Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) is a Baptist Christian denomination in Manipur, India. It is affiliated with the Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India and the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (Baptist World Alliance).Cbcnei.org Apbf.info The General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention is Jolly Rimai.
History Baptist history in Manipur began in February 1894 when Scottish missionary William Pettigrew of the American Baptist Mission arrived in the state. He baptized 12 Tangkhul Naga men in 1901 and established the first church in Manipur in 1902—the Phungyo Baptist Church in Ukhrul.Elungkiebe Zeliang, A History of Manipur Baptist Convention, 28
Pettigrew initially arrived in the region to evangelize the Meitei people. However, due to strong local opposition, he shifted his focus to the hill tribes of Manipur. Following these initial baptisms of Tangkhul Nagas, Angom Porom Singh was baptized on 5 April 1903, becoming the first Meitei convert to Christianity.Rev. William Pettigrew’s Mission Reports and Letters: 1891-1932, 16, cited in Champhang Jajo, ed., Ukhrul: Phila Jajo, 1999, 16; William Pettegrew Diary entry, 5th April, 1903)
The first Baptist church in Manipur was established in Ukhrul in 1902 known as the Phungyo Baptist Church. It is widely recognized and historically referred to as the "Mother Church of Manipur."Elungkiebe Zeliang, A History of Manipur Baptist Convention, 28
With the establishment of more churches, the need for fellowship and uniformity became apparent. Thus, thirteen delegates from five churches in Manipur gathered at Ukhrul in November 1916 and formed the first association, called the Manipur Christian Association (MCA).
However, due to the rapid expansion of Christianity across various tribes and geographical areas, the association required a more comprehensive organizational structure. Therefore, in 1928, the MCA was reorganized into a convention, officially named the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC). Since then, the MBC has served as the main umbrella organization, with headquarters in Imphal.(v. Phanitphang, Manipur Baptist Convention, CBCNEI: 1960-1961, 61)
Statistics According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 221,436 members and 1,503 churches.Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
The statistics for the MBC is given below with the number of churches and number of Baptized Church members only as on 2011.http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/28370/12/12_chapter%206.pdf, p.152
Children and non Baptized family members are not included in the statistics.
Sl. No. Association Churches + Assn. Members 1. Aimol Baptist Association 15+4 2,160 2. Anal Naga Baptist Association 52+8 6,995 3. Chin Baptist Association 16 2,5214Chiru Rem B/Churches Association125,162 5. Chongthu Baptist Churches Association 61 6,110 6 Chothe Baptist Churches Association 11+2 1,300 7. Gangte Baptist Association 14 7218.Gorkha B/Churches Association 25+5860 9. Inpui Naga Baptist Churches Association 22 3,61710.Kharam Baptist Churches Association 4+174511.Koireng Baptist Association71,000 12 Komrem Baptist Churches Association 58+9 5,412 13. Kuki Baptist Convention 314 34,952 14. Lamkang Naga Baptist Association 23 3,593 15. Liangmei Naga Baptist Association 78+10 13,010 16. Mao Baptist Churches Association 40+5 10,020 17. Maram Naga Baptist Association 19+1 4,514 18. Maring Naga Baptist Association 58+10 6,648 19. Meitei Baptist Association 40+45 1,785 20. Monsang Naga Baptist Churches Association 5+4 1,190 21. Moyon Naga Baptist Association 8+3 1,287 22. Poumai Naga Baptist Association 63+21 26,000 23. Rongmei Naga Baptist Association 202 28,501 24. Sadar Baptist Association 20+3 2,470 25. Simte Baptist Churches Association 4 370 26. Southern Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association 84+3 15,265 27. Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association 100 48,050 28. Tarao Baptist Association 4+1 465 29. Thadou Baptist Association 57 5,365 30. Thangal Naga Baptist Association 11+3 2,074 31. Vaiphei Baptist Churches Association 1+2 400 Total 1,428+135 2,42,562
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