History

Story creates History

History not used is nothing—
for all intellectual life is action,
like practical life, and if you don't use the stuff well,
it might as well as dead.
(Arnold J. Toynbee)

The Starter

We can learn about important events from the story. Knowing more about what occurred is beneficial for everyone. It also aids in shaping the future for both young and old people. It also denotes the specific reference that was made. The Garo people were suddenly given a lot of importance by one of the histories. That was enlightening and marked the beginning of a new phase in the Christian journey.

First attempt to the Journey

People like David Scott and Captain Jenkins made significant progress with the Garo tribes. Their viewpoints on the Garo tribes seemed to be somewhat relevant and connected. The British government had given Captain F Jenkins permission. Jenkins will build a formal Garo school in Goalpara in 1847. As a result, few boys went to Goalpara and enrolled in school. [K.I. Aier: p24]

Journey to a Milestone

God created a mystery for the hillside Garo tribes amidst our people’s fights. Our story has shaped Garo society ever since God established Christianity at Rajasimla on April 14, 1867, with the help of Dr. Miles Bronson. Western missionaries who took on too much burden included Dr. Miles Bronson and many others. They turned this fragrance into the Garos’ most alluring scent. The Garo Baptist Churches in Garo Hills have been reciting a tale that God wrote for over 150 years. On February 20, 1868, the church (Rajasimla) presented three members who were eager to go and enter another field—Sakhen (Chakin) and Possalu to go as colporteurs, to receive only ₹ 8.00 each; the third, recently a head constable in the Police named Ramsing, to serve as Bible reader and colporteur on ₹ 10.00 per month; the total amount ₹ 26.00 per month [Dr. P324 of Bronson (1868). The same thing happened when missionaries left our country: a lot of our people followed in their wake. They spread the good news of Christ to their own people who lived in the hilly regions. Some of them traveled outside of the Garo Hills’ geographic areas.

The First Baptist Garo Association Organized

The Garo Christians gathered and congregated in the Gowalpara Chapel on April 3, 1875, at 2:00 pm on a Saturday. 43 delegates were enrolled after eight churches sent letters of response. Articles of Association were read and adopted following a statement of the meeting’s purpose. The decision to establish the First Baptist Association of Garo Christian Churches was finally made by the members. Following that, the organization elected Rev. T. J. Keith served as moderator, Shri Atula, a teacher, as scribe, and Shri Fokira, a pastor at Rungjulie, to serve as treasurer. Two crucial choices were made, and they were:

They decided that brother Chakin should be the organization’s first missionary, and they will fundraise for him on a monthly basis for a sum of ₹ 10 (or $5).
The Association decided to ordain brother Gungram (Gongaram) the following day at 2:00 pm after hearing an exciting statement about his experience. The Association then broke off to prepare for its Saturday, January 1876 meeting with the Nisangram Church. [Rev. T.J. Keith, 1875, p484-85]

Rajasimla Church was Organized

The Church was not formally organized until February 1876; it was only founded on April 14, 1867.

The afternoon of February 14, 1876, saw the arrival in Rajasimla of Dr. Phillips and Dr. Keith. They recommended staying until Monday as well, but Dr. Keith started showing signs of a fever on Friday, so they left on Saturday to go home. The first step in the much-needed forward movement of the Garo mission, however, was made on Friday, and it will be very helpful to the Rajasimla Christians. They established a traditional church that very day. Unless you consider the preachers’ or pandits’ annual report to be the equivalent of an organization, there have never been any distinct organizations before.

The approximately 100 Christians in Rajasimla, including the nearby outposts, adopted a covenant after establishing a separate church roll and electing two deacons, a clerk, and a treasurer on this occasion. There is already an ordained pastor (Gongaram or Gungram) in the room. [E.G. Phillips, Missionary Correspondence, 1876, p142]