Sadar North Baptist Association

Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA) is the largest Kokborok speaking Baptist community in Tripura. It is located within the West Tripura district of Tripura in India. As of 2014, SNBA had more than 21,000 members and 156 churches.

The symbol of Sadar North Baptist Association
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Baptists

History

SNBA started as a small circle within the Central Baptist Association of Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU). It later on evolved and developed into a full-fledged association of TBCU with many churches affiliated to it. Today there are around more than 150 churches and fellowships within Sadar North Baptist Association. Some the pioneers of the Baptist's in Sadar North is Life Deacon Biralal Debbarma (one of the first three Christians in the Kokborok speaking community and the ex-President of SNBA) and the Late Rev. Rabindra Debbarma.

Birth
Life Deacon Lt. Birolal Debbarma, (ex-President, SNBA).

Before its birth as a full association the SNBA was one of the four Pastoral Circles under the Central Baptist Association. As churches grew rapidly with more new believers everywhere in the state, the Annual Assembly Session of Tripura Baptist Christian Union which was held in Subhash Nagar (North Tripura) on 23–26 February 1989 passed resolution that the Circles (e.g., South, Udaipur, Saisawm Sazai, and Sadar North) be given the full status of Associations. And it was how the Sadar North Baptist Association was established as an Association in the month of February 1989.

The leaders of the newly born Association with the kind presence of Rev. Hnehliana, the then General Secretary of TBCU, met prayerfully on 25 March 1989 at Durga Chowdhury Baptist Church and formed the first Executive Committee of the Association on ad hoc basis. The first members selected for the Executive Committee were:

  1. President: Mr. Birolal Debbarma
  2. Secretary: Rev. Rabindra Debbarma
  3. Treasurer: Mr. Chandra Kanta Debbarma.

Faith and doctrine

SNBA is based on the principles of Baptist theology and doctrines and is strongly threaded and bounded by firm faith on Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit and the one and only omnipotent Father God.

Organization
Rev. Chandra Kanta Debbarma, Executive Secretary, SNBA.
Choir group from Mandwi Baptist Circle presenting a song in the 19th Sadar North Baptist Youth Fellowship that was organised in Abhicharan Baptist Church on 13–15 January 2006.

SNBA has the highest strength of Kokborok speaking Baptist community in Tripura.

Office

The association is led by the Executive Secretary, Rev. Chandra Kanta Debbarma, and has its head-office in Baptist Mission Compound, Arundhutinagar, Agartala.

The association is registered under the Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU). The association is located within the West Tripura district of Tripura state in India.

Baptist Pastoral Circles

SNBA has eight Pastoral Circles, namely:

  1. Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle.
  2. Dakdu Baptist Pastoral Circle.
  3. Champaknagar Baptist Pastoral Circle.
  4. Abhicharan Baptist Pastoral Circle.
  5. Jamilwng Baptist Pastoral Circle.
  6. Khumulwng Baptist Pastoral Circle.
  7. Hezamara Baptist Pastoral Circle.
  8. Borkathal Baptist Pastoral Circle.

Sadar North Baptist Women's Society (SNBWS)
  • President: Mrs. Sabita Debbarma (Joygobind Baptist Church)
  • Secretary: Mrs. Anjali Debbarma (Agartala City Baptist Church)

Sadar North Baptist Sikla Bodol (SNBSB)
  • President: Pankaj Debbarma
  • Secretary: Pro. Pastor Biswajit Debbarma

Sunday School Committee
  • Convener: Evan. Lalnunsiama
  • Member: Rev. Nilmani Debbarma
  • Member: Ord. Evan. C. K. Chhoma.

Affiliated organisations

Schools

The association runs four English Medium schools, namely:

  1. Yakhili Academy (in Khumulwng)
  2. Tipprah Academy (in Barkathal)
  3. Salka Academy (in Hezamara)
  4. Pohor Academy (in Burakha)

Hospital

The foundation for a new hospital under the association was laid on 30 September 2013 for which the construction is underway.

Sponsored by: Sadar North Baptist Women Society (SNBWS)

Location: Patni Village, Borokathal Baptist Pastoral Circle (around 20 km from Agartala city).

Institute of Community Transformation

Sponsored by Seva Bharat (Mission India)

Location: Madhab Baptist Church, Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle.

Statistics

SNBA Census

Description/ParticularsTotal ( 2001 )Total ( 2010 )
Churches84129
Fellowships57
Members8,56220,943
* Male members4,41111,203
* Female members4,1519,740
Minors2,9724,533
Government Employees9471,480
Christian Families2,1284,332
Workers of SNBA1352
Pastors810
Evangelists427
Others12
Deacons77183
Life Deacons26

Workers

The workers of Sadar North Baptist Association have been grouped mainly into five categories as below:

  • Pastor
  • Pro-Pastor
  • Ordained Evangelist
  • Evangelist
  • Office Worker

Pastors

The SNBA has 11 pastors working in various locations under it, except for Rev. R. K. Debbarma who is the Secretary of TBCU now and is posted for TBCU Head Office in Agartala.

The pastors under SNBA are.

