PMI Missionaries
Khen & Rith Tombing
Ministry Area: Northeast India
Responsibilities: Church planting, evangelism, Reformed Bible Institute
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 10/1/2007)
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! As you read, please join us in praising God for his sustaining grace for enabling all of us to continue to serve him till today. Thank you for your sincere prayers and faithful support.
From the day we arrived Manipur (from USA) we have been keeping busy with many works in the ministry. Rith was busy with taking care of my mother (suffering from liver cancer and bed ridden at home) and maintaining our home with many guests and ministry among women in our Presbytery. My mother left for her eternal home at 6 AM on the 29th August 2007. Our two sons: John is in Pune, West India, doing his 2nd year Bachelor of Arts degree course and, Timothy in Bangalore studying his 2nd.year in Bachelor of Biotechnology degree course. We decided not to send Nem in a boarding school as situation in Manipur improves and separation becomes more painful than imagined. She is in 8th grade at Rayburn High School in Manipur. We may send her to a Christian school in South India next year if it becomes unsafe for her to study in Manipur. Praise God that the Lord keeps us healthy and active. Please continue to pray for us as we go through pain of separation from my mother, especially for my father.
21 new Hindu converts received water baptism
Church Planting in India among Hindus, Muslims, Buddists, Animists, Tribals, etc.
We now have 40 churches in India and 25 churches in Myanmar. Praise God! It is our prayer that God will give us a minimum of 40 more churches within the next 10-15 years, God willing. We are currently planting churches in 7 villages and towns (name of villages -- Daijang, Tanglian, Thanlon, Enpum, Lungthul(L), Tuivel, Mualtam, Singngat). We are also actively planting churches in our City (name of churches -- Bethesada, Mahanaim and Trinity.
Our church planting work among Hindus and Muslims in Tuibuong locality and Thingkangphai locality in our city is going on smoothly and successfully.
NCC Cadets being trained by an Indian Army Officer
Rayburn College
The Lord gave us 1300 students this year. 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. By God's grace and power we continue to retain to be the best College in Manipur
Pray for our need of a chapel which can seat at least 1250 students at a time. It is estimated to cost about $50000.
Students gathered to join ground dedication for construction of High School Dormitory
Rayburn College
This year the Lord gave us 2350 students represented by many language groups. Besides proving the best quality Christian education to students, we are taking every opportunity at school to introduce Christ to students and parents. Every year we have many students and their parents become followers of Jesus at the High School. Praise God! Pray for our need of a chapel which can seat at least 1250 at a time.
RBI Library
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. Vung D. Tombing is presently looking after this Institute.
Mualnuam Christian School -- students and parents assembled for morning prayer
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. Note also that recipients of Sir Ted Seymour Trust Fund for Poor Children in Manipur attend Rayburn High School and other approved Christian schools in Town.
PCI Head Office Building, New Lamka
Head Office of the Presbyterian Church in India
PCI Head Office is finally completed! All our denominational policies are made and executed from here. Thank you for helping us build PCI Head Office Building. Pray for our denominational leaders as they lead us to be faithful followers of Christ.
Hand driven thread spinning wheel
Ministry of the Women in the Church of Manipur
Through the generosity of churches and friends we were able to start this ministry. It is to provide jobs to poor women, especially widows of our church so that they can support themselves and their dependents. It is a non-profit undertaking -- the profit is helping the very poor women.
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.
Four women are being trained in management, marketing, weaving, embroidery, tailoring, etc. We have purchased sewing machines, weaving machines, tools, and materials necessary for production. Products will include earrings, bangles, necklaces, embroideries, ladies bags, school bags, computer bags, woman's wraparounds, and a lot more. We have rented a bamboo building to temporarily house this plant. Thank you for your gifts and prayers which enabled us to begin this project.
Potato being harvested by the Manager of the State Bank of India. We are trying to convince him to provide financial loan to farmers in our churches.
Combating Famine and Finding a Sustainable Solution
In our combat against famine and poverty we have purchased hundreds of acres of land in Mualnuam village and Enpum village and provided potato seeds to farmers. We have found that it is far more suitable to our soil condition and much more profitable than rice cultivation. It looks very promising to bring relief to our yearly famine stricken people. Next year we want to take up a similar project in two more rural villages, God willing. Thank you for your support for this program.
A recovering drug addict resting on his bed at Mahanaim Rehabilitation Home
Manahaim Rehabilitation Home
A multi-rehabilitation center for alcoholics, drug addicts, victims of sexual, mental and domestic abuse, including mentally retarded are put in this Home. Volunteers from our churches look after this rehabilitation. Presently there are 36 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.
Rescue Mission
Rescuing those enslaved spiritually and financially. This ministry began about 10 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. Till date, we have rescued 20 people under this program. They are required to pay back all the capital money to the church after they are restored. Recipients of RM Fund are also required to tithe faithfully and regularly. Thank you for helping us to free others from financial enslavement.
700ft. x 350ft. property for Christian Mission Hospital
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. Three years ago, our Church bought 700 ft. X 350 ft. property for this project and we will be able to use it now. The Korean Presbyterian Church in Manchester Road, St. Louis has also expressed their intention to help us start this project in February 2007, God willing.
Food grains transported to famine effected rural villages
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 done 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
Lian and Clara are looking after this orphanage. There are 140 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 lian_clara@yahoo.com. Lian and Clara will be able to guide you as to how you may be a part of healing orphaned children in Manipur, India.
PCI Messenger
I have been editing our monthly PCI Messenger in Paite for the last 12 years. This takes a bit of my time every month but it is a great blessing working with my very efficient staff. This magazine always carries PMI Board members and supporting churches and individuals for prayer. It has been personally a tremendous blessing and encouragement to pray for you regularly.
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 will very much appreciate your prayers for this Bible revision project.
Thanksgiving and Major Challenges Right Ahead:
Praise:
- Praise God for the comfort He has brought to us after my mother's home going, especially to my father.
- Praise God for the good health and safety of Khen, Rith and Nem (13)
- Praise God for the relatively peaceful life in Manipur and the gospel going forth and changing lives in Manipur.
Pray:
- Pray that more and more will come to Christ in Manipur, especially from the Hindus and Muslims.
- Pray that we will be able to establish more and more churches in Manipur.
- Pray that we will be able to start a Chapel building (1250 seater) at Rayburn College next year. We have raised $20000. and our need is $30000.
- Pray that the gospel will go forward and bring many to His saving knowledge here and wherever the gospel is preached.
Our Family
We need your prayers and financial helps to continue our ministry in India. Our prayer is that God will supply all our needs through the prayers and generosity of His people. If you want to give to this ministry, checks may be issued to PMI for Khen's Ministry and may be sent to:
PMI
12330 Conway Road,
St. Louis, MO 63141, USA
All gifts are tax deductible.
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
