UPC NEI Departments: General Missions

List of Topics:

Introduction
List of Leaders

1. Introduction

The United Pentecostal Church of North East India was established in 1969 with the cognizance and permission of the leaders of the entire India unit. The first General Conference was held on March 20 – 21, 1969 at Peak Hotel, Shillong. The first election and nominations were held in this General Conference, presided by the then Foreign Missions Director, Rev. Oscar Vouga. On this occasion, three departments were established: Youth Department, Sunday School Department, and Ladies Auxiliary Department.

The next General Conference held on February 24th 1972 passed the motion to establish the General Missions Department. The Executive Board then appointed the leaders for this new department, as follows:

Director	Rev. J. Damhuala
Secretary cum Treasurer	Elder K. L. Hnuna

The General Missions Department prospered and grew under the leadership of these two great leaders.

In 1973, it was decided that the responsibility and task of leading this important department was too big to be conferred as merely part-time. Rev. Lerthansung was thus appointed as the first full-time Director. Rev. H. Lalruata was appointed as Secretary, which still remained a part-time post.

The General Missions Department does not convene an independent Conference. Instead, it shares the General Conference of the Church. However, it used to sit for a General Missions Board. The first such board was held on February 27th 1976 in Shillong, which 9 members attended. The first and only General Missions Department Conference was held on March 25th 1988 at Churachanpur District, Manipur. Even though only 30 members attended this Conference, the Holy Spirit of the Lord was with them and each returned home filled with a strong zeal for missionary work.

There has been no separate Conference of the General Missions Department till today, and the Department Conference is held along with the General Conference. However, there are some District and Section level conferences. The first District level conferences were held at Chhimtuipui and Lunglei Districts in 1976, and the first Section level was held at Kawnpui Section under North Mizoram District.