Singapore Pastor Speaks at India's Largest Baptist Church

Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 Posted: 3:30:07PM HKT

The main facility of the Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo, the Duncan Fellowship, located in the heart of Dimapur Town. This building has the ability to house around 10,000 congregants at one time. (Photo: DABA)

A pastor from Singapore led a retreat over the weekend at the largest Baptist church in India.

Speaking to mostly young participants at the Nagaland congregation, The Rev Edwin Lam began on the first evening service with a call to rethink the Christian identity.

Christians are not defined by their bloodline or regular church attendance, he highlighted in a state known for its high church attendance. Rather, they are people who have a relationship with Christ.

The Rev Lam, who is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Chairman of the Singapore Baptist Convention, Chairman of the Fellowship of Missional Organisations in Singapore and Chairman of Interserve Singapore, went on to explain the meaning of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

“It is not easy to follow Christ,” he said, adding that Christians must give up everything and devote themselves fully to Christ to become His followers, according to Nagaland News.

Located in the extreme northeastern part of India, Nagaland is the most Christianised state in the sub-continent, with Christians forming more than 90 percent of the total population of nearly two million people. The largest churches in Asia are located there.

Nagaland has been referred to as the most populous Baptist state in the world, with Baptists constituting more than three-quarters of the population.

The Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo, where The Rev Lam preached, has a congregation of about 5,000 families and 15,000 baptised members. DABA’s main facility located in the heart of Dimapur Town is large enough to house a congregation of about 10,000 people, according to the website.

In comparison, the Singapore Baptist Convention comprises 36 congregations with a total membership of 10,000 people.

Nathanael Ng
nathanael@christianpost.com