After graduating from CMI's Bible College, Songkai Lohvum decided to take the gospel back to his native place - Imphal, Manipur. The state of Manipur has been beset with civil war for about 35 years. Many thousands of children have been orphaned by war. Upon his return home Songkai immediately took in eight boys. Thus began our 5th Home of Hope. Since 2005 his ministry has grown to include Bible study home groups, a Calvary Chapel fellowship of 200, and a Children's Center.

Introduction:
We visited the churches and Home in Manipur states during the period of 1st and 2nd and 3rd March 2011. It has to be noted that Pastor Gunasekaran also visited in Nov. and Dec 2010. During his last visits he gave many humble suggestions to teach and preach to the people of Manipur. We also purchased a property with the house in a tribal village called Ithing where we have started the church with the leadership of Brother Milan.

Church at ITHING:

The village is situated 70 kilometers from Imphal, the capital of Manipur. There were 15 baptisms given by Calvary Chapel in the past 5 years. There is a tuition centre which is also run in the last 5 years. During our stay we had a time of worship with the believers of the church. We encouraged Bro. Milan to maintain his teaching diary and working diary with updated information. We also requested him to sent weekly reports of the activities through e-mail. He has agreed to this. I have also given the order of service and teaching materials for his use.

 

Home of Hope:

There is a property with a house which was bought by the Calvary Chapel in December 2010. We have completed renovation and moved the boys here. The building is located in the middle of the village which is next to good old Christian missionary school. It is encouraging to note that we have had a good discussion with the headmaster of the school. The headmaster is interested in extending his services for the children of our Home. The school is teaching English and Manipuri up to 8th grade with the recognition of the local government. Once the children complete 8th grade they will go to 9th grade in the nearest town called Moirang which is located about 4 kms from the village. There are 13 children presently staying in the home yet, out of 13, only 5 children are sponsored by Calvary Chapel. Therefore I requested the Home of Hope authorities to send family background sheets of the children to us for our approval.

 

The following items are required for the children at the earliest. As there is a mud floor, there is a plastic sheet covering in the floor. In addition to that the children may be provided with wooden cots as the home is very cold. The building is located close to a very big lake. Therefore children get cold air and mosquitoes. Children may be given adequate games materials and library books. It is encouraging to note that the children are growing in Christ day by day. Many children are able to tell the 365 stories from the Bible and they sing many songs in different languages.

Future plan for the ITHING:
Since our office is registered at Ithing village we would like to do evangelical work in nearby villages. Bro. Shonkai is interested in settling down at Moirang village within 10 days. He is requested to start a church there with his wife.

During our stay we visited a few HIV+ families and children in the Bishnupur area. It is encouraging to note that our God has opened a new way in Manipur to reach many HIV+ people.

If God provides we can extend our support the most needy HIV people to start with. We also pray that that seven more HIV affected children may be added in the home so that there will be a total of 20 children. Presently Bro. Kumar Singh is in charge of the Home of Hope and he is extending his valuable service to the children with his past experience. It is to be noted that Bro. Kumar Singh already served 2 years at our Heaven’s Gate project at Nazareth.

 

Conclusion:
There is a beautiful opening in this area to proclaim the gospel without any opposition. The whole state is afraid of terrorism but the village people are under safety because of the presence of the living God in the village. We believe this is the right time of train up many workers in Manipur state to go with the gospel.

Bro. L. Gunasekaran
Bro. G. Shelton

Introduction:
We visited the churches and Home in Manipur states during the period of 1st and 2nd and 3rd March 2011. It has to be noted that Pastor Gunasekaran also visited in Nov. and Dec 2010. During his last visits he gave many humble suggestions to teach and preach to the people of Manipur. We also purchased a property with the house in a tribal village called Ithing where we have started the church with the leadership of Brother Milan.

Church at ITHING:

The village is situated 70 kilometers from Imphal, the capital of Manipur. There were 15 baptisms given by Calvary Chapel in the past 5 years. There is a tuition centre which is also run in the last 5 years. During our stay we had a time of worship with the believers of the church. We encouraged Bro. Milan to maintain his teaching diary and working diary with updated information. We also requested him to sent weekly reports of the activities through e-mail. He has agreed to this. I have also given the order of service and teaching materials for his use.

 

Home of Hope:

There is a property with a house which was bought by the Calvary Chapel in December 2010. We have completed renovation and moved the boys here. The building is located in the middle of the village which is next to good old Christian missionary school. It is encouraging to note that we have had a good discussion with the headmaster of the school. The headmaster is interested in extending his services for the children of our Home. The school is teaching English and Manipuri up to 8th grade with the recognition of the local government. Once the children complete 8th grade they will go to 9th grade in the nearest town called Moirang which is located about 4 kms from the village. There are 13 children presently staying in the home yet, out of 13, only 5 children are sponsored by Calvary Chapel. Therefore I requested the Home of Hope authorities to send family background sheets of the children to us for our approval.

 

The following items are required for the children at the earliest. As there is a mud floor, there is a plastic sheet covering in the floor. In addition to that the children may be provided with wooden cots as the home is very cold. The building is located close to a very big lake. Therefore children get cold air and mosquitoes. Children may be given adequate games materials and library books. It is encouraging to note that the children are growing in Christ day by day. Many children are able to tell the 365 stories from the Bible and they sing many songs in different languages.

Future plan for the ITHING:
Since our office is registered at Ithing village we would like to do evangelical work in nearby villages. Bro. Shonkai is interested in settling down at Moirang village within 10 days. He is requested to start a church there with his wife.

During our stay we visited a few HIV+ families and children in the Bishnupur area. It is encouraging to note that our God has opened a new way in Manipur to reach many HIV+ people.

If God provides we can extend our support the most needy HIV people to start with. We also pray that that seven more HIV affected children may be added in the home so that there will be a total of 20 children. Presently Bro. Kumar Singh is in charge of the Home of Hope and he is extending his valuable service to the children with his past experience. It is to be noted that Bro. Kumar Singh already served 2 years at our Heaven’s Gate project at Nazareth.

 

Conclusion:
There is a beautiful opening in this area to proclaim the gospel without any opposition. The whole state is afraid of terrorism but the village people are under safety because of the presence of the living God in the village. We believe this is the right time of train up many workers in Manipur state to go with the gospel.

Bro. L. Gunasekaran
Bro. G. Shelton