BEIHRUAL

Introduction:
The month of Mim Kut (September) is an important time known as "Beihrual Month" for Christians in Mizoram, where various churches actively participate using chosen themes. The regular practice of observing September as Beihrual month in Mizoram appears to have started in 1925. In 1918 it was observed in June, in 1919 and 1920 in September, in 1921 in January, and from 1922 to 1924 in April. (Presby. Oct 1920 No.25, Oct 1921 No.33, Assembly 1925 Jan No.18).

How Beihrual Started in Mizoram:
In March 1918, a joint conference of the southern and northern Mizoram churches was held at Hmunhmeltha village, attended by around 1,700 delegates. At that time, non-believers were still the majority in Mizoram, and some say that those gathered proposed Beihrual, suggesting that if each person took responsibility for ten others to preach the Word of God together, all non-believers could be won.
Rev Saiaithanga described the origin of Beihrual in his book as follows: "At that time, believers were growing discouraged and weak, some backslid, and even offerings began to suffer. Because offerings were insufficient for the 7 evangelists sent out in 1917, their salary of 10 rupees was reduced to 8 rupees. Therefore, they wanted to make mutual encouragement among believers and reaching out to non-believers their main priority." (Mizo Kohhran Chanchin pages 54-56, 58). Thus, Beihrual began in Mizoram in June 1918. (The BCM Church resolved to hold Beihrual in 1926, starting in January 1927.)

UPC and Beihrual:
Our first decision to study a Beihrual theme was in 1963 (N Mizoram District Board Resolution No. 10). However, the year we actually started observing it was 1965. (This means our Church started observing it about 47 years after Beihrual began in Mizoram!) In the beginning, the Beihrual study material was not published as a book; selected topics were printed on paper sheets and used. The first time we published a Beihrual study booklet appears to be in 1976. The 35th District Board, S Mizoram Resolution No. 13 resolved to have a Beihrual study book. In 1976, the text written by Rev H. Chalchhunga was studied on non-service nights.
Sharing a common book from the General Church began in 2005, following General Conference Resolution No. 1 in 2004, which resolved: "A single Beihrual theme shall be studied across the whole of NE India."

Beihrual Themes Studied Over the Last Ten (10) Years:

• 2017: Pentecostals and the Holy Spirit
• 2018: Church Doctrines and Important Days
• 2019: Maturity of the Children of the Covenant
• 2020: Internal and External Holiness
• 2021: Unable to study due to the Covid Pandemic
• 2022: The Ark of Salvation
• 2023: Foreign Mission Ministry
• 2024: Obedience
• 2025: The Believer and the Church
• 2026: Pentecostal Praise and Worship to God

[In 2026, BCM will study "The World We Face," written by various authors, consisting of ten topics to be studied over ten nights. Meanwhile, the Mizoram Synod will study "Mizo Christian Hymns and Their Authors," written by Rev Lalfakzuala, for Wednesday and Beihrual topics.]

Conclusion:
To make effective use of Beihrual, since its primary goal is to guide the church toward spiritual maturity, it is important that all our studies and discussions align with the Church's order and teachings, encouraging rather than criticising, as we strive together fruitfully according to the Church's vision.