THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MARA EVANGELICAL CHURCH

1. The Mara

The Mara is one of the ethnic groups living in Chin State, Myanmar and in Mizoram State, Northeast India. In the early period, Mara was known to the outside world as Mara, Lakher, Shendu or Shandu, Maring, Zyu or Zho, Tlosai, Khongzai, etc., but they called themselves Mara, meaning southerner who moves from the North to the South.

It is sound because their ancestral homeland appeared to have been somewhere in Southern China. They then migrated to their present habitat via Tibet crossing the hills of northern Burma. The Mara belongs to the central Chin family of the Mongoloid stock of the Tibeto-Burman family.

The word Mara is used as generic term for the whole Mara people. The generic term “Mara” includes territorial sub-groups the Sizo-Chapi, Hawthai, Hlaipao-Zyhno, Iana or Vytu, Lochei and Tlosai. According to Dr. Zohra, the Hlaipao has a number of sub-groups such as the Heima, Lialai and Zyhno. The Sizo sub-group includes Aru, Chapi Khihlo, Lialaira, Ratu, Saby, Sosai, Tokua, Tiko,Tisi, etc. The Tlosai sub-group are the Saikao and Siaha. The Hawthai, Lochei and Iana had no sub-groups.

2. The Maraland: Location & Size

The Maraland is located in southern part of Mizoram State, India and southern part of Chin State in Myanmar. Before the Independence of India in 1947, and of Myanmar in 1948, the Maraland was ruled by the British. However, after the independence of these two countries, the Maraland was politically divided into two parts – India Maraland and Myanmar Maraland; and ruled respectively by different governments: India and Myanmar. The India Maraland can be called West Maraland and Myanmar Maraland as the East Maraland to avoid the repetition of India and Myanmar which express our state of political separation.

East Maraland has a total area of 11,200 square miles (approximately). It is located in the northwestern site of the Union of Burma. It lies between 22 d N and 22 d and ½ N latitude and between 93 d E and 95 d E longitude (approximately). It is bordered by Matu and Zotung in the east; Haka and Thangtlang in the north; West Maraland and Bangladesh in the west and Khumi and Arakan State in the south. The East Maraland falls under three different townships -Thantlang, Matupi and Paletwa.

The West Maraland lies in the loop of the Kolodyne river between the latitude 21 d 50’ and 20 d 35’ North and between the longitude 92 d 55’ and 93 d 35’ East. Situated in the southern part of the Mizoram, it covers an area of about 1445 square kilometers. It is flanked on the north and east by the Lai Autonomous District of Mizoram and on the east and the south by the Chin State of Myanmar. The West Maraland has its own administration in the name of “Mara Autonomous District Council” (MADC) under the India Government.

3. Population

According to 1998 Census, the population of the West Maraland is 47,984 who live at 50 villages in Mara Autonomous District, Mizoram. The East Maraland has a total population of 25,000. There are 61 Mara villages in the east Maraland. There is no other racial division in East Maraland. The principal language is Mara.

4. Communication

The land is isolated from other parts of the country and of the world, due to the difficulties of communication and transportation. There are only very narrow lanes crossing the land. Vehicles are hitherto unseen. One must travel on barefoot carrying his luggage on back loads. Jeep Roads that direct to Rezua-Chapy-Lailenpi, and Rezua-Chapy-Darling-Sabawngpi-Sabawngte are under construction. The Military junta installed one post office and Radio Receiver Telegraphic station at Lailenpi in May 2004. Electricity is still a foreign term in the land. Kerosene and pinewoods are used for lighting. Government Newspapers are not available. There is no hospital or clinic in the land. One has to walk at least three or four days to reach hospital in the town. All the Maras are cultivators, farmers who adopt the traditional system of shifting cultivation.

5. Religion

Christianity is the dominant religion in Maraland. Full percent of the population is Christian and 85% of Maras belong to Mara Evangelical Church and the rest belongs to Baptist Association of Maraland and other churches. The East Maraland was claimed as Christian land on September 26, 1957 when the whole land celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the arrival of the Foreign Missionary to the Maraland.

6. The Coming of Christianity into Maraland

The Christianity came into the Maraland in 1907 with the first founding missionaries the Rev. & Mrs. Reginald Arthur Lorrain from London. They were neither sent nor financially sponsored by any particular denomination or society. They themselves were the founders and first missionaries to the Mara people.

