LEITE CHURCH

Establishment of the Church:

The first person from Leite village to receive baptism in Jesus' name was Vanlalduhi, S/o F. Chalawmia, who was baptized on 10 August 1965 at Rahsiveng, Lunglei. For four years, she kept it hidden without her family's knowledge. During the 1966 political insurgency, Leite village was grouped into Hnahthial. Rev. Ralianga conducted ministry work at the Leite grouped area. By 1970, over 100 people were baptized. The newly baptized members regularly attended services at Hnahthial Tarpho (now Venglai). On 7 December 1970, they separated from Hnahthial Tarpho and began worshiping at the home of Pu Kapmawia. The church leaders at that time were:

F. Chalmawia, Zatawna, Hranchama, and F. Rawngbawla. Elders Chalawmia, Hranchama, and Zatawna were active Elders in the Baptist Church, and their baptism created a significant impact across Hnahthial town.

In 1973, when villagers were allowed to return to their home village, around 30 UPC members returned to Leite. March 1973 is marked as the time of re-establishing the church. The first church plot (not the current one) was acquired only in 1977; for four years after returning to their village, they had no dedicated church land.

Early Leaders:

CHURCH BUILDING:

Initially, worship services were held at the house of Upa Hrangchama and his family. In 1974, a church building was constructed above the road, using thatch for the roof, bamboo mats (dap) for walls, firewood/timber for posts and framing, and plain earth for the floor. Benches were made from assembled bamboo.

In 1979, another church building was constructed just above the previous location on the upper side of the road. Cut timber was used for the framing, bamboo mats for walls, corrugated iron (tin) sheets for the roof, smooth cement for the floor, and sungloss material for the pulpit.

The church building has been constructed 3 times with thatch roofs, twice with corrugated iron roofs, and currently, a beautiful RCC church building has been constructed alongside the National Highway.

In 2018, the church building was occupied; the level directly accessible from the road is used for worship services, the floor immediately below is used as the Sunday School Hall, and the lowest level serves as a Store Room and Kitchen. The building measures 36 feet in length and 24 feet in width. The top floor, which was designed to be the main sanctuary, has now been occupied.