CM lays foundation stone of EPCS church at PNGS ORIGINAL CHURCH TO BE PRESERVED AS HERITAGE BUILDING

GANGTOK, 03 Oct: The foundation stone of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim [EPCS] was laid by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today here at Paljor Namgyal Girls School complex. On the occasion, the EPCS also presented a letter of gratitude to the CM.
The existing church building here at Church Road will be preserved as a heritage building and the church shifted to the new location upon completion of the new structure, it is informed.
Addressing the function, the CM expressed that as promised the government will extend its full support in the building of the church. He informed that the old church will remain a religious heritage forever.
“Being an impartial government everyone in the state is equal in its eyes and the government strives to provide peace, security, respect and to address the issue of every single person in the state,” said the CM.
He informed that the government has already started working on building the Prayer Tower for which land has been acquired at Martam and in work will commence in the coming financial year. He urged the Christian community to provide technical and other support to build it.
Speaking on the demands placed earlier by the PNG School, the CM announced the provision of Rs 51 lakh to the school as special grant to clear the arrears of the school’s teachers. He further announced that laptops will be distributed to students of class XI and XII of the school and asked the Principal to pursue the matter with the HRDD Secretary. He urged the students to make the best use of these laptops.
“Students need opportunities and facilities and the state government has been doing its best to provide these to the state’s students,” he said. Studying abroad was just a dream earlier but now it has become a reality for students of Sikkim, the CM stated further adding, “I want to give a secure future to the students of Sikkim.”
Speaking on politics, the CM said that change should be for the better as good governance gives democratic dividends to the people, while bad governance leads to democratic deficit.
He also announced an additional Rs 1 lakh to PNG School and Rs 1 lakh to the organizing committee of the function from the CM’s Fund.
Earlier, MLA Menlom Lepcha expressed his gratitude to the CM for his consistent support to the Christian community.
Today’s function also saw choir presentations by Gangtok & Tadong Church Youth Fellowship and PNG School students.

Sunday School advocacy draws focus on AIDS Orphans

GANGTOK, 06 May: An Essay and Painting Competition was organized today at the Gangtok Evangelical Presbyterian Church to mark the World AIDS Orphans Day. Although the Day falls on 07 May, the event at EPC here was timed for today as an advocacy effort among Sunday School children, teenagers, and youth about the issues and suffering of those orphan children who are living with HIV & AIDS.
The First Evangelical Presbyterian Church Association of India [FECAI] and Christian AIDS/HIV National Alliance [CANA] in co-partnership with Gangtok-based NGO, Concerned for Complete life [CARE] organized the competition.
World AIDS Orphans Day is a grassroots campaign to draw attention to and advocate on behalf of the over 15 million children orphaned by AIDS. Today, a diverse coalition of organizations, government officials and everyday citizens is urging the G8 and donor governments to ensure that 10% of all HIV and AIDS funding supports the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.
A press release informs that the program was based on the theme "My response to AIDS Orphans" which was participated by different churches of Gangtok namely Gangtok EPCS Church, Tadong EPCS Church, Penlong EPCS Church, Church of God, Sichey, Baptist Church, Dev. Area and Hebron Church, Syari.
The Essay and Painting competition was held in three age categories: 12 yrs and under, 13yrs to 18 yrs and 19yrs to 24yrs. The 1st Prize in all the three categories is Rs 5000, 2nd Prize in all the three categories is Rs 2500 and the 3rd Prize in all the three categories is Rs 1000. One consolation prize in all the categories is Rs 500.
The program was facilitated Dr. Songmit Lepcha from Govt. Hospital as a resource person who shared information about HIV/AIDS and AIDS orphans, the release mentions. She also stressed on the importance and our important part of responding to them with different means.