6.1. The Lakher Pioneer Mission (LPM)

The LPM was founded in 1905 by R.A. Lorrain to reach the Gospel to the Mara people. While R.A. Lorrain was reading at Witheriff Grammar High School in London, he had a great burden to reach the gospel to the unreached. Though he was sitting in the classroom, his mind was traveling to Latin America and Africa to preach the gospel to the people therein. After this study, he went to Canada and worked there for 4 years. In October 1902 he came back to London with a strong determination to have mission. However, his decision was not fulfilled easily. One day, as praying, he heard a voice saying “take a pamphlet and write down a name of tribe in the uttermost part of India”. He asked God in prayer “God, if the voice I heard in my heart is really your voice, give me the answer through your Word in the Bible.” He knelt down and prayed. After he prayed, he opened the Bible which text was Luke 10:16,19;

He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me;but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. The seventy two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning form heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (NIV).

This voice was heard on February 11, 1905, and it was the day of the birth of the Lakher Pioneer Mission. It was a time when the Baptist Missionary Society in London asked their missionary James Herbert Lorrain to return back to London. Before he returned James Herbert Lorrain wrote Lorrain to work as a missionary to a tribe called the Lakhers, a week-journey from Lunglei. As soon as he read the letter, his heart was touched by the tribe Lakher, and he was now very clear that God had chosen him to go to the Lakher people.

He then approached many missionary societies like Baptist Missionary Society, Arthington Trust to send him as missionary to the Lakherland, yet none of them could give him a positive response, for each society found it impossible to extend their work to such far and isolated region. By faith, he finally founded a mission called Lakher Pioneer Mission (LPM) in London on February 11, 1905 in order to reach the Gospel to Lakhers.

R. A. Lorrain described the LPM as Inter-denominational, he probably used this term because they were neither sent nor financially sponsored by any particular denomination or society. The LPM was supported by his friends from different denominations who had mission-minded. It also expresses the nature and work of the LPM’s ecumenical involvement. The LPM was opened to all other activities in missionary work, and at the same time, its door was opened to those who committed themselves to the work of mission.

The LPM had the holistic mission through Literature Mission, Medical works, School and education, Itinerating, Social and family work. It received some helps from All Nations Missionary Union, British and Foreign Bible Society, Religious Tract Society, and the Scripture Gift Mission. Some time, R. A. Lorrain a hard time for the shortage of money.

The Lakher Pioneer Missionaries who worked for the Maras were:

Missionaries Years of service

1. Rev. Reginald Arthur Lorrain 1907 – 1944

2. Mrs. Maud Louisa Lorrain 1907 – 1960

3. Mrs. Maud Louisa Marguerite Tlosai Lorrain 1909 – 1968

4. Miss Gladys Ramsey 1921 – 1928

5. Miss Yule Mark 1923 – 1924

6. Rev. Albert Bruce Foxall 1928 – 1977

7. Miss Gorst 1928 – 1929

8. Miss Irene Hadley 1928 -1934

9. Mr. Jelly with his three children 1931

(Mary, Susan, and Johnny)

10. Miss Violet Lorrain Foxall 1938-till now

6.2 Literature work of the LPM

R. A. Lorrain also reduced the Mara dialect into writing in 1908, and compiled two sets of dictionaries Lakher-English Dictionary and English-Lakher Dictionary containing 7,000 to 8,000 words each. A complete Lakher Grammar was published. His Lakher Primer for use in school has been printed by the Assam Government for the Mission free of charges.

6.3 Bible Translation

Lorrain started translating the Bible into Mara language in 1909. He started translating the Gospel According to John from Authorized Version and completed in 1912. In 1922, the 22 books of the NT were translated and printed. At the same time he started the OT translation of the Book of Psalms and the Book of Job. In 1928, the whole NT was published in the Mara language for the first time. He distributed the Bible free to those who could read the Mara language. Many Maras learned how to read and write in order to receive the free gift of the Bible. It encouraged Maras to attend Sunday School Class.

After 37 years of service in Maraland, R.A Lorrain died on February 1,1944 at Saikao in Maraland. All the tasks left were continued by his son-in-law Albert Bruce Foxall Lorrain who joined the LPM in 1928. He continued the OT translation and completed the whole OT translation in 1951. In March 1956 the first complete the Holy Bible in Mara dialect came out of the press. It was three years before the Mizo Bible was published. The whole Holy Bible was revised again, it was completed in 1973, and released at Siaha Vaihpi Church on February 25, 1973.

