Members of the Youth Department of Zeliangrong Baptist Church Tamenglong on Friday visited district hospital Tamenglong and celebrated Christmas with the patients and offered prayers for their fast recoveries.
Led by Zeliangrong Baptist Church Tamenglong associate pastor reverend Johnkim Pamei and Baptist Youth Department president Philemon Daimei, the team sang Christmas carol, prayed and gifted an envelope containing cash to each sick patients at the district hospital Duigailong Tamenglong.
Associate pastor reverend Johnkim Pamei read out the Holy Bible and shared a gospel. “Let the true prince of peace be with you all and heal your sickness,” he said.
Speaking to the Imphal Free Press, Philemon Daimei said that Zeliangrong Baptist church brings merry Christmas to all the sick patients in the district hospital.
“May the good Lord heal and bless you through this festival, and also bring peace and prosperity,” Philemon Daimei said.
Meanwhile, all Christian communities in Tamenglong district are set to celebrate Christmas and new year celebration at their respective churches.
This year, Christmas is going to be joyous as it came after the pandemic hit the whole world and forms of gathering were banned for a long time. The ban has now been relaxed to some extent as positive cases have dropped to zero in the district for a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, in his Christmas greetings, Baptist Churches Union of India chairman reverend Chingkhiuluanang Gonmei said that Baptist Churches Union, India extends Merry Christmas to all. “May the colours of Christmas leave with you a heart full of love and peace,” he said.
He said Christmas is the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a son is given, he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace..." (Isaiah 9:6). God sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him, he said.
Chingkhiuluanang further said that the world is full of evil and cruelty. “Man commits all kinds of evil. But God still loves mankind and still wants to help and to take care of them,” he said.
“This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. God's love is not hidden, it was revealed. Jesus' life and sacrifice are the ultimate proof that God truly loves His people. Godly love in a person's life is a sign of being born again,” he said.
“We, Manipuris are to love those who oppose us, curse, reject us, persecute us, kill us, do things against us, distrust us, ignore us; no matter who the person is, God loves him and has shown in the most supreme way possible that He loves him. Therefore, we are to love that person and demonstrate our love for him,” he said.
“We are to sacrifice ourselves and try to bring life to him. This we do by loving him, by showing him there is a better way, the way of love. Then Peace and Harmony will exist in our state. On the occasion of Christmas, let us thank God for all his love and blessings by celebrating this day to fullest,” he added.
