Thil ropui tak a ni lo a. BD kan zir tirhin kan personal testimony min ziak tir a. Tin, Final Yearah min ziak tir leh bawk a. Chumi pahnih inbelhbawm, siam rem miah loa paste tawp a ni. Theres nothing worth about it. Theological Standpoints te ka la dah leh ang.
Name – Rev. Lalnghakmawia Khiangte
BACKGROUND
Family – Father – K. Lalsangzuala
Mother – Lalrampari
Siblings – Laltluangliana, Zothanpuia Khiangte, Laltlanhlua Khiangte
1. Home life and Experience: I was brought up in a Christian family. Owing to the number of male members in our family, we do not talk very much; chatting, gossiping, etc, which however does not mean that it hinders our relationship as family. Serious matters were discussed at the initiative of the father.
The concern and care that our parents gave is indeed the thing which I personally experience which I will always cherished in my mind. Once my mother had done her business in the form of opening a grocery store while I was in the 12th standard. However, being fear of losing our lives to the worldly pleasures, she stop and take care of us without looking for the money that she could rise. I also had heard my fathers’ word while I was reading 10th standard saying he didn’t take even Rs.1 which do not belong to him. Even though not being a highly officers or government servants, he did not deny that there are many temptations. I was brought up in such a loving and caring parents who mould me very much in today’s life.
2. Upbringing: I was born on the year 1988 at the eastern part of Mizoram called Samthang village. However, due to the appointment of my father for his job, we shifted to Aizawl on the year 1990. Thereby, I was raised at Chanmari West where we still presently reside.
SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION
Before highlighting my education profile, I want to acknowledge my father’s advice for struggling in the field of education. He spoke many times to us to work actively, to work harder and even to the smallest of telling us to learn new words (English) may be one or two in a day. After I finished my aganwadi at our locality, I was admitted to Larova Memorial Primary School, where I finished up to Class IV. At Helen Lowry School, I did my middle school (Cl V-VII). Then I finished high school from Khawpuia Memorial High School (K.M High School). I finished my 11 and 12 standard from Home Mission School. Then it was followed by degree course from the year 2005-2008 from St. Anthony’s College at Shillong, Meghalaya. Then, I finished master degree from North Eastern Hill University in the year 2011 in the subject of Ancient History. Then, finally I joined Aizawl Theological College from 2012.
WORK EXPERIENCE
After going back to Mizoram on the year 2011 and waiting eagerly for the entrance exam at Aizawl Theological College on 2012, I was invited by Mr. Lalropuia, Principal of New Age Academy at Vaivakawn to be part of his firm at the High School Section. Many a times our Principal had been away at his brick factory at Silchar and he had given in charge of taking his school under control. Therefore, I am grateful to the Principal and the role he had given me enriching my experience.
CALL/ EXPERIENCE OF MINISTRY
Unlike many other students who joined Aizawl Theological College, I never had the idea of joining full time ministry or I shall say I never receive the calling from God. However, when I joined my master’s course, I received a call from God which however comes first through suffering. At first year, I do not deny that I studied very hard along with my roommate who is now joining his Ph.d course on the department of Mathematics at North Eastern Hill University. Then for the first time in my life I got one paper wherein I do not get the pass mark. Tears is all I have, I never realize at the first instance that this is a call of God. However, I made up my mind to work harder, but the second semester, I flung in two papers again, which my friends could not understand and at one point of time persuaded to go for complain of marks which I deny owing to the amount of money it involves. Again, on the third semester, I flung in one paper again that turns my life and the place that it headed towards. I began thinking seriously whether it is a call of God. God failed my desires and dreams at the field where I once thought that I was good enough. Thereby, I finally decided to serve the Lord in whatever ways he wants me to. After dedicating myself for serving the Lord, the results of the fourth semester was too great. (Not for a boast, rather a living testimony which I have a conviction that God testify my calling). I cannot say that I learn very hard other than the other semesters, but struggles in the same intensity of working hour, and it is not a mere coincidence.
Moving on to experience of ministry, I do not have much to say especially when comparing to others. During the degree course, I was faithful church members and youth members, wherein I never neglect worship service. The hostel that I stay is called Stephen Hall headed by Roman Catholic Father, and he organized or framed a programme for non-catholic students on Sunday evening wherein I was actively engaged and there I experience my first ever sermon, that too in English. Thereby, Shillong Mizo church selected me for the teacher at Primary Department of Sunday School for two years. I look after the Church monthly newspaper in the year 2009. I was the Secretary of Petera Group of KTP at the University Veng. Then, I was among the committee member of Christian Youth Fellowship in the year 2009 at Shillong. I also involved somehow in the Mizo Students Union serving as the Editor of Hnam Lungphum, an annual magazine of MSUS, 2009. When coming back to Aizawl, I was the Secretary of Senior Department at Sunday School in our locality, and I also served as the Secretary of Mika Group of Chanmari West Youth Fellowship for one and five months each before entering Aizawl Theological College.
SPIRITUAL HISTORY
- Experience: The Church leaders had influence me a lot from a very young age. I do not enter Gospel Camping even once. As a result, there is no exact date I can say that I was being born again. Rather, I led a life with Christ from Sunday School which is still the same today, though I do not deny that there are many times I am spiritually weak due to certain reasons. I even remember the time I was at Junior Department that we use to dance. Spiritually, mentally and emotionally, Upa Prof. C. Nunthara and Rev. Vanlalnghaka had taught me many things through their sermons, zeal and enthusiasm as far as things pertaining to spirit is concern.
