When Revd. W. R.
Hutton, one of the last American Baptist Missionaries left Karbi Anglong in
1954, there were two main Baptist Associations, i.e. Puta Karbi Baptist
Association and Nihang Karbi Baptist Association (the former Nilip Hobha). These
associations were mostly led by lay-leaders for many decades and that too on a
part time basis and so they were quite weak and loosely organized. They were
under the Assam Baptist Convention; however, this Convention also being loosely
organized could not attend effectively to the various problems and needs of the
Baptist Christians in Karbi Anglong. Consequently, division and dissension took
place within the churches and associations in Karbi Anglong.
The Rengma
Baptist Christians who were part of the Nilip Hobha then formed their own
Christian Endeavour in 1949. Later in 1954, they felt the need to have their
own association because of the language and cultural differences with the
Karbis. They were convinced that singing, preaching and teaching the Biblical
messages in the Rengma language itself will enhance their spiritual growth
deeper and better.
Likewise, a new
group known as Nijang Karbi Baptist Association emerged out of the Puta Karbi
Baptist Association in West Karbi Anglong about 1972. Likewise, a group of
Karbi Baptist churches left Nihang Karbi Baptist Association and called
themselves as Nilip Karbi Baptist Association in 1976 and later some of its
members joined Church of Jesus Christ, Church
of North India
and some joined Believers Church of India recently. Still another group broke
away from NKBA led by the former Executive Secretary of NKBA, Revd. Dr. Timothy
Rongphar in 1978 and joined the Indian Baptist Mission, later called themselves
Evangelical Baptist Fellowship and some opted Presbyterian and Roman Catholic
churches. And there was a great tendency for further divisions.
Thus, the
questions of proper identity, unity; security and growth of these Baptist
churches have become an issue of serious concern since 1969. The then Baptist
leaders like late Pitor Tisso, Revd. Thomas Tisso, late Julius Hanse, late
Sar-et Hanse, late Etpo Taro, late Song Bey, Mi: Longkiram Ingti, Mr. Chondro
Killing, Mr. Khogen Hanse, late Rongbong Kro, Revd. Giren Sebti and Mr. Wilson
Tokbi and many others raised the issue and expressed their discontent with the
Assam Baptist Convention over and over again. The feeling and aspiration of
forming a separate Convention began to spread among the Baptist circles in
Karbi Anglong.
The main reasons for this aspiration are given below.
1. Language Differences : The Baptist
Christians of Karbi Anglong prefer English to Assamese. Assamese alphabets can
not be used to spell the Karbi words and terms accurately as it is with the
English alphabets.
2. Cultural Differences the tribal
cultures and mind-set of Karbi Anglong Baptist Christians found it difficult to
cope with the Assainese-Adivasi’s.
3. The
Geographical location and concentration.
4. The Karbi Anglong Baptist
Christians felt out of place and the step-motherly treatment was unacceptable.
It is not possible for us to justify how far these judgments are true, yet the
movement begun and took a new turn.
5. For better edification and co-operation among its Churches in
Karbi Anglong.
It is worth
mentioning that number of attempts has been made to bring together all the
Baptists of Karbi Anglong into one umbrella. Finally, though all Baptists groups
could not come, in the month of March, 1980, ajoint meeting was convened to
discuss on the formation of a Convention and was attended by the
representatives of NKBA and PKBA, held at Upper Dokmoka
Baptist Church.
Revd. K. S. Ronghang was sent to CBCNEI (Guwahati) to discuss on this matter.
Accordingly he was advised to organize a Joint Consultation in the month of
November, 1980. It was held at Diphu
Baptist Church.
Some of the prominent leaders who attended in this Consultation were : Revd.
& Mrs. K. Aier, General Secretary, CBCNEI; Revd. Karbenson Sangma, General
Secretary; GBC, Tura; Dr. A. Behera, ETC, Jorhat; Revd. Timothy Rongphar, the
then Executive Secretary, NKBA; Revd. R. Hmar, the then Pastor of Bible Baptist
Church; Mr. Wilson Tokbi,
Revd. Dr. Solomon Rongpi and many other leaders of NKBA, PKBA and WRBA.
After a long
deliberation, the General Secretary of CBCNEI, Revd. K. Aier suggested and
encouraged the Baptist leaders of Karbi Anglong to form the Karbi Anglong
Baptist Convention and come under the one umbrella of CBCNEI. Immediately, an
ad-hoc body was formed with the following office bearers:
President :
Late Sar-et Hanse
Vice-President :
Mr. Khogen Hanse
Regional (General) Secretary :
Revd. Khoyasing Ronghang
Recording Secretary :
Late Bidyasing Timung
Treasurer :
Late Revd. Siasing Phangcho
And the first
General Meeting of the new Karbi Anglong Baptist Convention was held at Hamren Town Baptist Church
under PKBA in 1981.