The Jubilee planning committees has met and has decided to have Pre-Celebration in 2015 and 2016 before we have the final celebration in 2017.
The process of constructing the Pastor’s / Leaders Jubilee Complex training Centre in Nagoan was started. Requested the members and families of convention to contribute an amount of Rs.25, 000 and above towards the construction of the building.
The Convention with gracious donations from the Churches was able to help the victims in a small way in Uriamghat area in Golaghat district. We are thankful to our Churches and Associations who have responded positively.
Out of 10 nurses we sponsored, 4 have graduated and have been employed. This program of sponsor has started with aim for those students who are financially weak and willing for Nursing Education.
The third batch of 12 students will graduated this year. We request churches to avail this wonderful opportunity to sponsor School and College dropouts for this one year program. Last year we were encouraged to grant loan of Rs. 60,000 each to three students to start on their own the skill they have learnt.
The Nowgong Mission High School has touched the 850 mark in enrollment last year and this year we expect 1000 students. The Higher Secondary Building has been completed and we have very few students enrolled, but we expect the number to jump. The School has added another floor above the Higher Secondary building to accommodate increased enrolment. At present the Auditorium is being constructed to accommodate 1000 students.
The School at present has an enrollment of 259 students and there is a new trend after the new Principal has taken over—there is 60+ new enrollment mostly in lower classes which is a good trend.
Mission Market/ Plaza is the Self- Reliance Project of the Assam Baptist Convention. The project has been doing well. We were able to add Mission Market Phase II on the Huze Road side. This is a double story structure. All the rooms are occupied. We are planning to start the Mission Market Phase III in the land adjacent to the Church. We are also in the process of dismantling 4 old Assam Type Rooms and construct RCC double story structure.
The Whispering Hope is the development project of the Convention. “Whispering Hope”. This project is in Golaghat in the land behind the Christian High School, Golaghat. We started rearing high breed pigs and goat and also initiated FAITH (Food Always In The Home) gardening. This will be a training center for Evangelist, Pastors. Youth and Women leaders.
With effect from 16th May 2014 we have started the Child Development Centre. We started the center registering 125 children which has now increased to 150 children. We have appointed 8 staff, one Manager, one Social Worker one Project Accountant and 5 teachers. Classes are held from 3 to 5 pm. Poorest of the poor students are enrolled. The focus is for developing Physical, Cognitive, Spiritual and Social-Emotional status of the children and this is the area the Centre is concentrating to develop.
women department
The ABC day of Prayer is observed on the last Sunday of October 2014. This is very important for us.
Mission Pledge Envelopes were distributed and we are thankful to the churches who have responded very favorably.
As a mark of 50 years life and ministry and its existence of the Convention, Pre Golden Jubilee was celebrated with under mentioned Associations. On 30th & 31st Oct. 2015 in SDBA; on 6th & 7th Nov. 2015 in NDBA
The ABC School in Nagaon witnessed change in leadership. Dr. Mrs. Rechilungle Riame has joined as Principal of Nowgong Mission High School.
In Golaghat Ms. Trinity William has just completed one year last Febuary’2015 and has independently taken charge as Principal of the School.
Last year out of 10 nurses we sponsored 4 have graduated and are now employed, bringing joy to the family, to the Church and to the Association and to the Convention. Last financial year we sponsored one fully and four others partially. In other words 11 Nurses are undergoing training now in Satribari Christian Hospital School of Nursing, Guwahati and Jorhat Christian Medical Centre School of Nursing.
This project is for School and College dropouts. We running this College at Nowgong Mission High School. This is an alternative system of education to help young people to seek meaningful employment after they graduate. We are following ICRDCE syllabus from Chennai, who finally awards the certificate.
Whispering Hope the development project of ABC behind CHSG Campus in Golaghat has gone from strength to strength. We have 3 pigs, 2 special breed goats and they have given birth to one small cub. We have fishery and plenty of Fish seed last year was put in. We have also FAITH garden where vegetables have been planted. Bananas, Papaya, lemon, chilli is planted .We have planted legumes for the goats. Legumes are nitrogen fixers which increases the fertility of the soil. The main purpose behind this project is to give training to our CD workers and Pastors so that they can replicate the model in their area.
The CDC project in Golaghat has been doing very well. The staffs under the leadership of the Manager have been working very hard. We have started with 125 children in the first year. We have added another 25 children in the second year and now we have added another 25 children in the third year of operation. So today we have 175 children in the project. Our Endeavour is to enroll poorest of the poor children and develop them from this tender age in their physical, cognitive, spiritual and social emotional area.
The II phase Mission Market in Nagaon behind the School Hostel on Huze roads has been completed, occupied and the market has been very much appreciated. We are now constructing Mission Market Phase III on R.K.B road, Nagaon near the Nagaon Baptist Church. When completed it will have 18 rooms 9 +9 in both the floors. We are also dismantling the old Assam Type building of Mission Market in A T road and converting them to double story RCC structure. When completed it will add to the ambience of the whole market
The respective departments Mission, Women, Youth and Finance headed by respective Secretaries are doing well.