- Present state: Spiritually, I am presently alive and the desire in my heart to serve the Lord is rising more and more. Besides, theological education answers many questions I used to ask at the time when I still pursue secular education that gave me profound faith that stands stronger more than ever before.
PERSONALITY
- Strength: I do not have much to say regarding the strength of my character. However, one thing I always cherished in me is ‘I work hard’ and I believe that ‘Hard work beat talent when talent does not work hard.’
- Weaknesses: I find it very difficult to remember a person’s name which is of no use for future ministry. Besides that, I lack the guts to talk to someone first since I sometime feels very timid and shy approaching a person. I do not talk very much between friends, in family, etc which I find is a weakness for me especially when serving the Lord, enough talking is somehow important.
- Struggles: The weakness that I just mention are the area where I am struggling on. I try to remember person’s name by writing down in a note book, even at the recent Pastoral Engagement Field Education, I wrote down a long list of names. Besides, I am struggling to learn to talk more than before though too talkative is not good and also learn how to first approach other persons than before.
INFLUENCES ON LIFE
- What/ Who helped?
Firstly, my parents of course since they are the God here on earth for me. Other than them, I had three persons that influence in a profound way other than many whom I admire. This does not mean that I do not have any other persons whom I admire. These three persons are, Revd Chuauthuama, Rev. Dr.Vanlalnghaka, Cristiano Ronaldo. I had my own admiration in their field each, but clapping together as a whole, the sole reason for my admiration is their hard work, their enthusiasm and their zeal in their field though I had some personal disagreements with things attached to them, their thought in some part, and their lifestyle in some part.
- What/ Who hindered?
Till today, may be with the grace of God, I do not find anyone or anything who hindered me.
WHAT I HOPE FOR FROM B.D COURSE
At the initial stage, I had a personal interests that theological education will answer the personal questions that I had either biblically or theologically, which I have seen its success going on and on that brings me to stand firm in the faith of the Bible and spiritually. The other longing I had in mind at the beginning is to answer the questions and longings that my university friends had, whom most of them were admirants of profound thinkers and philosophers, mathematician, etc. Besides, I hope and long for the knowledge that I need for the future ministry that God is planning for me, though it is not clear right now.
FUTURE MINISTRY
I do not have any particular area of interests at Pastoral Ministry and if my hope of becoming a pastor is a success, then I will be ready at any area where our church needs me.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY THEOLOGY? (BD 1st Year)
At the outset, the main reason for pursuing theological education is the divine intervention of God into my life. In simple words, it is God’s will and purpose. However, even though having such a statement, there were so many reasons for me conclude, ‘God, if it is your will, I submit to you’ which I divided into two main points.
Failure at the field where I fought very hard:
Since my childhood days, I always told myself ‘One day, I will be an I.A.S’. I had a plan that I’ll go for U.P.S.C coaching after I finished M.A. But however, the inability to get through in all the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Semesters during the persuasion of Master’s Degree invited me to deep thinking as to what exactly am I suppose to do in this world. It may be strange to ask ‘Why?’ when I failed in the examination and some may contend that ‘This fellow doesn’t study hard, that’s it’. But I ask ‘Why?’ so because I tried and struggled very hard. In fact, I was looking at the happennings from faith perspective. Praying and asking God what is His intention, I submitted for God’s purpose, pertaining mainly to go first for theological studies, which I had in my mind very little somehow just soon after my graduation.
The inability to get pass mark is new thing to me, since I never fail in examination. I asked myself ‘Why such thing happened at the edge of my academic journey?’. I was surprise, intrique and humiliated. It was in the midst of this perplexity that I began to question myself and God what is the purpose here. I kept on praying and when I realized God wants me for his purpose, everything turns out fine. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Semester, I struggled very hard but couldn’t get pass mark in one paper each. But however, at the last day of 4th Semester exam, I told my mom that I will fail this time and will repeat M.A course since I was too tired giving re-examination for my back papers. I had very less energy to prepare myself for examination at the night before the last subject of examination. I leave everything to God and by the time when I got my result… I passed which was not expected at all. God does a miracle in me. From then on, my longings, my hopes, my dreams, and my every effort has been to live for Him who rescued me, to study for Him who gave me this mind, to serve Him who fashioned my will, and to speak for Him who gave me a voice.
Influenced by apologist and evangelist.
I firmly believe that every human being on this planet have their own hero which is indeed different from each other based on their worldview. I, with no exception is influenced by an apologist Rev. Dr. Ravi Zacharias and an evangelist by the name of Rev. Dr. Vanlalnghaka. During my M.A persuasion, one of our senior research scholar gave me sermon video clip of the Rev.Ravi Zacharias entitled ‘Who are you God?’ talking about who really is God from different perspectives of different people in life. Then it influenced me in a great way. It left a deep impact on me and I began collecting some of his books and he is by now my favorites writer. I had known Rev. Vanlalnghaka in my childhood days when people make fun of him even though he is not funny at all. When I shift to Shillong for my education, I was taught by him very much in our local church. The passion for serving God, the desire for to stand and speak for Him in a fast growing secular world were all gradually put into their legitimate place. These were the men who influenced me. In short word, I want to follow their footsteps in whatever way I can for the kingdom of God.
An Old Soul stuffs 