The Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU) is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Tripura, India. It has its head office in Agartala, the state capital. The TBCU is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF) and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). It is also a member church in the North East India Christian Council (NEICC), a regional church body of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI).

History

The union was formed under the leadership of Rev. M.J. Eade in December 1938 in Lakshmilunga, a village six miles from Agartala. TBCU was supported and funded from the beginning by the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society (NZBMS) and they provided most of the staff till the 1960s. Since then TBCU has now become an independent indigenous self-supporting church organisation. Rev. M.J. Eade was appointed as the first General Secretary of the Tripura Baptist Christian Union. Rev. Lalhuala Darlong was the first national General Secretary. TBCU employs many pastors and evangelists and runs community programs such as schools and dispensaries. Since the early 80s, it has been working in partnerships with the Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) and also with the Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM) from Mizoram. Both BCM and ECM have many workers in Tripura working as missionaries and evangelist/teachers in various TBCU churches and schools. TBCU celebrated its Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilees in 1988 and 1998 respectively with much fanfare.

Organization

Office

TBCU has its office in the Baptist Mission Compound at Arundhutinagar, Agartala. The Mission Compound was established in 1938 under an official land grant by the then King of Tripura Kingdom, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya, to the Baptist missionaries from New Zealand.

Associations

It has the following affiliated associations: Every year a meeting of the Council Members of the TBCU is organised at one of the churches within the Union.

Schools

Union

St. Paul's School

The TBCU runs the St. Paul's School which is situated in Arundhutinagar, Agartala. The school was started in the early 1940s as the first English medium school in the Kingdom of Tripura. Currently, the Principal of the School is Mrs Manjuri Sangma and the Vice-Principal is Mr. James Muankima. The school is a higher secondary school with classes from K.G. to Class XII. It is affiliated to CISCE. Darchawi S.B Bengali medium school, at Darchawi village in Unakoti district of Tripura, was also developed by the NZBMS with the financial aid of the Government of Tripura.

SNBA

The association runs four English Medium schools, namely:

Yakhili Academy

Yakhili Academy is a Higher Secondary school in Khumulwng affiliated to TBSE.

Tipprah Academy

Tipprah Academy is a higher secondary school in Barkathal affiliated to the TBSE.

Salka Academy

Salka Academy is in Hezamara

Pohor Academy

Pohor Academy is in Burakha

CBA

St. Peter's School

St Peter's School is located in Jampuijala Block, Sepahijala District of Tripura and is run by the Central Baptist Association of TBCU. It was established in 1991.

KOKBA

Kok English Medium School

Kok English Medium School is located in Baijal bari, Khowai District. The school is affiliated to TBSE for Nursery to Class -X. It is run by KOKBA.

Udaipur Baptist Association(UBA)

St. John's Senior Secondary School

St John's High School is located in Raio, Killa, Udaipur, Gomoti Tripura. It was established in 1972. The school is affiliated to CBSE for Nursery to Class -XII. It is run by Borok Hoda Thong(BHT).

Elem English School

Elem English School is located in Dulukma, Amarpur, Gomoti Tripura. The school is affiliated to TBSE for Nursery to Class -X. It is run by Baptist Church of Mizoram(BCM).

Hamari English School

Hamari English School is located in Bangphur, Amarpur, Gomati Tripura. The school is affiliated to TBSE for Nursery to Class-VIII. It is also run by BCM.

Nograi Mission English School

Nograi Mission English School(NMES) is located is located in Nograi, Ompi, Gomoti Tripura. The school is affiliated to CBSE for Nursery to Class -VIII. It is run by Chekiye Village Baptist Church(CVBC), Nagaland.

Salgra Baptist Association(SBA)

Ebenezer High School

Ebenezer High School is located in Twiphuma, Manubazar,South Tripura District of Tripura. It was established in 1983. The school is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Saisawm Sazai Baptist Association (SSBA)

St. James Higher Secondary School

St James Higher Secondary School is located in Gongrai Molsom village, P.O Kendraichera, Sepahijala Dist. Tripura. It was established in 1980. The school is mainly for the scheduled Tribes students. The school is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education For KG to Class - X is affiliated to CBSE and For Class - XI & XII it is affiliated to TBSE.

Nazareth English School

Nazareth English School is Located in Tuidu Bazar, Gomati District, Tripura. Mainly For Classes from KG to Class VIII.

JSBA

The JSBA currently runs two schools.

St. Thomas English Medium School

St. Thomas English Medium School, located at Vanghmun village, was established in 1979. It educates to the mostly scheduled Tribes students living in and around Jampui hill. Pu Lalnunsanga is the headmaster of the school. The school has KG to Class X standards. The school is affiliated to the Tripura Board of School education (TBSE). Every year a considerable number of Madhyamik students appear for their examination and come out with flying colors. The school has contributed greatly to the educational development of the people of Jampui hill. It has a boarding house for both male and female students. A stipend is provided by the Tribal Welfare Department of Tripura, through which each year a number of poor students can pursue their educational careers at the school.

Pohor English Medium School

Pohor English Medium school was established in 2008 at Chawmanu under Chailengta Sub-Division of Dhalai District.