The LPM also published catechism, and Hymn Book which contained 174 hymns in 1919. It was revised and published in 1951, including 255 hymns, 46 choruses, and prayers.

7. The Birth of the Mara Evangelical Church

After three years of hard labor, the LPM got the first convert named Mr. Thytu on September 16, 1910, the second convert Mr. Chiahu in 1911, and the third convert Mr. Laila (the Mara poet) in 1914. By the year 1921 there had been already 98 believers all over the land. The first local church was founded at Saikao in 1914, second at Saiha in 1933. From time onward more and more churches were established.

Rev. R.A Lorrain organized “the Soldier of Cross” from the native Mara believers who traveled throughout the land, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lakher church experienced series of revivals in 1934, 1950, 1957 and 1960. Thus by the year 1956 the entire Mara people was won over to Jesus Christ. Thus this was known as the Birth of the Lakher (Mara) Church. The history of Mara church ca be traced back in five phases.

This first phase of the church (1907-1957) was about the birth of the church in the West Maraland through the work of first missionaries. The church was administered directly from Lorrain villa where the missionaries settled at Saikao. The pastors and preachers were sent to East Maraland to preach the good news to the Maras. Church administration was totally in the hand of the Missionaries. This period ends with the celebration of Gospel Golden Jubilee at Sabyhpi in 1957, the year that the whole Maraland was baptized into Christianity.

The Second Phase of the church (1957-1967) can be called decisive period for self-government of the church in East Maraland. The Lakher Church changed her name from time to time due to the demand of church administration. Up to1960, the Mara church was commonly known as the “Lakher Church, or the Lakher Pioneer Mission Church”. As the Lakher Church became a full-fledged self-supporting church, the Lorrainville Presbytery Committee (March, 1960) changed her name and adopted ‘the Lakher Independent Evangelical Church (LIEC). The term Evangelical is used to signify her calling to evangelize and professing her evangelical faith, and the word “Independent” to express our commitment to become self-supporting, self-reliant and indigenous church. In 1967, the term Lakher was changed into Mara as proposed by Mara church in Burma. Thus General Assembly held at Satly (now Chakho) adopted ‘Mara Independent Evangelical Church’ (MIEC) in March 1967. In the year 1967, the East Maraland Church had now its own Headquarters Office at Sabyhpi. Till 1971 the church did not have General Assembly, the Presbytery committee was the highest body which acted both as a supreme court and the legislature.

The third Phase (1970-1986) can be called “Separation Period” covering 16 years of church history. In 1970, after three years of establishment of Office in Sabyhpi, the MIEC suffered a split into two, due to the fact of having different opinions upon the location of the Church’s Headquarters Office. The first group MIEC was led by the Rev. Teitu who established Headquarters Office at Sabyhpi, and the majority of the members were in this group. And the other group Mara Independent Church (MIC) was led by the Rev. Sachai who located the Headquarters Office at Lailenpi. The MIC was lesser in members than MIEC. These two rival church groups created ill-feeling among the Maras. Social and familial relationship was affected. Some church buildings were closed down by the local government authority due to unceasing dispute upon ownership of church buildings. Communion services could not be taken together. Though they were Maras, they treated themselves as the Jews and Samaritans.

From 1980 and onwards, leaders from both sides began to review and reflect past Mara Church history. They were very sure that one day in the very near future, these two churches would merge in one Mara church. Therefore they shared their vision for church unity with young pastors. They planned to have dialogue. Efforts for reconciliation between the two parties took several years. In 1985 a Joint Committee was successfully organized and meeting was arranged in 1986. In 1986, a hot debate on reconciliation took place at Joint Committee at Lailenpi. Hope to be one seemed impossible. Both parties could not compromise upon the location of the office. Finally a delegate from Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC) was called on to speak his opinion, expecting some thing new insight from him. When he rose up to speak, he could not speak out, so he wept before church leaders. His tears from heart flowed through eyes. God blessed the tears that touched the hearts of the hardened members of the meeting, flowing to wash the hearts stained with schism-spirit. The MCC delegate was no other but the Rev. Smith Ngulh Za Thawng. After his speech, a resolution was passed to merge the two churches under the name of Mara Evangelical Church (MEC) in 1986. The separation between the MIEC and MIC lasted 16 years (1970-1986).

