COG (M&A)

(L) Rev. Wolley M Roy

Church's Pioneer

1873 — 1940

Background of Wolley Mohan Roy For a number of years the Church of God is known as the Church of God movement all over in Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. The reason was because this new Church of God which was started by Mr. Wolloy Mohan Roy Laitphlang, was a holiness movement. Holiness movement indicates a moral movement to propagate about holy life. People must be free from sin. The bondage in sin leads to death but they can be relieved only by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. He was born and brought up in a godly Christian family of the Presbyterian Church of Sohra. It may be mentioned that Mr. Wolley Mohan Roy was a mission school teacher and a Sunday school teacher in the Presbyterian Church at Mawkhar Presbyterian Church in Shillong. He was greatly moved and influenced by the teaching of the Salvation Army on the concept and implication of Holiness in Christian life. One day he met a friend from the Army and he asked him a very important question “Arc you saved?” This question moved his soul to rethink of his faith in Jesus Christ. Since that time Mr. Wolley Mohan Roy tried to re-read the Bible and re-examining the truths of the Scriptures both in Khasi and English languages. He realized that it is true that a person who truly believes in Jesus Christ can be set free from sins and he can become a liberated person. Interestingly Mr. Wolley Mohan Roy appreciated the Baptist tradition especially the immersion Baptism. He learnt many good things from his close friend u Donrai Diengdoh. Gradually Wolley Mohan Roy questioned the Church Elders regarding the teachings of the Presbyterian during his time. In this way a sense of differences began between the Presbyterian Church and Mr. Wolley Mohan Roy on the issues of holiness. Within no time a conflict of interest developed from bad to worst. Ultimately, Wolley Mohan Roy openly showed his sense of grief and dissatisfaction. Mr. Wolloy Mohan Roy was eventually terminated from the Presbyterian Church.

(L) Rev. J. J. M Nichols-Roy

Church's Pioneer

1884 — 1959

Background of Rev. J. J. M Nichols-Roy Joy Mohan Roy (Later on known as Rev. J. J. M. Nichols-Roy) became a Christian after his experiences of the devastating earthquake taken in Khasi Hills in 1897. Many people died during that time specially the people of Shella Village. Joy Mohan Roy was very thankful to God for sparing his life during the terrible earthquake taken place in his village. While Joy Mohan was in West Bengal for his studies he had some contacts with the Christian leaders of the Baptist Church in the West. Initially he went to Calcutta in 1899 mainly for his graduate studies at Duff College. Later on it was nomenclatured as Scottish Church College. It happened that in the month of December 1900 he attended a Students’ Conference held at Serampore and he courageously made a public commitment before God. He dedicated his life to the service of God. Joy Mohan Roy also realized the importance to live a life of holiness. This should begin with a repented way of life. Joy learnt about holiness is a life to fully devote in the faith in Jesus Christ. It seems that Joy Mohan Roy was influenced by the Anderson Church of God in United States of America. He met Sister Nora Evalyne Nichols in West Bengal (Later on she was the wife of J. J. M. Nichols-Roy).

One day Mr. Wolley Mohan Roy and Joy Mohan Roy met together in Shillong. They shared their theological experiences. Surprisingly they found that they have similar theological experiences. In reality they did not know each other. It was Bah Dino Dkhar (the younger brother of Mr. Sib Charan Roy) who at first introduced Mr. Joy Mohan Roy to Mr. Wolley Mohan Roy in Shillong in the year 1901. Since that time, they became great friends. Both of them committed themselves to preach and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within no time other members like Mr. Jobin Roy Khain and Mr. E. Dhorom joined the group of Wolley Mohan Roy and Joy Mohan Roy.

The Church of God began in actuality in 1902 in which four members were baptized at Mylliem Nongbet in 1902. In this way the new Church known as the Church of God which is known in the local Khasi language as ‘Ka Balang U Blei’ was officially formed. This indicates that the Church of God was under the local leadership which may be called an indigenous Church. The theological teachings were based on the Bible as the authentic word of God. Here it may be mentioned that the main theological teachings of the Church of God are Repentance, Holiness, Immersion Baptism and Foot washing. The leaders of the Church of God emphasized a new life style of holiness. It rejects child baptism because children should be dedicated to God and not Baptism. For instance, immersion baptism is not possible for the children. The leaders of the Church of God rejected the statement made by other Churches. For example, “I am a sinner. He is a sinner. You are a sinner. They are sinners” The leaders of the Church of God agreed in principle that human beings are sinful. But they believed that the power of our sinful nature could be overcome by the grace of God in Jesus Christ the Savior. They believe that it is through faith in Jesus that brings to us a regenerated life. It is for this reason repentance should be followed by Immersion baptism.

