The North East India area mainly covers the states of West Bengal and the eight remote north-eastern Indian states to the east of Bangladesh. There are five ecclesias in West Bengal state: Kolkata, Joynagar, Contai, Egra and Sarenga with memberships of up to 20, plus interested friends, young people and children and there is a developing ecclesia of 6 at Agartala in Tripura state.
There are also a few family groups in isolated villages. Egra and Sarenga Ecclesias have active Sunday Schools. Brethren are active in local preaching activities in most ecclesial locations. Sarenga brothers are actively preaching to a group of about 20 at Bankura about 35 Km away. There are some correspondence contacts in the states of Mizoram and Manipur. There are good prospects for further baptisms soon especially from the young people.
During 2016-17 the main combined events supported by the ACBM have been, the annual West Bengal Bible School and the fourth West Bengal Youth Camp with an attendance of about 45. These have provided excellent opportunities for the development of Bible knowledge and understanding and valuable in building fellowship and friendship in Christ. Many brothers are taking an increasing level of responsibility for the spiritual and physical welfare of the members with some visiting other ecclesias to give exhortations and Bible studies.
The ACBM fieldwork is presently based at Jodhpur Park, a southern suburb of Kolkata where a comfortable apartment has been rented for some years. This has made possible longer-term fieldwork stays of up to 6 months as well as shorter “fill-in” stays by other fieldworkers. More fieldworkers are needed to continue the work of developing the ecclesias. The brothers and sisters very warmly welcome short term visitors attending the Bible School, the Youth Camp or at any other time.
