Dibrugarh

Kuki Worship Service - Dibrugarh

GENESIS OF THE BIRTH OF KWS IN DIBRUGARH

"The permanance of the Church is based on the character of the builder "

Introduction :

Dibrugarh City has always been a popular destination for government employees ( both Central and State Government), employees of various Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) & Banks, students, church missionaries, etc. It is an old township and has been the headquarter since the Matak country was annexed to Lakhimpur district in 1842. In addition, Dibrugarh has the distinction of being the first in many notable fields like, first Medical College in the entire North-East Region, first Tea Garden, first Oil Field, one of the oldest Municipality, etc. As such, there has been a perpetual inflow of people from different corners of India and its neighbouring countries that has eventually earned for itself the epithet ‘El Dorado’.

As per Census 2001, Dibrugarh district has a population of 11,85,072. In so far as religion is concerned, it has a sizeable number of Christian population comprising 3.80 % and standing third in the district. Hindu population with 10,75,878 (90 %) is majority with Muslims - 53,306 (4.50 %) and Christians - 45,040 (3.80 %) coming a very distant second and third respectively.

How the Fellowship Started :

As far as our community is concerned, many of our people had come to Dibrugarh since hoary past, but almost all of them were here for only short and temporary stint. As such, there were no plans of having any fellowship or secular/welfare organisation of some kind. Infact, Kukis never had any christian fellowship worth the name until 2008. The idea of having a christian fellowship ignited from the celebration of the 1st Chavang Kut cum Get Together of the Kukis on the 1st of November, 2008 at Officers’ Club, Assam Medical College, under the theme, ‘Know Thy Roots To Know Thyself Better’.  On the occassion, under the Charimanship of Pu L. Doungel, all the members present in the meeting unanimously resolved to have a christian fellowship in Dibrugarh. The members present also entrusted Pu L. Doungel and Evan. Sesem Singson the responsibility to initiate the process and give practical shape to the whole idea. Hence, 1st November is the birth date of Kuki Fellowship in Dibrugarh.

The 1st Advent Christmas was celebrated on 14th of December, 2008 at Parish Hall, Bishop House with Rev. T.N. Gangte (Retd. Principal MBC Higher Secondary School, Imphal) as the Speaker. After 3 months of the decision to have a fellowship, the idea actually materialised with the generous hospitality of the Garo Baptist Church, Khalihamari, Jail Road, whose leaders & memebers graciously allowed us to use their church at unoccupied time for fellowship.

Accordingly, the first worship service was started on 22nd March, 2009 with the attendance of 14 members, including children, under the name and banner of Kuki Inter-Denominational Christian Fellowship (KICF). On request of the fellowship members and to attend the urgent need of the fellowship for spiritual guidance and leadership, Evangelist Thensiem Singson ministered as Pastor of the Fellowship after assuming responsibility on19.04.2009 with dedication prayer.

With the passage of time and constant blessings from God, the fellowship slowly and gradually grew in all respects. The growth is visible not only in terms of number but also in other physical and spiritual aspects as well. As such, the need to widen the scope was felt and accordingly, the name of the fellowship was upgraded from ‘fellowship to church’. Hence, on the 4th of June,2010, it was rechristened as Kuki Inter-Denominational Christian Church (KICC). On the same day, the first issue of the church monthly newsletter was released. After almost two years of fruitful existence, the newsletter was given the name “Radiant’ from February, 2012 issue.

The 2nd Advent Christmas was joyfully celebrated on 4th December,2010 at NPH, Paltan Bazar with Pator S. Singson as the Speaker. Blessings continue to shower and the 2nd KICC Anniversary cum 1st Newsletter Anniversary was observed on 31st August, 2011 with the church leaders of Garo Baptist Church and other invited guest and friends.

KWS is Born :

Appreciating the proactive role played by the KWS in reconstructing and uniting the Kuki community socially and spiritually, and keeping in mind the need to stand on a common platform eventually led to the fast acceptance of its goals and objectives, resulting in the birth of KWS in diffrent parts of the country and abroad. In due course of time, the Kukis in Dibrugarh also unanimously resolved to once again rename the fellowship as Kuki Worship Service (KWS). The final decision on the issue was taken on the 3rd Advent Christmas Celebration of the fellowship on 9th November, 2011 at the residence of Gl. Hauthang Kilong. In pursuance of the resolution, a formal invitation was made to Pu D.P. Haokip, IRS Vice-Chairman, All India KWS Co-Ordination Committed (AIKWSCC) and Pu L. Khongsai, Treasurer, AIKWSCC. They were requested to inaugurate and dedicate KWS in Dibrugarh.

On 27th November, 2011 Pu D.P. Haokip, Vice-Chairman, AIKWSCC inaugurated Kuki Worship Service, Dibrugarh. Pastor Sesem Singson dedicated the new Executive Committee Members with prayer. This is the story of KWS, Dibrugarh from 1st November, 2008 to 27th November, 2011.

KWS DIBRUGARH, ASSAM