- Evangelical Church of Maraland
Evangelical Church of Maraland is a Church in southern
Mizoram in NortheastIndia . It was founded by English missionary Rev. & Mrs Reginald Arthur Lorrain in 1907. It is the largest Church amongMara people . It is one of the three Mizoram Churches pioneered by English Missionaries in the 19th century. Others areMizoram Presbyterian Church andBaptist Church of Mizoram .History
Prior to his arrival in British India, the Rev. Reginald Arthur Lorrain founded Lakher Pioneer Mission in 1905 in London. Two years later he arrived in Saikao (also known as Serkawr), a sleepy town in Saiha District of
Mizoram . He started the Church as an Independent Church of Maraland (ICM) which split later into Evangelical Church of Maraland, India ECMI andCongregational Church of India (Maraland), his ministry oversaw all the Mara inhabited areas of British India that included Mara people in Western Myanmar, who are now functioning as a separate church under the name of Mara Evangelical Church afterIndia partition in 1947.The Church held a series of celebration of the 100th year of Gospel to Mara people and land in September (September 26, 2007) and November 2007.
Rev. Dr. M. Zakonia is the present Moderator of the
Synod of Evangelical Church of Maraland.Association/Membership
Evangelical Church of Maraland(India) is a member of
*World Alliance of Reformed Churches
*India Evangelical Mission
*All India Sunday School Union And it also has partnership with
Mara Evangelical Church inMyanmar .Name factor
Evangelical Church of Maraland(India) continues to use the word "Maraland" signifying un-administered part of the world.
Maraland was not part of any country until British conquered the area inhabited byMara people in 19221, whereas the Church was already founded in 1907.Theologians holding doctorate degrees
* Rev. Dr. T. Laikai, D.D (Serampore, India), 2003.
* Rev. Dr. M. Zakonia, D.D (Serampore, India), 2005.
* Rev. Dr. Laiu Fachhai, D.Th (Stallenbourg Univ. S. Africa), 2007.
* Dr. John Hamlet Hlychho Ph.D (Acts Academy of Higher Education,Bangalore, India), 2007.Also see
* [http://www.marachristian.net/?page_id=12 Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECMI) Entry at MaraChristian.net]
References
External links
The following websites contain a good articles and information on Evangelical Church of Maraland (India):
* [http://www.maraland.net/ Maraland.NET: Home of Mara people on the internet]
* [http://www.samaw.com/ Samaw.com - First English blog from Maraland]
* [http://marachristian.net/ MaraChristian.net - Mara Christian Network] [References] 1. The Lakhers by N.E Perry, ICS.
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