PMI Missionaries
Pau & Kim Gualnam
Ministry Area: Northeast India
Responsibilities: discipleship, teaching
E-mail Address: thanggualnam74@yahoo.co.in
Rev Pau Gualnam from India is married to Chiin Hoih Kim and blessed with two kids Man ThianKhawl, a daughter of 4 years, and Nang SuanLian, a boy of 10 months. He grew up in a Christian family, but became Christian only in his twenties.
He graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary with Master of Arts in Educational Ministry (MAEM) in 2008. He and his wife have been praying to God for a long time to open ways and means by which they can serve their people in teaching ministry. They felt the need for having Indigenous Leadership Training Institute. Their burden was deepened by various circumstances and needs that they experienced during Pau's five years of pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church in India.
God has now opened a way through Presbyterian Mission International (PMI) by approving Pau as one of the PMI missionaries to serve in Manipur, Northeast India. His ministry is teaching and training his people to be future leaders of the church through the Reformed Bible Institute.
Latest Report: (updated 2/22/2011)
How it begins.
The idea of having a Bible Institute was born in a formal discussion between Dr. Robert G. Rayburn and Vung D. Tombing and their wives at Dehra Dun on May 1978. It was first called Presbyterian Bible Institute, but was later change into Reformed Bible Institute. The seed that was sown in 1978 begin to sprout and slowly takes its shape under the Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed). Several challenges welcome her even at the initial stage of her development. In those days Presbyterian Bible Institute was not in a position to hire paid worker. However, Vung worked as volunteer teacher and trained Elders, Deacons, Layman and Pastors for God's ministry.
Developments:
By 2001 PBI was in a position to hire Vung D. Tombing, a retired Education Director of Manipur as Principal with two office staffs: a clerk and an office assistance. From this time onward PBI slowly starts to function as a regular mobile training institute. Its targeted groups were equipping Elders, Deacons and Lay leaders for God's ministry. The name Presbyterian Bible Institute was then changed into "Reformed Bible Institute" in 2001, because of the feeling that the term "Presbyterian" is governmental rather than theology and doctrine which was the main ministry of the Institute. Progress could also be seen in the form of improving training materials; Reformed Constitution was translated into Paite and several other books were also published in Paite by Vung D. Tombing, which become assets for the Institute.
In the same year (2001) a Board of Directors was formed to look after the ministry of Reformed Bible Institute. The following were the first member of the Board of Directors.
- Elder T.S.Hangzou, Chairman
- Vung D. Tombing, Secretary
- Rev. Khen P. Tombing, Finance Secretary
- Rev. T.L. Dousel, Treasurer
- Members: Rev. Lian C. Tombing & Rev. H. Chin Thiansong
Vung D. Tombing was in charge of this Institute till 2008, then the leadership was passed on to Rev. G. Pau Muanthang from January 2009.
Ministries:
- Equipping Elders and Deacons by giving them training every year. So far Reformed Bible Institute trained more than 300 Elders and Deacons.
- Equipping Pastors by organizing "Pastor Retreat" at least once a year.
- Equipping Lay Leaders of the Church by giving them Leadership seminar.
- Equipping the Youth by having Bible Quiz every year.
- Publications of books for training materials.
Pastors Retreat with their wives and children
Training Session
Rev. Pau giving personal attention
Elders and Deacons writing for Ordination Exam
Library and study hall
Achievements:
he best result of our achievements can be seen in the active participations of several Elders, Deacons, Pastors and Lay Leaders at their own local churches. Churches slowly but steadily transformed into a healthy Reformed church under the leadership of Pastors, Elders and Deacons. We now have trained more than 500 (Deacons and Elders) through Reformed Bible Institute.
The Plan Ahead:
We have miles ahead of us, some of the challenges may be tough, but we trust in our collective efforts, the prayer of the saints for achieving our big dream. Having, said that we plan to move forward to developing this humble Institute into a training centre then to full fledge Theological Seminary.
- Land: We have acquired a land for RBI campus of approximately 2acres. As we a acquired the land the challenge ahead of us is to develop this land into a training centre.
- Building plan: The drawing is a plan for conference/training hall with a capacity of 150–200 people. With an approximate cost of Rs. 50 lakhs ($120,000)
- Library: There is a plan to increase the volume of our RBI Library form approximately 500 Volumes to at least 10,000 volumes during the next five years.
- Infrastructures: Infrastructures became other big challenges on our way to full-fledged Seminary: Constructions of an approach road, fencing, water reservoir, power, and class room equipments.
Service Opportunities:
- Donate Training materials: Our Institute is limited resources in training materials like books, overhead projectors, computer and printer for our training program. You can be a part of this ministry by donating these needs.
- Sponsor a training program: Every year the institute organized different training programs such as: Elders and Deacons candidate training program, Pastor Retreat, Weekend training and Leadership development training. A training program cost approximately $300–$500. This is also another opportunity to be a part of this ministry by sponsoring a training program.
- Publish books: Reformed Bible institute also publishes books for Sunday school and training programs. This is also a good opportunity to be a part of this ministry as publisher of these books. Publication of these books cost around $300–$800.
- Be a teacher: Do you have the gift of teaching? If you have the gift of teaching, this is a place where you can be a teacher for a week. We will be helping you in translating the teaching in our dialect.
- Campus development: We plan to develop this campus by constructing campus fencing, classroom, hall, office building. This is also another great opportunity to be a part of this ministry by donating money with one time gift from $5,000–$50,000 towards this campus development.
- Support national missionary: Rev. Pau Gualnam is a national missionary of the Presbyterian Mission International, St. Louis, M.O. USA to Manipur N.E. India. He runs Reformed Bible Institute under the Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed). This institution gives training to lay leaders, Elders, Deacons and Pastors to sharpen their potential and ability for God's ministry. Rev. Pau has a vision to develop this institution into a full-fledged Theological Seminary.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support. God bless you.
Pau Gualnam
Presbyterian Mission International
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Telephone: (314) 434-4044
Fax: (314) 434-4819
