GENERAL CHURCH HISTORY

Before the establishment of the Church in Sesawm village, UPC churches were already thriving in the surrounding areas. Because of this, UPC ministers such as Rev. Hrangchhina, Rev. Chuauruma, and others had already passed through the region. Among them, evangelist Tebawnga ministered in March 1964 while visiting Laisawral, where they held a Sunday service on March 8, 1964. From there, taking inspiration from scripture, he continued his ministry. A gathering was organized at the home of Pu Lalhliapa, and his ministry was well received. On March 12, 1964, Pu Lalhliapa, Pu Lianhrima, Pu Rothuama, and Pi Zairemthangi were baptized in the name of Jesus by evangelist Tebawnga. The majority were baptized on Sunday, March 15, 1964, and this day came to be regarded as the first day of gathering under the official name of the Church. They immediately had around 30 members.

When the Sesawm Church was established, Lalhliapa, Dengbuaia, and Lalchhana were appointed as Elders. In addition, Hualkunga, Rothuama, Lalkhuma, Vanlalsawma, Vanropuia, and Siamreia served as church workers, while Lalhluama and Hranglura represented the youth. For some time after the Church's establishment, services were held at the house of Pu Lalhliapa; as this became tiresome, services were also held at the house of Pu Dengbuaia. Due to the guidance of Pu Lalhliapa, Pu Dengbuaia, and Pu Hualkunga, who already had experience serving in the Baptist Church, the Church was well-established and encouraging right from the start.

EARLY LEADERS

CHURCH BUILDING

From 1965, they began preparing a church building. It was constructed using sawn timber, while thatch (Di) was used for the roof. The church building was rebuilt as many as 6 times, and a feast was usually prepared each time it was rebuilt. The church currently occupied was named Sesawm Vengthlang after Sesawm Vengchhak Local came into existence. Built with reinforced concrete (RCC), it has become a beautiful church building.

NOTABLE EVENTS

Sesawm Church has been a very vibrant church, making great progress thanks to the foundation laid by early leaders, and experiencing a deep presence of the Holy Spirit. They enjoyed rich spiritual joy and reached high spiritual heights. The village strongly emphasized holding thanksgiving celebrations (Pathian chawimawina), and there were very few families who had not offered their livestock for thanksgiving. Whenever major church seasons were celebrated, they were almost always followed by thanksgiving services where individuals offered their livestock, spending joyous times together. Regarding thanksgiving offerings, Upa Lalkeuva Sailo and Upa Vanlalawia in particular offered many of their livestock; Upa Lalkeuva dedicated his livestock and wealth to God over a hundred times, and it is truly regrettable that the exact number was not recorded. Upa Vanlalawia also offered his livestock to praise God as many as 46 times. As they experienced spiritual joy, their unique traditional dancing keys, known as 'Zik pik' and 'Pik Zik', became famous as no other village had them; whenever the music reached such keys, their dancing was a captivating sight for onlookers. In the eyes of God above, it must surely have been a glorious form of worship. In 1984, when they were experiencing great joy through God's blessings and frequent thanksgiving services, they could only start clearing their agricultural fields after the Baptist community had already finished drying theirs. People remarked, "Famine is coming, famine is coming," but even while their cleared fields were still green and damp, they decided to burn them. Though the burned fields did not look promising for farming, that year the UPC members harvested an immense abundance of rice, so much so that people from other villages even came to buy grain from them.

CURRENT STATUS

In Sesawm Vengthlang Local, according to the current status (2025 Half-Yearly Statistical Report), there are 154 members (88 Males, 66 Females).

2025-2026 CHURCH LEADERS