It was known first as, “Zoram Drivers’ Union Ramthim Board,” and then it acted its mission in the name of Drivers’ Evangelical Fellowship. As we all know, its mission was the outcome of love coupled with pity enshrined towards our Driver friends who were tormented by drug abuses. In course of time, this spirit of love towards their beloved friends, extended to drug addicts, harlots/prostitutes and non-Christians. They would always go to liquor addicts and would pray the whole night for them.In the beginning, liquor addicts were rampant and that of drug addicts were scarcely known.
CRUSADE : Long time before the Christian Churches ever organized Evangelical Crusade, the Zoram Drivers were the pioneers in organizing Gospel Campaigns or Crusades under the Chairmanship of Rev. V.L.Zaithanga. This is, perhaps, unparallel in the whole world .
How they started the Crusade was that, one Driver, named Chawngkhuma, was the Speaker in different Gospel Crusades. Other Board members extended their cooperation with him. The general public as well as the Church leaders learnt a typical lesson from the Drivers in such way.
A landmark for all the Mizos was that the Drivers organized a large Crusade covering the whole Mizoram in 1974 under the Chairmanship of Rev.V.L.Zaithanga at the playground of Govt. Mizo High School, Macdonald Hill of Aizawl. A large Pandal, the first of its kind was built by the Zoram Drivers’ Fellowship in the playground. They invited an evangelist, from Southern India, named Samuel Sam Kamaleson as Speaker of the grand Gospel Crusade, the first of its kind in the History of Mizoram U.T. by then. The Drivers appealed to all the Churches along the roads leading to Lunglei and Champhai to help them collect bamboos and leaves of wild banana for construction of the Pandal. They did this enthusiastically by using 23 Truck-loads. Mr. K. Thangzuala,B.E., Chairman of the Pandal Committee, who was at that time serving under the Govt as Executive Engineer, Public Health Engineer Department, donated G.C.I Sheet and P.H.E. Pipes for construction of the Pandal. The Drivers donated funds and also make appeals to generous persons for construction of the Pandal.
In organizing and doing so, ‘Zoram for Christ Crusade,’ the first of its kind in Mizoram, was organized by the Drivers during 6-13 February, 1974. One could not exaggerate the works of God during the Crusade as many liquor addicts and down-troden
men and women were becoming born again persons by means of flesh and in spirit. Moreover, the then U.T. Govt. of Mizoram recognized the achievements as such. Had there been modern Media, it could have been much greater. Many participants vowed for serving of God. That was felt by them as missionary calling This they did obey.
Another grand Crusade was organized at the Aizawl New Market during September 12-24, 1978 and then on February 10-18, 1979 having Evan. Lalchungnunga as Speaker. Many people got healed from their chronic illnesses.
Zoram Drivers’ Ramthim Board organized a very peculiar Night Crusade again in 1982 at Aizawl New Market. Different Church denominations viz., Presbyterians, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Isua Krista Kohhran, UPC., Reformjed Church, Lalchhungkua and Lalzawna Pawl deputed Speakers from their respective Church Denominations. The main Theme of the Crusade was, ‘Ro Khawlkhawm,’ (meaning, Collection of Wealth).Christians, coming from different denominations, appreciated oneness in Christ. Collection of wealth, in the words of Jesus Christ, is meant ability to reach our heavenly home. The richest man is the one who has got Jesus Christ in his life and nothing else.
The last Crusade organized by the ZDRB was in !986. Miss Ramhluni was the Speaker by that time. Since then, all other Churches have followed the footsteps of the Drivers and then organize Crusades or Campings every now and then.
GOSPEL CAMPINGS : The ZDRB organized Gospel Campings also after organizing Crusades many times. They organized a very different type of peculiar approach, known by them, “Gospel Camping,” in 1972 at Agriculture Farm, Chite river.
It was a Camp of selected few, known as “Leaders’ Camp.” Only 12 leaders, better speaking, ‘Office Bearers of the Board.’ Chawngkhuma, a Driver of Transport Department was the Speaker. Under Speakership of Evan Lalchungnunga, another Camp;ing for selected few, known as, “Gospel Picnic-cum-Session,” was organized in 1973. It was attended by 40 campers only who were all liquor addicts and mentally retarded. All of them got healed and had become born again persons.
A peculiar type of Camping was organized by the Board at Republic High School in 1974 especially meant for liquor addicted persons only. While approaching the campus, some of them rolled down their beddings in which they kept liquor bottles hiding. The liquor bottles broke while rolling down the road to the Campus. Their beddings became spoiled and all wet with the liquor. Still then, all the campers were converted to new persons. It was God who healed them.
Again, the Drivers organized Addicts’ Camping at Agricultural Farm, Rangvamual in 1975. One of the liquor addicts of the Campers could become a miss- ionary sponsored by Mizoram Synod in Manipur State.
5 THANKS-GIVING MISSION : In 1972-74, the ZDRB organized a Carol Party (Choir) before Christmas. At night time while all were asleep, they went to each house in streets and sang Chritmas songs awakening the inmates at once. While singing as such, the householder would offer presents to the carol party as Thanks-Giving. The Carol Party would visit selected houses or so the whole night singing. Those presents were usually given to Motherless Babies’ home, T.B. Hospital and such other needy people on Christmas or New Year Day. It is the Choir, Christmas Carol Party who not only give presents to the needy persons, but awaken distorted or mentally retarded people to leave their worries and then to think over to Bethlehem to imagine the guiding star which led the 3 wise men of the East till the star stopped above the inn where Jesus was born. Many worried or mentally tormented people wept as soon as the Carol party awoke them up by singing Carol Songs.
HELP TO THE NEEDY PEOPLE : In close collaboration with Kawnpui K.T.P. the Z.D.R.B. supported one Tuikuk student financially. In addition to this, they supported 2 persons at Indo-Myanmar border in close collaboration with Salvation Army.
SUPPORT OF MISSIONARY : The performances of the Z.D.R.B. have become much more than expected by the general public and the major Churches. Its jurisdiction is far better than it is a mere N.G.O., then now, following the route to Para-Church in addition to the services for drug and liquor addicts. For instance, Miss Darthangpuii, Kawnpui village was supported financially as a Missionary at Gurdmura, Cachar District of Assam in 1972. This missionary activity has, since, been taken over by Mizoram Synod. Again, MS Lalnunmawii was supported by the board financially. She was posted in Tripura State. A knitting Singer Machine was provided for her mission field. She left it the machine to her field for their further mission.
Mr. Zonghaka was also posted at Moreh in Manipur State as a missionary.Evangelist G.B.Kaipeng was also supported as Headmaster at one English Medium School, in Tripura State. This English Medium School has, since, been renamed as, “Kalvary English Medium School.”
JOURNEY MISSION : Some time after 1972, the hearken Drivers suggested to have prayer meeting for out-going and in-going passengers of Aizawl city. They requested and convinced the Transport Minister and Transport Director to let them have prayer meetings at convenient outskirts of Aizawl city. This they did on April 4, 1974.
Furthermore, they make a convenient prayer meeting spot at Zemabawk, Aizawl where all out-going and in-going vehicles stop to have prayers for all in-coming and out-going passengers. Moreover, they constructed latrines at the Prayer Spot for pasengers. Moreover, some posters or inscriptions are made visible for caution and good luck.
We may be aware of the fact that the Lord God wants to use even the low standard Drivers to inherit the Earth to make it a better place for all human beings and all creatures alike.
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