PMI Missionaries
Lian & Clara Tombing
Ministry Area: Northeast India
Responsibilities: Evangelism & Church Planting, Orphanage, Mercy Ministries
E-mail Address: lianchinkhup@yahoo.com or lian_clara@yahoo.com
Project: Covenant Children's Home
Personal web site: www.tinyurl.com/liantombing/
Lian and Clara returned to Manipur, in northeast India, after graduating from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2001 with an M.Div. In December 2001 Lian was ordained, and served as a pastor at Mualkoi Presbyterian Church where he and Clara grew up.
In December 2004, Lian was elected by the General Assembly as Coordinator (Ministries & Missions) and serves the Lord faithfully by visiting churches, meeting and training pastors, elders, and deacons.
Lian and Clara are very committed to the care and education of the many orphans in their area. An orphanage called "Covenant Children's Home" was started in January 2002. Lian, Clara, their three daughters and 135 orphans are living in the Home at this time.
Rev. Lian Tombing was born and raised in a Christian family in Manipur, one of the northeast states of India. He was called to serve the Lord at a very young age, and a result, he actively got involved in the church ministry even during his high school life. Lian was grieved to see the sickness and poverty of his people and he earnestly invoked the Lord to use him as a wonderful instrument to help his own people when he grew up.
In 2002, the Lord opened the door for him to begin an Orphanage called "Covenant Children's Home" with 15 homeless orphans which now has grown into 419 orphans. His passion is to build families for children and widows who are in need of care and protection by providing their wholesome need, with all the capacity and resources the Lord provides, to help them grow into self-reliant adults.
In 2004, Lian started a Christian School named "Covenant School" which has up to the 8th Grade with 700 students under the supervision of 20 teachers. The student community comprised of various tribes, languages, and religion from its surrounding areas. It solely aims to impart a solid and Christ-centered education to the students.
Lian is greatly used by the Lord in church planting across Manipur State and also in preaching the Gospel of Grace and planting churches for believers in the town of Churachandpur and its surrounding areas. The Lord blessed his ministry with the mushrooming of 40 local churches which are overseen by 15 pastors. Lian also is actively involved in missionary work among the Meitei Hindus in the state of Manipur and the Meitei Vishnupuryas in the state of Tripura where he works with 5 evangelists in several mission fields.
Latest Report: (updated 5/2/2012)
Dear friends and Partners in the Lord's ministry,
Thank you so much for your prayers and support that enable us to keep pushing ahead in spite of so many challenges. I guessed you are already having quite a warm weather; and here in Manipur, we are enjoying slight showers and cool weathers. We can still put on thin jackets at night and in the morning, daytime is just fine and never get too hot.
Here are few praises and prayer request for the month of May:
- Our family enjoyed God's grace of loving and affection for one another. I am engaged with the Church ministry while Clara looks after the Orphanage. Our daughters just finished their second term exams and waiting for their results. Our second daughter, Zoulian suffers typhoid and undergoes medical care from our pediatrician that helps her recovering slowly but gradually. We covet your prayers for her full recovery.
- I have finished visiting three churches giving report on my last trip to the US and preaching on "Re-strengthening of Covenant Family." The Lord greatly uses these messages as an encouragement while our church is facing serious challenges right now. The good news is that our church leadership could stand together and move ahead in the midst of all the trials and tides.
- In the midst of all these we cannot simply stop but keep on going with what the Lord has given us to do for the expansion of His Kingdom. Below is our schedule for visiting churches:
- May 2, 2012: Our Presbyterian Mission Committee will be having a meeting with one of our missionaries among the Meitei Hindus tomorrow at 11:00 am in connection certain issues developing in the mission's field. We need discernment and wisdom from above to deal with it. Pray with us.
- May 3, 2012: The Presbyterian Women fellowship ill have their meeting at 12:00 pm to discuss several agenda in regards to their ministry among our Women in the Churches. Presently, I am the Presbytery Superintendant in overseeing the ministry of the Women in the Church.
- May 4, 2012: Our Presbytery Youth Leaders and I are planning to visit Tallian Presbyterian Youth Fellowship to encourage do ministry among our Youth folks. Tallian village is about 100 miles from Covenant Children's Home with seven hours driving in the muddy road.
- May 5-6, 2012: We are planning to have a meeting at Bukpi Presbyterian Church in connection with the upcoming PYF 2012 Conference in December this year. We are praying for our main speaker and it would be great if anyone of you is interested in Youth ministry and willing to come over to Manipur to speak with the Youths in this Conference. Bukpi village is about 120 miles away from CCH with 7 hours of driving.
- May 7, 2012: We will visit Thanlon Presbyterian Church and encourage them with singing and preaching the Word. Thanlon is about 110 miles from CCH with 6 hours of driving. We will be back home on May 8, 2012. Please pray for journey mercies.
- May 11, 2012: Covenant School Managing Board meeting will be held at 1:00 pm. Please pray for it as this meeting will discuss with agenda for the welfare of the school staff and the students.
- May 12, 2012: I will be teaching around 200 men who are fathering our Covenant Families. The topic of this seminar will mainly deal with the "Role of the Father in a Covenant Family."
- May 13, 2012: Visit Peniel Presbyterian Church with our Presbytery Youth Leaders in connection with the up-coming PYF 2012 Conference in December.
- May 16, 2012: The General Assembly Working Committee (Board of Trustee) meeting at 10:00 am, at the Conference Hall of PCI Head Office.
- May 19, 2012: Seminar on the "Role of Women in the Covenant Family" at Thingkangphai Presbyterian Church where I will be the main Speaker.
- May 20, 2012: To visit Rehoboth Presbyterian Youth Fellowship with our Presbytery Youth Leaders to highlight on the up-coming PYF 2012 Conference in December.
- May 22-24, 2012: To visit Tuima Presbyterian Youth Fellowship and Lungthul (L) Presbyterian Youth Fellowship with our Presbytery Youth Leaders to highlight on the up-coming PYF 2012 Conference in December.
- May 26, 2012: Seminar on the "Role of Youth & Children in building a Covenant Family" at Thingkangphai Presbyterian Church where I will be the main Speaker.
- May 27, 2012: To visit Zenhang Lamka Presbyterian Youth Fellowship with our Presbytery Youth Leaders to highlight on the up-coming PYF 2012 Conference in December.
It is already a full and heavy schedule. Please pray for good health and fruitful visits all these churches.
Thank you so much.
In His grace,
Lian & Clara
Manipur, India
Please send your tax-deductible gifts to:
Presbyterian Mission International
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, MO 63141
Phone: 314-434-4044
Attention: Jean Lehmkuhl, PMI Treasurer
Background Information
Evangelism & Church Planting
Covenant Children's Home
Testimonies
Orange Farm Project
Mercy Ministries
Presbyterian Mission International
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Telephone: (314) 434-4044
Fax: (314) 434-4819
