In a solemn and significant service held at Nakachari Ao Baptist Church (NABC) on Sunday, Huni Gogoi, executive secretary of the Assam Valley Baptist Association (AVBA) was ordained as Minister. The ordination was officiated by president Zeme Baptist Churches Association Rev. Dr. Rabi Pame under the leadership of United Baptist Churches Convention (UBCC) ordination committee, which also included Rev. Dr. Sahingmak Newme president UBCC and Rev. YT Lotha general secretary UBCC.
The service carried special significance as it involved four major church bodies—NABC, Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM), AVBA and the UBCC – reflecting decades of mission growth in the plains sector.
Nakachari holds a unique history, as many Naga soldiers who served in the Naga Labour Corps during World War I and II returned and settled in the area. In 1946, the Ao settlers established the Nakachari Ao Baptist Church, which in 1962 became the first church from the plains sector to affiliate with ABAM.
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During its Golden Jubilee celebration in 1996, NABC resolved to open a mission field to strengthen churches in the plains sector through evangelism and spiritual awakening. To carry forward this vision, the church identified Huni Gogoi, who was taught at Impur Bible School and is fluent in both Assamese and Ao dialect. Sponsored by Yajang-C Baptist Church, he served in the Sibsagar Baptist Association from 1985 to 1999 before joining NABC as pastor in January 2000. The following year, ABAM granted him a Christian Minister License, making him the first Assamese pastor in an Ao church under ABAM.
Under his leadership, NABC initiated the formation of the Assam Valley Baptist Mission (AVBM) in 2005 with the participation of 27 baptist churches. In 2011, the church fully deputed him to AVBM to carry forward the ministry.
After two decades of dedicated service, the mission was upgraded to a full-fledged association in July 2024 under the name Assam Valley Baptist Association (AVBA), which was affiliated with UBCC, Dimapur.
At Sunday’s ordination, testimonies and recommendations were presented by Tarun Deb, deacon of NABC, engineer Temsu Wathi, president of AVBA; and Rev. Dr. Sahingmak Newme on behalf of UBCC.
Greetings were also shared by Rev. Dr. Moa Tzudir, secretary literature ABAM, and pastor Kikum Longkumer of Kumlong Baptist Church, who both commended NABC and AVBA for their role in nurturing churches and reaping a great spiritual harvest.
Newly ordained minister Gogoi, in his testimony, humbly expressed gratitude for God’s guidance throughout his journey. The Lord’s Supper was administered by him as minister, assisted by four pastors.
Rev. Dr. Takatemjen, who has been the mentor of AVBA since its early stages, graced the occasion along with his wife and daughter. Church members from neighbouring congregations attended the service in large numbers. The program concluded with mass spoken prayer and benediction by Rev. Dr. Rabi Pame. A community feast, sponsored by the ordinand’s family, followed the service.
