  30. Pastor Arun Debbarma
  31. Pastor Ajendra Debbarma
  32. Pastor Rwngthoma Debbarma
  33. Pastor Joseph Debbarma
  34. Pastor Manik Debbarma
  35. Pastor Somchati Debbarma
  36. Pastor Sunil Debbarma
  37. Pastor Malendra Debbarma
  38. Pastor Debojit Debbarma
  39. Pastor Sachin Debbarma
  40. Pastor Bijoy Debbarma
  41. Evan Amit Debbarma
  42. Evan Bishu kr Debbarma
  43. Evan Bharat Debbarma
  44. Evan Miss Ganga Debbarma
  45. E/T John Rupini
  46. E/T Siari Debbarma
  47. E/T Subasish Debbarma
  48. E/T Jico Debbarma
  49. Mr. Rabindra Debbarma (Driver)

Office Staff of SNBA

  1. Mr. Pitor Debbarma (Accountant)

Ordained Evangelists of SNBA

  1. Ord. Evan. Lalnunsiama (BCM Missionary)
  2. Ord. Evan. Lalchungnunga (JSBA Missionary)

Central Baptist Association (CBA)

Pastors of CBA The pastors of the CBA are:

  1. Rev. Jong Bahadur Debbarma
  2. Rev. Asit Debbarma (Retd)
  3. Rev. Swapan Debbarma
  4. Rev. Surajit Debbarma
  5. Rev. Mohan Koloi
  6. Rev. Anil Debbarma
  7. Rev. Ajit Debbarma
  8. Rev. Tripureswer Debbarma
  9. Rev. Sambhuram Debbarma
  10. Rev. Swadesh Debbarma
  11. Rev. Abiram Debbarma

Ordained Evangelists of CBA

  1. Ord. Evan. Aprajit Debbarma
  2. Ord. Evan. Sushil Debbarma
  3. Ord.Evan. Ranjit Debbarma
  4. Ord.Evan. Madhab Debbarma
  5. Ord.Evan. Satyaram Debbarma

Evangelists of CBA

  1. Evan. Dilip Debbarma
  2. Evan. Premananda Debbarma
  3. Evan. Laxman Debbarma
  4. Evan. Ranjan Debbarma
  5. Evan. Krishna Debbarma
  6. Evan. Bitta Debbarma
  7. Evan. Uttam Debbarma
  8. Evan. Saitya Debbarma
  9. Evan. Arup Debbarma

Kok Baptist Association (KOKBA)

Pastors of KOKBA The pastors of the KOKBA are:

  1. Rev. Jyotirmoy Debbarma
  2. Rev. Sunil Debbarma
  3. Rev. Malendra Debbarma
  1. Rev. Surnapada Jamatia
  2. Rev. Dharmendra Debbarma
  3. Rev. Samaresh Debbarma

Ordained Evangelists of KOKBA

  1. Dhiman Debbarma

Ordained Evangelists of KOKBA

  1. Evan. Philip Rupini
  2. Evan. Kishore Debbarma
  3. Evan. Manoj Kumar Debbarma
  4. Evan. Sanjoy Debbarma
  5. Evan. Ranju Debbarma
  6. Evan. Utpal Debbarma
  7. Evan. Biresh Debbarma
  8. Evan. Mansujit Debbarma
  9. Evan pradesh Debbarma

Udaipur Baptist Association (UBA)

The pastors of the UBA are:

  1. Rev. Debguru Jamatia
  2. Rev. Subraihamjak Jamatia
  3. Rev. Chandra Bahadur Jamatia

Ordained Evangelists of UBA

  1. Ord. Evan. Imangrai Jamatia
  2. Ord. Evan. Abraham Jamatia
  3. Ord. Evan. Uttam Kr. Jamatia
  4. Ord. Evan. Phaijak Jamatia

Evangelists of UBA

  1. Evan. Jiban Barma Jamatia
  2. Evan. Swlaijak Jamatia
  3. Evan. Nabin Chandra Jamatia
  4. Evan. Swapan Jamatia
  5. Evan. Bijoy Kumar Jamatia
  6. Evan. Bipad Sadhan Jamatia
  7. Evan. Baibel Kalai

List of churches affiliated to TBCU

Abhicharan Baptist Pastoral Circle

Borkathal Baptist Pastoral Circle

Champaknagar Baptist Pastoral Circle

Dakdu Baptist Pastoral Circle

Hezamara Baptist Pastoral Circle

Jamilwng Baptist Pastoral Circle

Khumulwng Baptist Pastoral Circle

Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Bishramganj Baptist Pastoral Circle
  • Rangchak

City Baptist Pastoral Circle

Gabardi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Jampui Baptist Pastoral Circle

Takarjala Baptist Pastoral Circle

Amarpur Baptist Pastoral Circle

Marandi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Pitra Baptist Pastoral Circle

Kok Baptist Association (KOKBA)

Saisawm Sazai Baptist Association

Pastor circles
  • Gongrai Circle
  • Gamagur Circle
  • Kamlachora Circle
  • Dewanchhora Circle

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