South East Nagaland

The General Executive Board of the United Pentecostal Church of North East India in its meeting on February 29, 1976 passed a resolution to sent a UPC Missionary to Nagaland. Accordingly Rev. Lerthansung was appointed as the first UPC Missionary to Nagaland. He reached Kohima on April 8, 1976. He met Mr.Lichamo Murry, a Lotha, and converted him to UPC and baptized him in Jesus Name on October 4, 1976 at Suangsang village of Mikir Hills (now Karbi Anglong), Assam. Soon after they both went to Kontsunyu town, in Rengma area, to attend a revival Crusade, Rev. Lerthansung got a chance to speak in the crusade and that was the first Message he preached among the Nagas.

They then proceeded to Wokha and stayed with Bro.L.Y.Murry, SDO (PWD). He then met one brother Samuel Ngullie, an Evangelist, and Mr. R.W.Kikon, an Oversees of PWD Office. These leaders were from Assembly of God Church and Evangelistic Fellowship group. Evangelist Samuel Ngullie later converted to UPC and got baptized in Jesus Name on March 13, 1977, during the General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church of North East India held at Shillong, Meghalaya. Local License was conferred to him during that Conference. Rev.Lerthansung converted Nagas like Mr.L.Murry’s family and two Rengma sisters and started home fellowship on January 7, 1977 in his residence at Kohima. He convened a Seminar at Wokha Town from January 24 – 28, 1978 with help of Mr.L.Murry.

Rev.S.R.Tourgam then succeeded the charge of Missionary to Nagaland on May 1, 1980 in place of Rev.Lerthansung who was transferred to Shillong. Rev.S.R.Tourngam stayed in Nagaland for two full years. After one year of his stay in Nagaland, he met Rev.Danishka Pfhithusk in his residence at Kohima. Rev. Danishka Pfhithusk was the Youth Director of the Pochury Baptist Church Council (PBCC, now CPBC, ‘Council of Puchury Baptish Churches’) during that time. They discussed about the ‘Oneness’ doctrine and curtain administrative rules. Rev.S.R.Tourngam reached Shatuza village for the first time on August 5, 1991 they continued their journey to Zhipu village for new contact. They were blessed by God that Mr.Sipiru, son of Dachu and his wife Khrisi were baptized in Jesus’ Name on August 11, 1981 marking the entry of the oneness doctrine to Zhipu village and also the first couple to be baptized in Jesus’ Name in the whole Pochury area (SEND). Rev.S.R.Tourngam’s second visit prospered with the help the Lord that six persons were baptized in Jesus’ Name on October 18, 1981. The entire second batches who were baptized in Jesus’ name were from Shatuza village. The third batch who were baptized in Jesus’ Name were, the founder Rev.Danishka Pfhithusk and Co-founder Pastor Khutha Sapho, and Pastor Mesuzu (Shatuza). They were baptized on February 11, 1982 at Kohima on their way to Aizawl (Mizoram) to attend the General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church Northeast India.

Rev.Danishka Pfhithusk was appointed as the Field Director; and Pastor Khutha and Pastor Mesuzu were granted to work as Field workers. On their return from the General Conference they convened a meeting at Zhipu village from March 12 – 14, 1982. The members granted at Zhipu availed an opportunity to confirm their new found faith and to strengthen the organization by signing a declaration on March 13, 1982. It was the first meeting of UPC of Pochury area (SEND). In that meeting at least 26 leaders from four villages gathered, nine resolutions were passed. The Churches were Shatuza, Lolen, Zhipu and Moke.

Rev. SR Tourngam’s last visit to Puchury areas (SEND) as Missionary was in May 1982. That time he touched Molen village, Zhipu village, Moke Village, Shatuza village and Hutsu village. His last visit was the greatest success in his ministry in Pochury area (SEND) that 84 peaple were baptised in Jesus’ Name. Rev.S.R. Tourngam was called back to his own district and the Executive Board accepted the District’s request and released him from Nagaland on May 16, 1982. The charge was taken over by Rev.Danishka Pfhithusk as the Field Director and Pastor Khutha Sapho as the Field Secretary/Treasurer. They look after the field with some Pastors and elders with few members, comprising of 263 in number in five (5) churches in 1982.

Rev.Danishka Pfhithusk was the founder and he was the Field Director in the Missions Field from 1982 to 1990, and the District Superintendent from April 15, 1990 to April 4, 2004. Pastor Khuta Sapho, Co-founder served as Field Secretary/Treasurer from 1982 to 1986.

The Puchury Missions Field was granted in 1982 by the UPC North east India and upgraded to a full-fledged district in 1990, inaugurated on April 15, 1990 by Rev. K. Satinvela, the then General Superintendent of UPC –NEI.

When the district was granted full-fledged, they were only 8 Churches with 704 members. The growth was very slow, but God’s grace was still continuous, and now the members are increased to two thousand plus.