In a solemn ordination service, Mr. Huni Gogoi, Executive Secretary of the Assam Valley Baptist Association (AVBA), was ordained today at Nakachari Ao Baptist Church (NABC).
It is pertinent to mention that after the I-World War, many of the returnee Naga soldiers under the Naga Labour Corp (NLC) settled down in the Nakachari area. Later, after World War II, many returnees under the NLC again chose to settle at Nakachari.
In 1946, Nakachari Ao Baptist Church was established by the Ao Naga settlers. It was affiliated to Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) in 1962, becoming the first affiliated church under ABAM from the plains sector.
During its Golden Jubilee celebration in 1996, the church decided to open a mission field to nurture the existing Baptist churches in and around the plains sector through spiritual awakening with evangelism. To fulfil this aspiration, the church found Mr. Huni Gogoi, who was trained at Impur Bible School and has fluency not only in Assamese but also in the Ao dialect. He served in Sibsagar Baptist Association from 1985 to 1999 with sponsorship from Yajang-C Baptist Church, prior to joining as Pastor at Nakachari Ao Baptist Church in January 2000. ABAM granted a Christian Minister License to him the following year.
Thus, Mr. Huni Gogoi became the first Assamese Pastor in an Ao church under ABAM.
Later, through the initiatives of NABC and Pastor Huni, the Assam Valley Baptist Mission (AVBM) was formed in 2005 with the active participation of 27 Baptist churches. For a bountiful harvest, Pastor Huni was fully deputed to AVBM in 2011 by NABC.
After 20 years of hard work, and for further harvest, AVBM was upgraded to a full-fledged association in July 2024 under the nomenclature Assam Valley Baptist Association (AVBA) and was affiliated with the United Baptist Churches Convention (UBCC), HQ: Dimapur.
Today’s ordination bears significance in the sense that the process involved NABC, ABAM, AVBA, and UBCC.
UBCC ordination committee members led by Rev. Dr. Rabi Pame, Rev. Dr. Sahingmak Newme, and Rev. Y. T. Lotha were present today, while the act of ordination was administered by Rev. Dr. Rabi Pame.
Mr. Gogoi humbly shared his testimony. Recommendations were shared by Mr. Tarun Deb, Deacon of NABC, Er. Temsu Wathi, President AVBA, and Rev. Dr. Sahingmak Newme on behalf of UBCC, while Rev. Dr. Moa Tzudir, Secretary Literature, ABAM, Impur, and Mr. Kikum Longkumer, Pastor, Kumlong Baptist Church, shared greetings. They both immensely praised NABC and AVBA for rendering their yeoman services for reaping the great harvest.
The Lord’s Supper was administered to all eligible congregation members by the newly anointed Minister Mr. Gogoi, assisted by four pastors.
Rev. Dr. Takatemjen, who has been the main mentor for AVBA since its early stages, graced this pious occasion accompanied by his wife and daughter.
Church members from neighboring churches attended today’s service in large numbers.
The program ended with a mass spoken prayer and benediction by the minister Rev. Dr. Rabi Pame.
Later, all the congregating members were feted with a community feast sponsored by the ordinand’s family members. Miss Bendangienla Amri, Mokokchung, volunteered to capture the event digitally for the church.
Report filed by:-
Er. Temsu Wathi
President, Assam Valley Baptist Association
