TURA: The biggest religious conference of the Garo Baptist Convention- the A’chik Baptist Dalgipa Soba, taking place in Tura from today, will give the lakhs of Christian devotees an opportunity to get closer to God in the face of various challenges plaguing one’s life in today’s world, said Rev. Dr. Wetterfield R Marak.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on the eve of the four day religious conference, Rev. Dr. Wetterfield Marak, head of the Tura Baptist Church, which is hosting the event, said the biggest challenges facing us is that of materialistic gains and morality.
“In the pursuit of materialistic gains and quick money, sometimes one is losing his integrity. Then there is also the decline of moral issues which needs to be addressed. This Soba will give everyone the chance to be closer to God through his teachings,” said the pastor who has been serving the church for over thirty long years.
Speaking on the origins of the Soba, Rev. Marak said that initially such an annual event use to be held to discuss matters relating to the church, its practises, particularly the Doctrine, among other religious issues.
“But over time, worship simultaneously was offered as devotees began to congregate in large numbers for this annual conference,” said the reverend.
According to Rev. Marak, the first Soba took place at the Mission Station of the Baptist Church in Goalpara in the year 1875.
“The first soba was held in the premises of British administrator David Scott which had been purchased by American missionary Dr. Miles Bronson in 1875, eight years after the establishment of the first church in Garo Hills at Rajasimla,” recalled Rev. Wetterfield Marak.
Dr. Bronson is a historical figure who converted the first Garos into Christianity- Omed Momin and Ramke Momin, pioneers of the faith that has now spread to the length and breadth of Garo Hills.
At that soba, as many as eight churches across the Garo dominated areas of erstwhile Assam, among them Amjonga, Damra, Derek, Kongkal, Chotcholja and Resubelpara had participated.
Interestingly, contrary to previous belief, this is not the first time Tura is hosting the religious conference. The ABDK soba was held in the town, albeit on a smaller scale, in the year 1967 at the mission compound area of the town.