Finally, the TBA is the winner in that case and the TBA dropped the plan to stay apart from ZBC and stayed in the ZBC jubilantly and arrogantly.
(4) Problem in connection with the use of ZBC Fund: From around 1970 there was revival or religious awakening in our area People are very interested in evangelism work. There was complaint in connection with the use of ZBC Fund saying all the ZBC monies are spent for office work and nothing is used for evangelism work. We have ZBC-EC meeting at Rezua during April 11-12, 1975. At that meeting I put up my plan to solve the problem of the use of ZBC Fund saying that ZBC office work was very important and evangelism work was also very important. We should not neglect one in favoring the other. We have to re-arrange our financial system. We should have two kinds of Fund. Contributions by the Associations to the ZBC should be used for ZBC office work and ZBC Bible School and it should be called ZBC Administration Fund Then we should set aside ZBC Sunday collections for evangelism work and raise fund for the work in addition to ZBC Sunday collections. Anyone who was interested in evangelism work should contribute generously and aII the money received whether much or little, all should be used for evangelism work and it should be called ZBC Evangelism Fund.
My proposal was readily accepted by the ZBC-EC and we have two funds called ZBC Administration Fund and ZBC Evangelism and Mission (ZBC E&M) Fund. People generously contributed to ZBC E&M Fund and the popular CCOC work was funded by the ZBC E&M Fund.
In 1990 the ZBC Sunday collections was diverted to building fund for Carson Memorial Hall at Hakha. There was ZBC E&M Consultation, ZBC Constitution Revision, and ZBC-EC meetings at Tedim during September 20-30, 1991. I was invited to attend these meetings. I explained about the ZBC Sunday collections and I think it is redirected to ZBC E&M Fund again.
(5) Kalay Valley Baptist Association (KVBA) Executive Committee (EC) members walked out from ZBC- EC meetings at Matupi during March 19-23, 1987. When I heard about the incident I wrote in September 1987 to all ZBC Officers, and gave copies to all Association Secretaries suggesting that the ZBC leaders should think about forming many Conventions within the ZBC by language group or regional basis. If we were to be in one Convention the ZBC structure should be reviewed to meet the satisfaction of all the Associations.
But the ZBC leaders came to KVBA and tender their apology which the KVBA accepted and the problem was solved amicably.
(6) KVBA – EC members walked out again from ZBC-EC meetings at Mualbem village during March 28-31, 1991. The KVBA delegates discussed the problem and decided to be in the ZBC forever.
IV. April 1995
When their candidate failed to be elected as ZBC Secretary in the election, four Associations namely Tonzang Township Baptist Association (TTBA), Tedim Baptist Association (TBA), Kale Zomi Baptist Association (KZBA), and Tamu Valley Baptist Association (TVBA) walked out shamefully from ZBC triennial meetings at Khuasak during April 5-9-,1995 and formed an organization called Zomi Baptist Convention of Myanmar (ZBCM). Khuasak being the place where we have the first Chin converts in 1904 is a fitting place for the occurrence of importance incident. This is a big turning point in the Chin Baptist History. We do not know yet what will be the future of Chin Baptist History from 1995 and onward.
The defection of four Associations out, of over twenty Associations in the ZBC is a serious matter in the Chin Baptist History. We have to find out the reasons for the1 defection of the four Associations for such drastic action.
A. Reasons for defection:
1. Inferiority of the Tedim speaking leaders: In the ZBC there are three major languages namely Tedim, Falam and Hakha. Problem never begin because of the lay or common people but the leaders. The four Associations are Tedim speaking group. The other leaders of other speaking group are more educated and aggressive. So the Tedim speaking leaders have inferiority complex and do not feel at home in the presence of other leaders and do not want to be in the ZBC.
2. Dissatisfaction in the use of ZBC E&M Fund: When the E&M Fund is diverted to building fund and others they objected such diversion, but their objection is not heeded. The Zomi Christian Literature Society (ZCLS) meeting was held at Lawibual, Tedim during April 22-24, 1994.
Some leaders of the TBA are so dissatisfied with the ZBC in the use of ZBC E&M Fund and plan to boycott the ZBC. I told them that, if you are dissatisfied in the use of E&M money, it will be good to tell the ZBC to use the fund for CCOC work only and to say that we are not to give money for CCOC work unless the ZBC try to amend the use of fund. But my suggestion was not accepted by saying the ZBC people will come anyway and people will be giving money for CCOC.
