EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF MARALAND
Founder : Rev. Reginald Arthur Lorrain On 26th September, 1907

Head Quarters Office
Siaha 796901,Mizoram
INDIA

(The above photo shows the office of the ECM(I) Hqrs. at Siaha also known as Saiha in Mizo, Maraland Mizoram. The playground in front of the office is decorated for the celebration of Maraland Gospel Centenary in 2007. Photo Source: Maraland.net)

History of Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM) India:

The story of the Evagelical Church of Maraland began on September 26,1907 when the Pioneer Mission Missionaries, namely, the Rev. & Mrs. Reginald Arthur Lorrain had arrived at Serkawr, Maraland with the Gospel of Salvation.

Disappointed by the leading Missionary Societies of Great Britain when he approached them to send him to Maraland, Mr. Lorrain founded a mission known as “The Lakher Pioneer Mission” in order to reach the Mara People with the Message of Salvation on February 11,1905. Leaving London after a year of Medical Training at the David Livingstone Medical College on January 18,1907, they reached Serkawr on September 26,1907 preeminently on the Gospel Mission.

He had to face a tremendous task of reducing the local language into writing before he started to proclaim the gospel. By God’s grace he could reduce it into writing since 1908.Mr Thytu Tlapyu was the first person won to Christ in 1910. The Church was first planted at Serkawr village composed of a few members, but gradually expanded and local churches spotted all over the villages of Maraland into the Mara inhabited area of Myanmar in the Chin Hills and Northern Arakan Hill tracts.

The administration of the church was entirely handed over to the native churches leaders when the first constitution was drafted and enforced in 1961 by the first General Assembly held at Kiasie village by which all the affairs of the Church had to be decided democratically by majority of votes. The first Missionary the Rev. Reginald Arthur Lorrain died in 1944 and the last Missionary Albert Bruce Foxall died in 1977. This church believe in the principle of self-governing, self-propagating and self-supporting from the beginning till today.

Theological basis:
The church believes that the Bible is the inspired and infallible word of God, given by the Holy Spirit to holy men of old. The Bible is the only and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This is the doctrinal statement for the pastors, missionaries and other workers who seek to serve with the church.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper:
The mode of baptism is left to individual conscience. Believer’s baptism by immersion in general is practiced, although sprinkling is also accepted. Baptism is not a means of salvation but is a sign of believers the Lord’s is open to those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and saviour, administered only by ordained pastors assisted by the elders in remembrance of Lord Jesus Christ.

Organization and economy:
The governing body has a legislative and executive branch. The legislatives comprise the General Assembly, with delegates from the local churches held once a year. It is the highest church court. Next comes the Executive Committee which meets thrice a year. The Pastoral Committee, Sunday school Committee, Finance and Plan Committee meet thrice a year before the Executive Committee. There are four Presbyteries (area committee) the Pastorate Committee and the Local Church Committee. The Executive branch consists of Senior Executive Secretary and the two Executives Secretaries. The legislatives branch consists of the Moderator, Moderator elect, Assembly Secretary(Sr) and Assembly Secretary(Jr).

Education and training:
The Church has no seminary of its own. Pastors and Missionaries had to be sent to the Collages / Seminaries for Theological and Ministerial Training before ordination after three years of probation after the completion of study.

World Mission:
The Church believes in the rapid Evangelization of the world. Short term and long term Missionaries are sent to un-reached areas in Myanmar, India, Nepal and Sudan. 158 missionaries have been stationed in the various dormitories of our mission fields currently.

Ecumenical Contacts and Cooperation:
The Church is a member of North east India Christian Council, Evangelical Fellowship of India, World Alliance of Reformed Churches and has fraternal delegation with the Presbyterian Church of Mizoram, Mara Evangelical Church of Myanmar, and the Evangelical Free Church of India.

Statistics:
The Church has 83 local churches, 620 ordained elders and 29 pastors with 32608 members in 16 Pastorates, 57 Ministerial Staff, 163 Missionaries

1. Overseas Missionaries to Maraland
1. Rev. Reginald Arthur Lorrain 26.9.1907-4.2.1944
2. Mrs. Maud Louise Ulander Lorrain 26.9.2907-23.5.1960
3. Mrs. Louise Margaret Tlosai 18.9.1909-21.6.1968
4. Miss. Gladys Ramsey 1921-1927
5. Mrs. John Mark 1925
6. Rev. Albert Bruce Lorrain Foxall 1928-2.7.77
7. Miss. Irene E. Hedley 1928-1934
8. Miss. Gladys E. Gorst 1928
9. Mr. Jelley & Family ( Mary, Susan, Johny) 1931
10. Mrs. Violet Louisa Annie 1938

2. Assembly Officers
1. Rev. L. Chhito Moderator
2. Rev. P. Riabi Moderator elect
3. Rev. ST. Zawsi Assembly Secretary(Sr)
4. Elder T. Lala Assembly Secretary(Jr)

3. Church Officers’ with Portfolio
1. Rev RC. Nohro Senior Executive Secretary
i/c Pastoral, Finance and Administration etc.

2. Rev. NC. Vabeilua Executive Secretary
i/c Sunday School, Education & Social Missions etc.

3. Rev. Thylua Executive Secretary
i/c. Missions, Fellowship Department & Home Mission etc.

4. Statistic
(i). Families 5,397
(ii) Members 32,608(ii) Local Churches 83
(iv). Preaching Station 3
(v). Elder 620
(vi). Deacon 532
(vii). Communicant Members 18537
(viii). Non Communicant Members 14270
(ix). Pastorates 16
(x) Presbytery 4
…
5. Workers
(i) Ordained Ministers 29
(ii)  Pensioners 3
(iii) Probationary Pastors 5
(iv). Ministerial Staff 19
(v). Press and Bookroom 16
(vi). School Teachers and Staff 37

6. Number of Schools
a) Secondary 1
b) Middle School 1
8 Mission workers 163
9. Mission Schools 89
10. New Believers 14236

6. Theological Students…
(i). D.Th Nil
(ii). B.D 12
(iii). M.Th 3
(iv). Ph.D 2

7. Properties
(i). Pastor quarters 10
(ii). Executive secretary Quarters 1
(iii). Centenary Building ( 3 storey Building) 1
(iv). Office Building (2 storey Building) 1
(v). Field Directors Quarters 2
(vi). Missionaries Quarters 3
(vii). Vehicle 5

(viii). Printing Press
a). Offset Printing Press 1
b). Printing Press (Ordinary) 3
c). Computer (Pentium 1,2,3,4) 4

8. Finance

(i) Source of Income:
Contribution from 83 Local Churches
Tithes, Subsidiary and Handful of Rice.
(ii). 2004 Income with Balance Rs.175,36,824:000
(iii). Collection
a). Pastoral Rs. 17,105,112
b). Mission Rs. 6,235,215
c). Others Rs. 17,791,625

TOTAL Rs. 4,21,77,000

9. Budget Estimate for 2005-2006
(i). General: Rs. 343,16,000
(ii). Mission Rs. 78,61,000
(iii). Total Rs. 4,21,77,000

10. Project Under Construction
(i). Moderator Quarter
(ii). Church Officers’ Quarter
(iii). Other Centenary Project Rs. 4,21,77,000

EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF MARALAND
P.O. Saiha – 796901, Saiha District,

Mizoram, India

Report made by Rev. R.C. Nôhro
Senior Executive Secretary in 2005