Again, it may be mentioned the new Church formed by Mr. Joy Mohan Roy and Wolley Mohan Roy faced so much of financial problems at the initial stage. For instance, Joy Mohan Roy left Khasi hills to continue his studies in Calcutta. He left behind a small group of church members and evangelists without any financial support. In fact, those who formed the Church of God had to resign their jobs with a view to work for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The leaders were without an income. While he was in Calcutta (Kolkata) Mr. Joy Mohan Roy met some Christian friends. In the process of sharing of faith they came to know that they have a similar faith experience in Jesus Christ. One of them was John A. D. Khan, a Muslim convert, who had already established contacts with the Church of God in Anderson, U.S.A, in 1903. It happened that some American friends invited John A.D. Khan to visit the Church of God in U.S.A. Consequently, Khan visited the Church of God in U.S.A. and returned to Calcutta in 1904 with a group of Anderson Church of God members. Amazingly, one among young American lady who visited India was Miss Nora Evalyn Nichols who later became the wife of Joy Mohan Roy. At that time Joy Mohan Roy completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the Calcutta University. It may be noted that soon the missionaries who came from America left for their homes except for Miss Nora Evalyne Nichols who preferred to stay back in the Khasi Hills in order to fulfill her commitment to work among the Khasi women. It may be noteworthy to mention that in 1907 she married Mr. Joy Mohan Roy. They adopted a family name known as “Nichols-Roy”.

It may be mentioned that the growth of the Church was quite steady. Today it has many local churches established in more than 700 villages over the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills. Today we have a total of more than 2 lakhs membership. It may be mentioned that the ecclesiastical structure of the Church of God in Meghalaya and Assam was well structured and designed. It has local committees within local Churches. It also organized some circle levels, District levels and Assembly level. Regarding the Business management it has the Business Association. This is an administrative body formed by the representatives of different levels It was in the year 1978 the body that looks after the spiritual matter was formed. It is called the “Pastors’ Fellowship”. This body comprises all ordained ministers of the Church of God, Meghalaya and Assam. It is looking and supervising the spiritual works, like Ordination, appointment of the Church workers, transfer or reshuffle of the Church workers from one area to the other and all those areas which are falling under the spiritual matters of the Church. It created few integrated Ministries, like the Mission Board, Women Department, Youth Department, Sunday Schools, Nichols-Roy Bible College, Child Sponsorship Programme, Evangelism Department and other ecclesiastical ministries including the Media Ministry. The Church of God Business Association is exercising its power in the sense to look after the general administration like financial matters, Education, properties and other matters except the spiritual realm of the Church.

At the initial stage the Church of God in Meghalaya and Assam did not emphasize to have theological training. The Church of God Business Association was a sole deciding power in most of the Church affairs till 1977. Till today the Church of God in Meghalaya and Assam did not give any emphasis to ordain any woman Church worker. In 1982 the Church of God changed its theological stand. It started a Bible School in 1982 at Qualapatty, Shillong. In 1992 it upgraded the Bible School into the College level. Since the year 1979 the young Church workers were encouraged to have theological training in Cherra Theological College, Sohra but some were sent to have B.Th and B.D. Degrees in Union Biblical Seminary, Pune. In the year 2018 the Church of God Business Association opened a secular College known as J.J.M. Nichols-Roy College, at Qualapatty, Shillong. It may be also mentioned that the Church of God takes up some publication of religious books. For example this was started since the year 1905. The Church magazine entitled “The Light of the Gospel” is still continuing even today. An indigenous publication entitled Ki Jingrwai Shem Mynsiem (The Experienced Spiritual Songs) was started more than a hundred years. It may be mentioned that today there are more than 100 Primary Schools, 3 Middle English Schools and 3 Secondary Schools, and 2 Higher secondary schools. Perhaps, one of the most distinctive features of the Church works is the practice - of divine healing (This kind of healing is not a magic but a reality). Many people have been healed through prayers and fasting. The growth of the church has generally been attributed to its healing ministry. The members of the church are mostly the poor and the illiterate people in the rural areas. But till today the Church did not have any Medical Centre and medical services but this does not mean medical treatment be desisted or rejected.