PMI Missionaries
Khen & Rith Tombing
Ministry Area: Northeast India
Responsibilities: Church planting, evangelism, Reformed Bible Institute, Rayburn College
E-mail Address: khentombing@yahoo.com
Khen, PMI's first missionary, completed his M.Div. in 1986 and a Th.M. degree three years later. Since that time, Khen has labored in Manipur, in northeast India.
Despite great persecution, he has actively participated in the planting of over 36 churches in India and 12 churches in Myanmar. He began more than 10 Christian primary schools for the poor in rural villages. He is also the founding President of Reformed Bible Institute and of the Presbyterian Church of India's Christian College and Christian High School.
Khen is the Chief Coordinator of the Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed) whose responsibility is making sure all ministries under the Presbyterian Church in India go and grow smoothly. Rith serves as Secretary of Women in the Church of the Presbyterian Church in India where she is actively participating in the Church's ministry of Transforming and Empowering Women in the Church.
Latest Report: (updated 4/30/2009)
Dear Friends,
Warmest greetings to you from India in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! After a long time, here's our long awaited Newsletter! At the very out set, I want to thank you for your prayers and support which makes this report possible.
About Us
The Holy Spirit continues to comfort us since my parent's departure (mother died in August 2007 and father died in December 2008) Thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult times. We continue to have by his grace relatively peaceful and successful ministries. Our oldest son, John has not been able to graduate from school. He needs a lot of our prayers. We praise God that our second son, Timothy will be graduating in May with Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology. Our daughter, Nemy is 15 and reading in 10th Grade and doing well. Rith is busy with Women in the Church activities in our Presbytery and in addition to this she is looking after WETE (Women Empowerment and Transformation Enterprise).
Church Planting in India among Hindus, Muslims, Buddists, Animists, Tribals, etc.:
We now have 50 churches in India and 25 churches in Myanmar. Praise God! Pray that God will open doors for preaching the gospel and planting churches, especially among Muslims. We are currently planting churches in Ngathal in New Lamka Town (church will be named Engedi Presbyterian Church), Suangdoh Village (church will be named Suangdoh Presbyterian Church) and Mualtam Village (church will be named Mualtam Presbyterian Church).
Christian Primary Schools in Rural Villages
The Lord has blessed us with 12 Primary Christian schools in 12 villages. It is run free of cost to educate and to introduce Christ to poor rural village dwellers. Most of our community based cared orphans attend these schools. There are 1200 children attending mission primary schools.
Rayburn High School
The Lord brought 2500 students at our High School this year. This year 181 students graduated. There are 70 employees at the High School. We thank God that we are able make Christ the center of our learning. Students hear the good news and are guided daily to be faithful disciples of Jesus. You will be interested to know that our moto is ALL for JESUS. From this year we are introducing Foundation of Christian Ethics as one of our main subjects. Our need — we pray that God will provide a chapel in his good time. Rayburn High School gives tithes from its gross income.
Rayburn College
The Lord gave us 1300 students this year — the maximum number of students we can accommodate. Every year we are sending out hundreds of graduates in Science, Arts, and Commerce all over India to be witnesses for Christ. The Lord has used our College's National Cadet Corps (NCC) to produce many Officers in the Defense Forces of India. Like in the High School our motto is All for Jesus. We want every student at Rayburn College to hear the gospel and taught the scripture. Our students form an Evangelical Union (like InterVarsity in America) and witness on our campus and other campuses as they find time. Praise God that there is no objection from our Government for making Rayburn College a truly Christian College. We would rather not have a college if we cannot provide Christ centered education. We have 70 employees in the college as well. We pray that God will provide a chapel in his good time. Rayburn College also gives tithes from its gross income.
Reformed Bible Institute
Reformed Bible Institute is providing training to Pastors, Ruling Elders and Deacons. It is also providing Sunday school materials for our Churches. All literature relating to our denomination is published by RBI. Rev. Pau Gualnam is looking after the Institute as a Principal. Recently Central Presbyterian Church in St. Louis provided a jeep and one acre property for RBI. Right now RBI is housed at PCI Head Office building.
Head Office of the Presbyterian Church in India
All our denominational policies are executed from here. Pray for Rev. Khen Tombing as he coordinates Administration and Church Planting, Rev. T.L Dousel as he Coordinates Mission & Evangelism, Rev. Gin Zalian as he Coordinates all our Institutions and Rev. Thiansong as he coordinates all Pastoral Ministries. Pray for all our pastors (25 fulltime pastors and evangelist and church planters).
Ministry of the Women in the Church of PCI
WETE (Women Empowerment and Transformation Enterprise) — WETE was established in 2007 with a commitment to empower and transform destitute women of Manipur through the gospel of Jesus Christ and provides them means of survival by giving hem skills and works to do.
Our Commitments:
- TRANSFORM sex workers, widows, homeless and extremely poor women, orphans and substance abusers of Manipur through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to new life, new purpose and new hope.
- EMPOWER them by providing free vocational training in varieties of skills and income generating works so that they can support themselves and their families.
