Have you ever heard of the Rongmei language or even Meitei? Perhaps you have heard of Manipuri? Well, these are all names for the same language up in the borders of North East India.
Manipur is a state in Northeast India that borders Myanmar to its east and south. Over the past year, the region has been a battleground for conflict and natural disasters. It is more than a year since violence broke out across the area, but violence continues today, and there are many Christians from amongst both the Kuki and Meitei peoples who remain afraid to return home.
Our dedicated translator, Santa Kumar, told us about the distressing situation between the Meitei people and the hill-dwelling Kuki community. The Meitei people’s discriminatory treatment of the Kuki people as “unclean” has exacerbated ethnic tensions, leading to severe and widespread violence.
The tragic consequences of this conflict are staggering:
• 175 Kuki Deaths: The violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 175 Kuki individuals.
• 200 Villages Burned: Over 200 villages were set ablaze, leaving a trail of destruction.
• Houses and Religious Buildings Destroyed: Thousands of homes and hundreds of churches and synagogues were reduced to ashes, including 550 Christian churches.
• 41,400 Displaced Individuals: More than 41,400 Kuki-Zo people were forcibly displaced, creating a massive humanitarian crisis.
We urgently appeal for your prayers in light of these harrowing events. The situation in Manipur requires long-term peacebuilding efforts and spiritual guidance can play a pivotal role in healing these communities.
To aid this effort, we have printed two editions of “Foundations of the Christian Faith” (2,500 and 1,500 copies in the last three years). We hope these materials will inspire Christian pastors to preach peace and reconciliation, bringing hope to the troubled lives and hearts affected by this conflict.
Please pray for peace and protection for the people of Manipur. Pray for those who have been displaced by violence and for the members of the more than 550 destroyed churches that they may find ways to continue worshipping and fellowshipping together.