Equipping Leaders

3/01/2023 5:06:05 PM | Roger Kemp

Roger Kemp has an extraordinary legacy of service with Baptist Mission Australia over the past four (plus!) decades. He is passionate about building up local faith leaders and is the facilitator of our Scholarship Project. Here, he gives an update.

On my recent visit to Assam, India, I was reminded of the big difference that Australian Baptists are making to the development of the church in many places around the world. In this case it was Assam where I met four church leaders who have benefited from the scholarship fund of Baptist Mission Australia.

Let me tell you something of their story.

Stephen Mecemrai and Kiranjay Rabha

Stephen was the General Secretary of the Rabha Baptist Church Union (RBCU) when we offered him a scholarship to complete his Master of Christian Management in Bangalore, India. His scholarship amounted to $6,000.

Stephen is now the regional pastor in West Bengal for the RBCU. However, his health hasn’t been the best recently, so he has called upon a colleague – Mr Kiranjay Rabha – to help him. Kiranjay has also benefited from a scholarship – gaining his Bachelor of Divinity from Union Biblical Seminary at a cost of $5,600.

Steven shares, “It is very helpful for Rabha people and the Rabha church to have leaders trained through the scholarship program. It is not possible for the churches to sponsor such leaders in their training. The Rabhas are very grateful to Baptist Mission Australia for their long partnership in the scholarship program.”

Muanpuii Mecemrai

Munapuii, Stephen’s wife, also benefited from a scholarship. Muanpuii has been very active in the Rabha women’s program, holding several offices.

One area that Muanpuii has excelled at is using the weaving skills of the Rabha women (who she has taught) to produce scarves and bags for sale. She has also taken women into West Bengal and used their weaving skills as a means of evangelism. It has proven very successful.

Ananta Rabha

Another recipient of a scholarship has been Ananta Rabha. Ananta has spent the last 15 years working with a group of helpers, translating the Bible into easily readable Rabha. It is now ready for printing. Ananta is pursuing a D.Min degree in Mizoram. He is a key church leader and teacher for Rabha churches.

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These are just four stories of many people who have benefited from Baptist Mission Australia scholarships over the years. Currently we have twenty church leaders who are in the scholarship program.

The annual cost of these scholarships is around $21,000 with students coming from Malawi, Zambia and India. There are applications for scholarships that are on hold because there isn’t the guarantee of funds to meet the need.

This is where we need your help.

In partnership, any amount makes a difference. Your gift helps spread the Gospel by helping train current and future church leaders

To partner with this Scholarship Project visit: www.baptistmissionaustralia.org/Scholarship
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