3. The desire to use ZBC officer post to exercise power over the group to comply to ones’ desire: The ZBCM position is to ask other groups not to compete the Tedim speaking candidate in the ZBC Secretary election. If there is rival candidate, who will take part in the election and if we win in the election we are to lead the ZBC. If we lose in the election we Tedim speaking group will form a separate organization to be in equal status with the ZBC. I think the use of officer post as power tool is the cause of trouble and problem. If the leaders of Tedim speaking group do not think to use officer post as power tool what happened at Khuasak in 1995 will not happen.
The same thing is true in April 1962 at Khuasak. The President chaired aII the meetings and never give chance to Vice- President to chair the meeting. The President used his post as a power tool to win the group to his desire.
But my opinion is quite different from other leaders. When I held ZBC President Post four consecutive terms 1968-1983 (12 years) I chaired one session and asked the Vice-President to chair another session alternately. My understanding of chairmanship is not to try to lead the group to my desire, but to let the members express their opinions and let the meeting decide the case.
B. Handling of the Problem by the ZBC:
The ZBC formed a committee to deal with the problem when the four Associations left ZBC and formed an organization called ZBCM in April 1995 at Khuasak. When the first committee failed another committee was formed. I told the committee members saying the problem within the ZBC could not be solved by the ZBC. It should be referred to outside people like Myanmar Baptist Convention. But the ZBC prolonged the problem by holding it for four solid years until March 1999.
C. The present situation:
The four years duration before handing the problem over to MBC was an ample time for leaders to brainwash the public not to go back to ZBC. Out of the four-Associations three of them went on and decided to join Southern Baptist Convention and Tedim Baptist Association alone withdraws from ZBCM and decided to remain in the MBC. The TBA is in the process of joining the MBC.
D. All are in down trend:
If the 1995 problem was handled by the MBC, MCC and the Missionaries as in 1962, the verdict would be:” The action of TBA and other three Associations was not a wise action ” That will be a shameful thing for the four Associations. In 1962 the TBA was wise but it became unwise in 1995 All are now in the same boat of down trend.
Conclusion:
1. The problems we are having in the ZBC is a sign of living and ardent activities If we stay idle in our organization there would be no problem. We are very active and doing great things. That is why we face many problems.
2. The CCOC program is a tremendous activity of Evangelism work. It was 15 years program. The Kachin program of 3 years by 300 people for evangelism work is overwhelmed by our CCOC program and now we still continue after 1999 in the name of Centenary Mission for Christ (CMC).
3. Dr. Chit Maung used to say” Invasion from the Chin.” I interpreted to mean there are many Chin students in the Seminary and they are very active and influential even in the lower Myanmar.
4. Revd. Victor San Lone once said to me in 1980,” You Chins will be leaders in the Baptists in the future.” I interpreted to mean we Chins are very active and there are many leaders in the Baptist Circle in Myanmar. It seems that our abilities are recognized by outstanding leaders in Myanmar Baptist. We are proud of it for such recognition.
5. While we are recognized for our outstanding position in the Baptist Circle in Myanmar we have to remember some facts in our organization work so that we may hot bring disgrace to God’s name in our work.
- We have to be careful in the use of the common fund.
- We have to avoid partiality in our doing.
- We have to keep the policy and practice of our Baptist stand.
- We have to have consideration for the weaker people.
- We should not prolong for the existence of problem, but to do our best to solve the problem right away in a proper way.
- Problems in an organization is due to the leadership of the leader. Leaders should think carefully and prayerfully in leading the lay people so as to avoid the verdict” Your action is not a wise action.”
- We are to do things that will meet the approval of God (Matt 16: 19b)” What you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven”
Note: This article was published in the Chin Christian Centenary Magazine (2004)
Nikonghong 
The writer might have to do one correction as , “The first Converts among the Chins namely Pau Suan and his wife ,Thuam Hang and his wife etc ..” ( We can reverse the sentence but the history is not, leave as they were )
Pu Pau Suan and wife, Pu Thuam Hang and wife are accepted as the very first converted forefathers of all Chin/Zomi. So I think it is not important order in writing their names. The writer also might not think about order in writing their names. The most important thing is not order in writting, but to simply accept they are the respectful forefathers of all Chin/Zomi. According to my knowledge, they are baptised on a same day. Thats mean whoever accepted Jesus ahead of others, is not countable. They are baptised on a same day, They equally are the first converted Chin/Zomi. Arguing about whose name should written first, who accepted Jesus first is a shameful and unacceptable way of thinking.