EPCS Church declared State Heritage Building on Platinum Jubilee

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 22 April: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling declared the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, [EPCS] church as a state heritage building on Saturday on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of the Church. Assuring that another church will be constructed as per the demand, the CM stated that “The old church will be kept as a heritage site. Our government will try to include it in the world heritage site list as well.”
He made the declaration while addressing the huge gathering of believers at the Palzor Namgyal Girls Sr. Sec. School [PNGSS] as chief guest for the platinum jubilee celebration of the EPCS. The 75 years celebration, divided into two phases was held at Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sikkim [EPCS] in the morning and PNGS School in the afternoon.
Making another important announcement, the Chief Minister said that the land under dispute will be handed over to PNGS School. There had been a long tussle going on between the government and school administration for the school land. The EPCS church of Gangtok, under which the school has been functioning, had been demanding the government to resolve the dispute.
The CM also announced the construction of the prayer tower which has been a long standing demand of the believers of the state. The CM further provided a grant of Rs. 2 lakh to PNGS School.
The CM released a new Bible on the occasion and also felicitated Rev CT Paju, Pastor Prabal Singh Rai and Bishnu Maya Pradhan [known popularly as Pastorni Ama].
“Sikkim has to be like Jerusalem”, said the CM and highlighting the work of all Christian Missionaries around the world added that Missionaries have contributed immensely in the Third World countries mostly in the field of education which is the case in Sikkim as well.
“History can testify that religious controversies have never occurred in the state during my 18 years in government; religion is above everything, it should not be mixed with politics”, he said.
“My government is determined to provide every support to all the section of people and has never compromised with the secular policies framed” said the CM and assured the believers that their demands will be fulfilled.
Addressing the students, the CM urged them to become good citizens and further spoke on the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Annual and Total Health Check up [CATCH] programme mentioning that the government aims at making Sikkim an educated, rich and healthy state. The government also dreams of making Sikkim the state with the highest life expectancy rate at an average age of 80 years within a few years, he added.
MLA, Menlom Lepcha also addressed the gathering while Political Secretary to CM, KN Rai, Gangtok MLA  Dorjee Namgyal, Deputy Mayor, Shakti Singh, Minister HRDD, NK Pradhan, Secretary HRDD, CS Rao along with other officials were also present during the celebration.
Earlier, during the morning session at the EPCS church, Elder Andrew Rai, Chairman of Gangtok Church Platinum Jubilee celebration committee, while speaking on the history of the church said that Missionaries had a holistic contribution in the fields of education and health care.
“No body can ignore the historic role played by the missionaries in Sikkim in spreading education and awareness in health care. The base for present day quality education had been set up by Missionaries in Sikkim,” he said.
Prayers, Choir songs, singing of hymns by the congregation, bible reading were other activities that took place in the first half. The chief guest inaugurated the platinum jubilee hall at the church premises. The church also felicitated the Chief Minister and the Coordinator, Platinum Jubilee celebration committee, Phurba Lepcha expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for giving heritage status to the oldest church of the state.

Zonal Meet 2012 of Christian Youth at Namthang

NAMCHI, 13 Feb: The Zonal Meet 2012 of Christian Youth of Turuk, Lungchok, Swiram and Namthang was held on 10 February at Namthang EPCS. Speaker of the day, Rev. Samuel Sunwar spoke on issues related to the youth of today.
Touching upon the spiritual aspects related with the present day youth and their desires he said that desires can be fulfilled and achieved with a positive attitude and urged the youth to follow the positive path. The gathering also prayed for the family of area MLA Tilu Gurung who recently lost her mother.
Altogether around 80 youth of the area participated in this meeting, along with spiritual leaders from different churches of the area.

EPCS wins Bible quiz competition

GANGTOK, 30 Oct: A quiz competition on the Bible was organized by Sanyukta Isai Sangati, Ranka, East Sikkim on 27 Oct, informs a press release.

EPCS pray for earthquake affected, contributes Rs. 1 lakh towards relief fund

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sikkim, [EPCS] members assembled in the church hall from 6-8 a.m. on 26 Sept to pray for the earthquake victims and bereaved families. The EPCS Council has also handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, informs a press release. “It is a humble gesture to show our concern towards our people who are suffering”, the release adds.

Evangelical Presbyterian Church team visits relief camps in Lower Dzongu

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: A relief team of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Tadong, led by Elder TB Rai visited relief camps set up in the earthquake affected villages of Gor, Sagyong and Santok in Lower Dzongu on 27 Sept, a press release informs.
At Santok, the team was informed of two people to were killed in a landslide triggered by the earthquake. The following day, the team visited Berfok, Toong-Rongong under Berfok GPU. There, the team learned that two persons were buried in a landslide and that their dead bodies had not been recovered yet, informs a press release.