Theological Institution

Tripura Theological College

The TBCU runs Tripura Theological College for courses in the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) which is accredited by the Asia Theological Association (ATA) from its mission compound in Agartala where mission workers are trained in Biblical doctrines and other theological studies. Presently, Rev. Bishu Kumar Debbarma is the principal of the college.

Hospital

Earlier, the TBCU ran its own hospital at their headquarters from the 1930s until 1980 when it was discontinued, providing free treatment to the people of the state. Presently under SNBA, a hospital is being constructed at Kaya Haduk, Patni village of West Tripura around 20 km from Agartala city.

Social service

Since its inception. the TBCU has been supporting several voluntary NGOs dedicated to the development of the poor tribals living in the remote hamlets of Tripura.

Institute of Community Transformation

Location: Madhab Baptist Church, Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Publications

Bibles

TBCU in partnership with the Bible Society of India has been active in translating the Bible and New Testament in various local languages of Tripura.

Smai Kwtal

The New Testament of the Bible in Kokborok language, the dialect of the native people of Tripura was first published in 1976. The translation team were:

Baibel Kthar

The Bible in Kaubru dialect for the Bru people called Bible kthar that is meaning Holy Bible. The New Testament called SMAIKTA and the OLD Testament called SMAIKCHAM. The translation by Rev. S.K. MSHA, and his team which was published by the Bible Society of India in 2011.

Baibel Kwthar

The full Holy Bible in Kokborok language was published for the first time in 2013 by the Bible Society of India. The TBCU translation team were:

Dan Thar

The New Testament of the Bible in (Molsom) language the dialect of the native people of Tripura. The translation team were:

Literature

Under the Tripura Baptist Christian Literature Committee and the Kokborok Christian Literature Committee (KCLC) various songbooks, tracts and study materials are regularly published by the TBCU.

Statistics

According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 84,795 members in 943 churches.

Office bearers of TBCU

Union

Presidents

The list of presidents of the Union are as follows:

Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA)

Pastors of SNBA Office Staff of SNBA Ordained Evangelists of SNBA

Central Baptist Association (CBA)

Pastors of CBA The pastors of the CBA are: Ordained Evangelists of CBA Evangelists of CBA

Kok Baptist Association (KOKBA)

Pastors of KOKBA The pastors of the KOKBA are: Ordained Evangelists of KOKBA Ordained Evangelists of KOKBA

Udaipur Baptist Association (UBA)

The pastors of the UBA are: Ordained Evangelists of UBA Evangelists of UBA

Saisawm Sazai Baptist Association (SSBA)

SSBA Retired PASTORS SSBA pastors PRO. PASTOR SSBA workers

List of churches affiliated to TBCU

Sadar North Baptist Association (SNBA)

Abhicharan Baptist Pastoral Circle

Borkathal Baptist Pastoral Circle

Champaknagar Baptist Pastoral Circle

Dakdu Baptist Pastoral Circle

Hezamara Baptist Pastoral Circle

Jamilwng Baptist Pastoral Circle

Khumulwng Baptist Pastoral Circle

Mandwi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Central Baptist Association (CBA)

Bishramganj Baptist Pastoral Circle

City Baptist Pastoral Circle

Gabardi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Jampui Baptist Pastoral Circle

Takarjala Baptist Pastoral Circle

Udaipur Baptist Association (UBA)

Amarpur Baptist Pastoral Circle

Marandi Baptist Pastoral Circle

Pitra Baptist Pastoral Circle

Kok Baptist Association (KOKBA)

Salgra Baptist Association (SBA)

Dhanu Chowdhury Baptist Pastoral Circle

Thailik Twisa Baptist Pastoral Circle

Bankul Baptist Pastoral Circle

Khakchang Baptist Pastoral Circle

Desharam Baptist Pastoral Circle

Saisawm Sazai Baptist Association

Gongrai Pastor Circle

Dewanchhora Pastor Circle

Donlekha Pastor Circle

Gamagur Pastor Circle

Kamlachora Pastor Circle

Twichakma Pastor Circle (2024)

Hawaibari Pastor Circle (2024)

Kamalpur Baptist Association (KBA)

Hachwk Haphar Baptist Association (HHBA)

Songang Baptist Christian Association (SBCA)

Controversies

The state government of Tripura accused the organization of lending support to separatist NLFT rebels. The Government of Tripura uncovered evidence asserting that the Baptist Church in Tripura had been helping Tripuri militants, such as the NLFT in the state. The NLFT militants, who are involved in armed struggle for the independence of Tripura, and the creation of a "Christian state", have been forcing local tribals to convert to Christianity at gunpoint and threatening to murder participants in Hindu festivals. It is believed that as many as 5,000 tribal villagers were converted in this fashion over two years. These forcible conversions to Christianity, sometimes including the use of "rape as a means of intimidation," have also been noted by academics outside of India. The government accused the Baptist Church of Tripura for supporting this violent campaign of NLFT by providing funding and arms for the group. In April 2000, Nagmanlal Halam, Secretary of the Noapara Baptist Church in Tripura, was caught with a large quantity of explosives which were meant for the group. Halam later confessed to buying and supplying explosives to the NLFT for the past two years. Another church official, Jatna Koloi, was arrested in south Tripura in April 2000. According to the State Police, Mr Koloi had received training in guerrilla warfare at an NLFT base in 1999.