All churches observed the ABC Day of prayer on the last Sunday of October. Every year last Sunday is earmarked for the Convention as day of Prayer.
As a mark of 50 years life and ministry and its existence of the Convention, Pre Golden Jubilee was celebrated with under mentioned Associations. On 9th & 10th Feb. 2016 in SBA; on 22nd & 23rd Oct. 2016 in UBCA; on 22nd & 23rd Sept. 2016 in KBAS and 10th & 11th Mar. 2017 in MABA as final celebration at Golaghat.
The community College for School and College dropouts is a very important programme for the Baptist Churches under ABC particularly. The community college programme is a one year programme and helps students to stand on their own feet. Five batches have already graduated and 90% of them are either employed or self-employed. Apart from class room training hand on skills like DTP, Tailoring, Two Wheeler mechanic, and Beautician skills are imparted. We have hostel facilities for both boys and girls. The ICRDCE is getting empanelled with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and as our Community College is affiliated to ICRDCE we can expect our center to be a skill development center recognized by the Govt.
The Convention has been running CDC Program for last 3 years at Golaghat. We have started off with 125 students age ranging from 4-12 years. At present we have enrolled 175 students from the BPL families, majority coming from other faiths. The children are given special assistance to develop their cognitive, spiritual, physical and social emotional side. We are amazed to see the transformation in the life of the children through this center.
Whispering Hope is a development project of the Convention. It is located behind the Christian High School, Golaghat. This is a center where we can train our Pastors, Women and Youth leaders and CD workers. We have pigs, goats, fishery agricultural activity. This year we intend to add hatchery and duckerry. We have procured local goats for meat as we cannot overlook the commercial interest of the project. We have constructed the quarter for the caretaker on one side and our driver on the other side. This year we were able to sell 2 pigs and fish from our fishery pond.
Last year during the month of October 2016, the Convention had given C I sheets as a part cyclone relief to 90 (ninety) house hold in the Pukhurijan village, under Tinsukia District.
Christian Education department initiation has moved forward particularly equipping Sunday School lessons, a uniform curriculum has been designed so that all churches are equally be benefited. The Christian Education provided through this curriculum will help build up the spiritual quality in the life of the students.
The CDC project in Golaghat has been doing very well. The staffs under the leadership of the Manager have been working very hard. We have started with 125 children in the first year. We have added another 25 children in the second year and now we have added another 25 children in the third year of operation. So today we have 175 children in the project. Our Endeavour is to enroll poorest of the poor children and develop them from this tender age in their physical, cognitive, spiritual and social emotional area.
Nursing Education has been the top priority educational programme of the Convention. We are happy to inform you that out of 14 nurses we have financially supported five have already completed their course, passed and in now undergoing internship. Hopefully in a years time they will complete and start serving the hospital and start reimbursing 50% of their salary to the Convention for the loan taken by them for their studies. This amount received from them will be rotated to help others. This year we have sponsored two full scholarships and three part scholarships for GNM Nursing from SBA, MABA, and NDBA.
The Nowgong Mission High School was established in the year 1846 by late Rev. Miles Bronson. It is a Co-educational School catering to the students from Nursery/KG to Class X. It is recognized by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) New class rooms were added to meet the increasing demand for seats.
The school also runs a hostel. In 2016, 40 boarders enrolled in the hostel.
It is another school owned and sponsored by the Assam Baptist Convention. It was established in the year 1919 by Ridgeway .It is a co-educational school recognized by Board of Secondary Education of Assam.
Plaza The Assam Baptist Convention has a market complex in Nagaon, by the name of Mission Market/Mission Plaza. There are 86 number of retail counters, let out to individuals on rent. This is the self-Reliance project of the Assam Baptist Convention. The first floor of the Mission Market phase I was completed and 12 new shops were added. In addition the first floor of the Mission Plaza in now ready and soon will be handed over for occupation.
The churches and Associations have observed ABC Day of Prayer on the last Sunday of October 2016.
Training Pastors/Leaders is a regular program of the Assam Baptist Convention so as to strengthen Pastors /leaders of the Christian communities basing of on the Word of God with aim that they can bring spiritual, mental and social change upon the life of people in their communities. They are equipped on church and social issues; community development; on leaders and family life; leadership development etc. The Assam Baptist Convention trained 200 pastors /leaders during the last 3 years period of time.
Women empowerment is one area where the Convention has put a lot of emphasis. The Women department has empowered the women of the Convention as mentioned in the following:
Prerona is an in house magazine that is produced quarterly. It is a window to the world of ABC.
The Assam Baptist Convention has a small Guest House with nine beds for accommodation purpose only in Nagaon. The Guest House is slowly being equipped.
In the later part of 2016 a project called “Love Guwahati” is planned to start at Guwahati, Latakata near Basistha Chariali (Pillangkatta) with the purpose to work for LGBT (Transgender) community in focusing to transform in the livelihood aspect and to bring transformation upon their social live.