HISTORY OF BETHEL IN SERHMUN VILLAGE
Bethel is the name of a place for prayer. It is located in Serhmun village and with 230m elevation from above sea level and is located in GPS Coordinates of latitude 24° 9' 11.26" N and longitude 92° 3' 15.58" E. The founder of Bethel was Retd. Tirkoi (Evangelist) Vanlalngaka Darlong. The land belongs to him and gave it to the Church and to everyone who needs spiritual guidance. The area of Bethel prayer service is on all sides of the lungpum (Stones). This is narrated by Retd. Tirkoi (Evangelist) Vanlalngaka Darlong.
I, Vanlalngaka Darlong born in 1952 at Serhmun village, my father name is Roitina Darlong and my mother name is Hrengtuai Darlong. After a few years when I started living by myself and got married, I had been very much interested in God. So, God saw me as the place where to have a prayer. At that time I used to have a prayer at the west of our forest (The entire area is known as Bethel Thlang which means hill). But whenever I came back I thought that I should pray on that (present which we called Jehovah Gire). In 1985, the forest was full of rope groves, I prayed and had a conversation with God with so many strains in life. That way, I spent my time and felt at peace whenever I came back. After a couple of days, Pu Lalzara Darlong (deceased) is the son Khuma Darlong and Dingi Darlong told me I will come along with you and told him it is so difficult to have a prayer in that place but he insisted that he will come along for prayers. So, we prayed for a couple of years. In the year 1988, there was revival along with the Church members from Boitang village and the people from Boitang got a spiritual blessing from God and said God had given us a place for prayer service. They cleared the area and decided to have a specific spot for prayer, this prayer place now belongs to everyone who needed spiritual confrontation with God (now they name Bethel).
After a couple of days, the committee of the Church (by then in Serhmun village there was only Evangelical Free Church of India (EFCI), at present there are two Churches, the other one is Presbyterian Church of India) has planned to clean up the place and decided to have the prayer service on it. And I said that is good because the land belongs to me and I feel blessed and good if there could be a prayer service in my land. That way the members of the Church clean up the place and till today it is well maintained.
As per my recollection which I could recall, in the year 2012 (I look for evidence to justify his narration but all the records that he has kept were gusted with fire and the records were destroyed along with it), we built up the cross. It was made of wooden (size 6/4 inch), it was planned by the committee of the Church. After a couple of days, we thought that wood wouldn't last for long. So, we planned to make the RCC pillar and laid it on 8 November 2015. From that time the members of the Church were very much active in participating in the building up of Bethel. On 08 November 2015, (Late) Upa Neikunga Darlong (deceased) is the son of Upa Dawingura Darlong and Lalroizawni Darlong inaugurated the foundation of the Cross.
The villagers used to fast and pray when we have fears and worries. Even till today some of the mother's from the village were still active in that. As Pi Remthangi Darlong (deceased) daughter of Laldhawia Darlong and Ngurdawni Darlong said before she passed away, don't ever leave Bethel prayer service, it is the only way we can connect and have a conversation with God. Her last wish made me feel important and care for Bathel and also I urge everyone to have a connection with God. It was her last word to the villagers.
Bethel has reached every part of the corner of the world which I didn't even think of only when I witness people from a country Germany come to visit the place and have a prayer and take some pictures. On witnessing it I felt good and blessed and told me that we (villagers) had a place for prayer service (Bethel) given by God. Till today whoever wants to have a prayer, the place is open to everyone. And we also planned to have a sign-board but my friend Pu Lalhmuaka Darlong (deceased) is the son of Laldhawia Darlong and Ngurdawni Darlong passed away, and I also have been suffering from illness.
So, till today we couldn’t have a signboard, but still, I have a high hope someday the younger generation will prepare a signboard for Bethel, a place for prayers. I used to miss the place because it was the place where I used to have a conversation with God and read the Bible. When we started this Bethel prayer service there was only EFCI (Evangelical Free Church of India). So, the holder of the place was given to EFCI. Often the place was held by EFCI. It is open for everyone irrespective of whether any Churches or groups can come and witness the God blessing.
He urges everyone to come and pay a visit with prayers and solitudes. Let the glory of God prevail over everyone and be blessed.
*Note: Pu Lalzara Darlong pictures not found, I visited his family to acquired some of his pictures but none of his family acquired any, so if anyone happened to acquired his picture please email me (joeldarlong@gmail.com). I would grateful to anyone who could do so to keep the memories going.
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