The Hindals left the mountainside city of Aizawl on Sunday afternoon, traveling a dangerous, winding roads for the next 7 hours and arrived in Silchar about 11 pm. We were welcomed by Dr. Ishak Ahmed, president of Northeast India Baptist Bible College and Seminary. We were able to spend the next 3 nights on their campus. Dr. Ishak and his dear wife, Suja, were very gracious hosts and cared for all our needs.
Brother Ishak scheduled our time very efficiently. Chris spoke in chapel both days as well as meeting with the male students separately while Deb met with the girls. Chris also led staff devotions on three mornings. Before we left, we were able to travel to a nearby youth camp meeting where about 100 students gathered from three regions.
Three IPFBM partners sent their leaders to meet with the Hindals. One group traveled 18 hours one way on a crowded bus. These were strategic meetings for the partnership as they provided a first-time face-to-face interaction. What a blessing to hear their testimonies and to realize the church planting efforts in very remote regions of NE India.
We met with three partners: Fellowship of Baptist Churches, Assam and Manipur; Regular Fundamental Baptist Churches Association, Northeast India; Karbi Anglong Baptist Fellowship.
In addition we met officers of two other independent Baptist Associations who are planning to follow through with the application process: Dharmanagar Longai Baptist Association (DLBA) of Tripura; Uttkal Suchamachas Sanmilon (Gospel) Association.
All five of these groups take a fundamental position in doctrine and represent the kind of associations that make up the IPFBM.