  1. Rev.Dr.C. K. Debbarma (General Secretary, TBCU)
  2. Rev. Nilmani Debbarma (B.Th, MRE)
  3. Rev. Mangal Debbarma (Secretary, Mandwi Pastoral Circle)
  4. Rev. Ranjit Debbarma(Executive Secretary, SNBA,B.Th,M.Th)
  5. Rev. Biswa Debbarma
  6. Rev. Charanjoy Rupini
  7. Rev. Chandramoni Debbarma (Secretary, SNBA, B.Th)
  8. Rev. Kishore Kr. Debbarma (B.T, M.Th)
  9. Rev. Manmohan Debbarma (B.Th)
  10. Rev. Barendra Debbarma (B.Th)
  11. Rev. Samendra Debbarma(B.Th)
  12. Pastor Sukuram Debbarma (B.Th)
  13. Pastor Sitaram Rupini(B. Th)
  14. Pastor Sushanta Debbarma(B. Th)
  15. Pastor Pradip Debbarma(B. Th)
  16. Pastor Kishore Debbarma(B. Th)
  17. Pastor Bijoy Debbarma(B. Th)
  18. Pastor Ratan Debbarma(B. Th)
  19. Pastor Ajit Debbarma (B. Th)
  20. Pastor Rajkumar Debbarm (B.Th)
  21. Pastor Rwngthoma Debbarma(B.Th)
  22. Pastor Joseph Debbarma(B.Th)

The pastors are allocated their postings anywhere in the association. They have been trained by theological colleges from various parts of India like Bangalore, New Delhi, and Silchar.

Pro.Pastor
  1. Pro.Pastor Nripendra Debbarma (B.Th)
  2. Pro.Pastor Partha Sarathi Debbarma (B.Th)
  3. Pro.Pastor Sandhyaram Debbarma (B.Th)
  4. Pro.Pastor Mithun Rupini (M.Div)
  5. Pro.Pastor Biswajit Debbarma (B.D)
  6. Pro.Pastor. Brajendra Debbarma (M.Div)
  7. Pro.Pastor Ajendra Debbarma (M.Div)


Ordained evangelists
  1. Ord.Evan. Zununsanga (Z.B.M. Missionary)
  2. Ord.Evan. Pianruala (JSBA Missionary)
  3. Ord.Evan. Lalnunsiama (Z.B.M. Missionary)
  4. Ord.Evan. Lalnunchhunga (JSBA, Missionary)

Evangelists

There are evangelists in SNBA.

  1. Evan. Mrs. Shikha Debbarma
  2. Evan. Nitya Debbarma(B.Th)
  3. Evan. Manoranjan Debbarma (B.D)
  4. Evan. Kishore(Yarwng) Debbarma (B.D)
  5. Evan. Manik Debbarma (B.D)
  6. Evan. Somchati Debbarma(On Training B.D)
  7. Evan. Sunil Debbarma(B.TH)
  8. Evan. Malendra Debbarma(B.Th)
  9. Evan. Debojit Debbarma(ON Training B.D)
  10. Evan. Sachin Debbarma(On Training B.Th)
  11. Evan. Puskumar Debbarma(On Training B.Th)
  12. Evan. Amit Debbarma
  13. Evan. Bijoy (Kothoma) Debbarma(M.DIV)
  14. Evan. Bishu Debbarma(B.D)
  15. Evan. Miss Ganga Debbarma
  16. Evan. Bharat Debbarma
  17. Evan. Mantu Debbarma (on training B.D)

Evangelist-Teacher
  1. E/T Jico Debbarma(B.Ed)(School)
  2. E/T Ajesh Debbarma(School)
  3. E/T John Rupini(School)
  4. E/T Siari Debbarma(School)
  5. E/T Mrs. Elemi Debbarma(B.Ed)(School)
  6. E/T Subasish Debbarma(B.Ed)(School)

Office staff
  1. Evan. Arun Debbarma(Offic Assistant, B.Th)
  2. Mr. Pitor Debbarma (Accountant)
  3. Mr. Rabindra Debbarma (Driver)

Missionaries

There are eight missionaries working in SNBA. Missionaries are mainly from four organisations:

  • [Baptist Church of Mizoram]
  • [Evangelical Church of Maraland]
  • [Jampui Sakhan Baptist Association]
  • [Kailashahar Baptist Christian Association]

Affiliated churches

Some churches like Zion Baptist Church, Kisong Baptist Church, Jangalia Baptist Church, Abhicharan Baptist Church, Bhuban Chontai Baptist Church, and Khumulwng Baptist Church, have huge strength of members whereas others like churches like Roktia Baptist Church, and Rasu Baptist Church, have less strength of members.

The affiliated churches with foundation date are listed below according to the Pastoral Circles:

Abhicharan Baptist Pastoral Circle

Borkathal Baptist Pastoral Circle

Champaknagar Baptist Pastoral Circle

Dakdu Baptist Pastoral Circle

Hezamara Baptist Pastoral Circle

Jamilwng Baptist Pastoral Circle

Khumulwng Baptist Pastoral Circle

Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle

See also

References
  • Debbarma, Sukhendu (1996) Origin and Growth of Christianity in Tripura: With Special Reference to the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society, 1938–1988, Indus Publishing, New Delhi. ISBN 81-7387-038-1
  • Borok Baptist Convention, Rangchak Mukumu, 2010
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