The Fourth (1987- 2007) phase of the church starts at the first combined General Assembly held at Lailenpi in 1987. They merged on the resolution that “the MEC shall have two General Assembly Offices at Lailenpi and Sabawngpi.” This is the birth of the Mara Evangelical Church in Myanmar. Though the wound of separation was healed, the scar remains as the church history to challenge the administrative officers of the Mara church.

7.1 The present Strength of the Church

At the present there are 19483 Church members in 3905 families at 72 local Churches, 60 ordained Pastors, and 15 probationary Pastors. The Church governance is divided into four Presbyteries and 44 Pastorates. There are altogether 146 Assembly paid workers.

7.2 Church Administration and Organizational Structure

The MEC adopts the centralization pattern and it accepts the Presbyterian form of Church Governments. It encourages lay leadership in preaching, teaching, and administration of finance. The Local Churches are led by unpaid ordained (deacons and deaconess) and two or three local Churches are grouped in one Pastorate and eleven Pastorates are grouped under one Presbytery. There are 72 local Churches in Maraland and 6 local Churches are outside the Maraland. Where there are more or less five families of Mara there is MEC. Each Pastorate and Presbytery has its annual convention with business session. The works and concerns of the

General Assembly are Carried out by its Department and Committees:

General assembly
Executive Committee
Finance & Property
Mission & Evangelism
Church Education & Literature
Personnel & Ministerial
Law & Procedure
Culture & Communication
Revival & Pastoral
Pastoral Committee

11. Departments (Women, Youth, Children, Service & Development)

7.3 Faith and order

The MEC accepts the Holy Scripture of the OT and NT as containing all things necessary to salvation and as the supreme and decisive standard of faith. It acknowledges that the Church must always be ready to correct and reform itself in accordance with the teaching of those Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit shall reveal it from time to time. It accepts the Apostle’s Creed as witnessing to and safeguarding that faith. In this faith, it worships one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. It believes in the Sacraments of Baptism and Lord’s Supper. MEC is theologically contextual, evangelical and ecumenical.

7.4 Finance

The MEC is financially self-supporting Church. Contributions from local Churches, Departments (Women, Youth, Children, and Service & Development) and the individuals of MEC are the main sources for the Church fund. The followings are the means and methods of raising funds.

Tithing: One-tenths of Church members’ income like rice, corn, money, domestic animals…. etc., are set aside for Church fund.

Envelope: Envelopes are distributed to Church members for thanks gift and free-will gift regularly and collected for Church fund.

Tent: Small tent is built at the gate of every village for farmers and when they come back from their farm they offer whatever they wish for Church.

Firewood: Firewood and bamboo are used for daily cooking and whoever collects those things, offer one or two pieces for Church fund at the gate of every village.

Handful of rice: A handful of uncooked rice and corn is set aside by every family in every morning and evening cooking for Church fund.

Handiworks: One particular day in a year is set aside to contribute different sorts of handiwork products for the Church fund.

Faith promise: Church members pledge to contribute a certain amount for Church fund.

Hunting: One particular day is set aside for hunting and fishing for Church fund.

Fund Raising Campaign: A certain preacher is invited to campaign all Church members to worship and serve the Lord along with free-will gift to the Lord for Church fund.

Offering: In every worship service, there is collection of offering for Church fund.

First fruit: Every first fruit and every first born of domestic animal are set aside for Church fund.

New crops offering: First Sunday of October is celebrated as collection of offering from farms and sold for Church fund.

Harvest offering: Last Sunday of November is celebrated as Harvest offering from all the products of farms for Church fund.

8. Mission Work of Mara Evangelical Church

Mara Evangelical Church has been actively doing her Cross-Cultural Mission since 1966 and at present she is working amongst the non-Mara speaking ethnic groups in Chin State and Rakhine State, Myanmar. They are:

1) The Khumi field

2) The Daai Lemrochin field

3) The Myo @ Khami field

4) The Mru field

5) The Ashochin field

6) Hletu/ Chinpo field

The mission office is called Evangelical Mission, stationed in Sittway, Rakhine State. Currently, there are 76 missionaries, 11 primary schools and one middle school in different Mission fields. There are about 5182 believers in numbers, 22 local Churches in the Mission fields.