- INVEST all spiritual and financial proceeds to support AMAZING GRACE (Abandoned Babies Home)) and orphans.
Activities:
- Spiritual Guide Department: Spiritual Counseling, Bible study, prayer, singspiration.
- Training Department:
- Cutting & Tailoring — WETE provides free training in cutting and tailoring for 6 months.
- Weaving — WETE provides free training in weaving for 6 months.
- Weaving Department: This department produces wraparound (use by local women) shawls, dining table clothes and material for different types of bags.
- Tailoring Department: This department produces ladies bags, cushion covers, school bags and school uniforms.
- Handicraft Department: This department makes necklace and earnings.
Half way home: WETE is also a half-way home (transitional) and a temporary shelter for homeless women with their families. We can accommodate 4 families and 4 single women at a time. They can stay for a maximum of one year and move on to make room for others in need.
Remember: When you buy WETE product you are helping destitute women of India and taking care of abandoned babies.
- MICRO financing poor women also began under the same program — recipients are to bring back the capital with a small interest within the specified period of time. So far we are able to help 20 poor families find jobs and livelihood and made their involvements in the church more fruitful.
- AMAZING GRACE (Abandoned babies Home) The Lord has led us to start Abandoned Babies Home on April 25, 2009. We knew for many years babies were abandoned in the hospitals and streets in our towns and there is no one to take them. Not every abandoned baby find a home! We are working on a legal aspect of taking abandoned babies. Pray for us as we begin this challenging ministry. As I write this letter Dr. Kimboi from a nursing home called and informed us that a certain woman is in her labour room and wanted to give away — but we are not ready with our legal papers. Too bad!
Combating Famine and Finding a Sustainable Solution
In our combat against famine and poverty we have provided potato seeds, ginger seeds, turmeric seeds and rice seeds. We have found that it was very successful. We are able to combat famine effectively. As a result of this undertaking famine is about 30 per cent reduced. We are grateful that now many people are taking up similar project and fight famine in our land.
Manahaim Centre
Our church began care center for alcoholics, drug addicts, victims of sexual, mental and domestic abuse, including mentally retarded in 2003 and called Mahanaim Center. Volunteers from our churches look after this rehabilitation. Presently there are 40 boarders receiving help. Please pray that the Lord will supply all their basic needs, like food, clothing, etc. Also, they will know Jesus and their lives transformed and free from their vicious addiction. Pray for Lalpu and his wife who are looking after this center.
Rescue Mission
(Rescuing those enslaved financially by local money landers): This ministry began about 12 years ago with a purpose to bail out our church members enslaved by local money lenders on demonically high interest (60-100% per annum). Our Church paid off their debts and rescued them from this sinister enslavement. To date, we have rescued 40 people under this program. They are required to pay back all the capital money to the church after they are restored. Recipients of Rescue Mission Fund are also required to tithe faithfully and regularly. Thank you for helping us to free others from financial enslavement.
Christian Mission Hospital Project
It has been my prayer for many years that the Lord will give us a Christian Mission Hospital in our Town. We are so happy that PMI Board has permitted us to start the project… Four years ago, our Church bought 700x350 ft. property for this project and we will be able to use it now. We are presently pursuing permission from our Government to start the hospital. It will be a charitable hospital. We hope to be able to begin sometime in 2010. Mr Zakai Thomte , an elder at Elim Presbyterian Church in Manipur is working hard to make this project a success. Please pray for him and our hospital project.
Mercy Ministries
Distribution of food grains to famine effected areas in Manipur. Our church has distributed almost every month food grains as relief to people badly hit by poverty and starvation Distribution of mosquito nets, blankets and medicine are also undertaken whenever we have fund. Mosquito nets and medicines saved many lives every year. Blankets give warmth to poor villagers in winter. The Bible tells us to love not only in words but in deeds.
Covenant Children's Home (orphanage)
Lian and Clara are looking after this orphanage. There are 162 orphans at the Home now. Thank you for your support for the orphans at CCH, Manipur. If you are interested to support orphans, please contact Lian and Clara Tombing at lianchinkhup@yahoo.com. Lian and Clara will be able to guide you as to how you can be a part of helping orphaned children in Manipur, India.
PCI Messenger
I have been editing our monthly PCI Messenger in Paite language for the last 13 years. This takes a bit of my time every month but it is a great blessing working with my very efficient staff. This magazine carries a daily prayer guide. We have 500 subscribers. You can send your prayer requests to khentombing@yahoo.com. It has been personally a tremendous blessing and encouragement to pray for one another.
Revision of Paite Bible
I have taken up the challenge of revising Paite Bible. Paite is name of a tribe whose population in India and Myanmar may be about 300000. It is also my mother tongue. I do not know when I will ever finish this task but I am trying. I am praying about taking leave from all my activities and concentrate on this project only for about one (or two) years. I will very much appreciate your prayers for this project.
Thank you and God bless you.
Khen, Rith and Nem
TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.
Presbyterian Mission International
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Telephone: (314) 434-4044
Fax: (314) 434-4819