Our church is celebrating her mission golden Jubilee in the year 2016 and before that period, she is earnestly seeking partnership for mission. Students both theological and secular are financially supported in order promote their human resources for extension of the Kingdom of God in Myanmar. Many local congregations in mission do not have church buildings, so they gather together at the homes of pastors or elders to worship. They need new buildings. Theological students from Mission field are in need of financial support for their studies.

9. Lorrain Theological College 7 Mission Studies Centre

Lorrain Theological College & Mission Studies Centre (LTC &MSC) is a theological institute established by the Mara Evangelical Church in Myanmar in 2003, bearing the name of the first missionary Rev. Reginald Arthur Lorrain who came into Maraland and founded the Mara Church in 1907. It is located at No. 65/B, Marga Road, Phawkan Block, Insein Township, Yangon.

9.1 The Aims and Objectives of LTC & MSC are:

1. To train students for Christian ministry as pastors, evangelists, missionaries and lay-leaders.

2. To equip students for promoting contextual skill and insight of tribal theology to serve the Church and society.

3. To kindle mission and ecumenical spirit; and equip students with contextual mission strategies.

4. To promote students for the build-up of the holistic development with the Word of God.

9.2 Mission Statement of LTC & MSC

“We, being rooted in the Reformed faith, are committed to build up the wholeness of human being by fulfilling the Great Commission for the service to God and the People.”

9.3 Vision of LTC&MSC

“Theologically well-equipped persons become God’s agents for the church and society.”

9.4 Motto of LTC & MSC

“Not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45).

During 7 years, we produced 22 graduates in Bachelor of Theology, and most of them are working as pastors, evangelists and social workers. We offer B.Th program only and at present there are 27 students. There are 10 full time and part times teachers. The college is fully engaged in pastoral ministry, mission and issued-based ministry.

9.5 Missionary Training:

As it has been said before, the Mara Evangelical Church has been launching her mission work since 1966 among non-Mara speaking tribal people. With the co-operation with ECM (Evangelical Church of Maraland), today we are sending 76 missionaries to mission fields. Among these 76 missionaries, most of them are not theologically trained, therefore they face different kinds of problems and issues when they directly go to their assigned mission fields. In order to response their urgent demand and request, being Mission Studies centre, LTC has missionary training once a year with the following purposes.

1. To train and equip our missionaries with the Word of God for deepening their spiritualitTo kindle the spirit of mission and impart the contextual mission strategies;

2. To promote their insight of tribal theology and holistic development in mission field;

3. To help them seek ways and means for effective ministerial work in cross-cultural mission; and

4. To initiate the theological college in the near future

In this missionary training, experienced pastors and missionaries are invited to speak and share their experiences in mission followed by practical works.

9.6 New Building for Mission Studies

For many years, LTC does not have enough space for students and teachers, so we are praying for the construction of new building for LTC and her mission Studies. This building is 93ft long and 24 ft wide with three storeyed. Its estimated cost is Ks. 1,000,000,000/- (US$ 100,000). The ground level of the building has been completed, and the continual construction is temporary ceased due to the shortage of money. We still need another US$ 50000/- for completion of the building.

9.10 Our other needs

LTC needs a vehicle for transportation of students and teachers for their ministry. We have very less books in Library; therefore more books are essential for students. Quarter for teachers urgent. Thanks to those who pray for these needs.

10. Ecumenical Relations

It is remarkable that the Mara Evangelical Church was able to get registered in the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Union of Myanmar in the year 1984. MEC is one among active ecumenical Churches. Out of her tireless effort to be ecumenical partner, now she is a member of

Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC)- 1985
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)- 1989
World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC, formerly WARC)- 1993
Associate Member of World Council of Churches (WCC)- 2001
Lutheran World Federation (LWF)- 2002

Future Plans

Most of the Mara churches in located in remote rural areas where smooth transportation and communication are not available. The church makes an every attempts to promote not only spiritual life but also physical, educational and health as well. We firmly believe that the church is here to serve the people of God. To live out the motto of the church, “Jesus Christ is Lord”, the church has been moving forward to fulfill the mission of God in this world. Therefore our future plan is set forth in this way.

1) To send more missionaries to mission fields before our celebration of Mission Golden Jubilee in 2016.

2) To continue the construction the Lorrain Mission Strides Centre for implementation of the aims and objectives of the church and mission.

3) To construct the jeepable road across the Maraland.

4) To purchase a vehicle for LTC.

5) To seek partnership in mission.