Eighty-three (83) Bachelor of Divinity final year students attended the 4th Haggai Institute leadership seminar held at Eastern Theological College (ETC), Jorhat, Assam from 9-16 June 2005.

A COMPELLING VISION
The Eastern Theological College (E.T.C), Jorhat, Assam was established in 1950 with the Rev.Dr J.W.Cook, as its first principal with a vision to raise theologically trained leaders for the churches in the North East India .The E.T.C is a premier theological institute in the eastern region of the country. It plays a leading role in promoting theological education by adopting need based program to the ever growing and diversifying needs of the churches in the NE region. The college offers B.D., M.Th and D. Min degrees under the Senate of Serampore College (University).

In June 2002, the first Haggai Institute leadership training seminar for the B.D. (final year) students of ETC was held under the initiative of Rev. Dr.J.M.N. Khan Pau, General Secretary, Council of Baptist Churches in North East India and Rev. Dr.M.Kipgen, Principal, ETC. The faculty members of ETC and Dr. Kipgen were satisfied with the result of the first H.I.seminar and wanted to make this seminar a regular feature for the BD (final year) students of the college. Dr. kipgen commented, "Here we are thinking of making this a regular feature in future. The teachings have been a down-to-earth practical and this we feel is what our students really needed. I'll encourage you to have in Serampore College too." Eventually, the burden gave birth of the vision of training emerging leaders of the region. Now, HI seminar has become an annual feature of the college for every the graduating batch of students in the college.

MULTIPLICATION OF THE VISION
Today, ETC has become a role model for other theological institutions in the region. The story of impact & success of H.I. training has reached other theological institutions in the region through various mode of communication. Several other theological institutions are planning to adopt this training for their graduating students. In the end of this month, one more seminar will be held for the graduating students of Achik Theological College (under the Senate of Sermpore), Tura. The John Robert Theological Seminary at Shillong has also opened door for H.I. A promotional seminar will be held in August in John Robert Theological Seminary. ETC has been a trendsetter in organizing such a training among the theological institutes.

TAILOR-MADE CURRICULUM
Las three years’ experience in conducting such seminar in this theological institute gave us a clear understanding about the need and expectations by the participants. Therefore, this year’s curriculum was an improved version over the last three year’s programme.

A host of experienced and skilled H.I. faculty facilitated in this seminar in the areas of their own expertises. The seminar was a live demonstration of H.I. faculty's passion to train leaders towards the fulfilling of the Great Commission in our country.

A range of modern A-V tools such as LCD projector, OHP, Sound systems, Computers, etc. were generously used as teaching tools to make the seminar effective and interesting one.
Besides the lecture sessions the participants also had opportunity undergo various workshops and group discussions.

THE COORDINATORS & THE TEAM
Mrs. Pearly Marak (Resident Coordinator), Rev. Maonkaba Ao(Seminar Manager) and Rev Sarat Sarmah( Asso. Coordinator) wonderfully coordinated the seminar right from the beginning till the end. Haggai Institute Alumni Association, Jorhat helped the coordinators to make this seminar a success. For the success of any seminar one need such a highly motivated team. Haggai Institute places on record their labour of love in training leaders for evangelism.

THE CONVOCATION & RESOLUTIONS
The convocation ceremony on 16th evening was grand. The Rev. Dr. M.Kipgen, Principal, ETC distributed the certificates and prayed for the participants. Binoy Kumar Muduli gave a powerful final challenge to make things happen.
The BD final year Students’ leader and the President of the Student council Johnson Riah read the resolutions they have taken as the result of the seminar-

1. That they would do evangelism among people of other faiths residing in the campus of ETC.
2. That the seniors would be examples to the juniors.
3. That they would contribute to mission work in and around Jorhat.

When I met the General Secretary of Baptist Churches in NE Rev. Dr.J.M.Nkhan Pau just after the seminar he told me something more exciting. As a result of the seminar the students have decided to take up challenge a church in Jorhat.

Mrs. Pearly Marak says, “ The Principal was very excited about the whole seminar and had requested H.I. to come again next year.”

WAS THE SEMINAR A BREAKTHROUGH?
Yes. The seminar was a breakthrough. I believe, God in His own good time has mobilized this seminar and the participants to go through this training for such a time as this. The participants have left the seminar with a deep sense of understanding and conviction that only effective leadership grounded in the Word of God can bring real transformation to our declining society. In fact, many participants reaffirmed this conviction by saying that for God to change this nation the change must begin within from the full time ministers.

The seminar has made realized the participants four things-

1. A sense of urgency for evangelism.
2. Effective leadership can only bring real transformation in society.
3. That skill is equally important as that of knowledge and
4. Commitment, Vision, Mission and Goal can make a difference in leadership.

• The impact of the seminar can be easily assessed from the outstanding comments made by the participants at the end of the seminar-
• “The seminar has enhanced the my knowledge on leadership and made me realize the importance of evangelism.”
• “The importance of AV aids in evangelism”
• “I discovered that evangelism should begin at home. A Christian home should be a lighthouse”
• “The seminar has broadened the perspective of Mission”
• “HI Seminar is a manna from heaven”
• “ The seminar is better than the theological classes we attend”
• “I discovered that fundraising and Office Management & Meeting Procedures are biblical and a ministry”
• “The seminar a must for all Christian leaders.”
• “I have come to realize the need of vision and goals as a leader and to have a mission for the lost.”

IS HI SEMINAR RELEVANT TO THE THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS?
Is HI seminar relevant to the hundreds of theological institutions in the country? It would be incorrect to ask such a question. The question is whether we have been able to motivate and mobilise the institutions to organize such training where our future Church leaders are being groomed. H.I. seminar can be a matter of strategic importance in the fast changing scenario of our nation. This seminar has proved this fact. Christian leaders must be on the cutting edge of leading people. H.I. of seminar can be a springboard for ministry for the emerging leades. If we can sow the seed of transformation while they are budding and nascent we can expect a great transformation of the Church through transformed leadership in the coming decades. Transformed Church means a transformed India. Who knows what legacy HI seminar is going to leave in the kingdom of God in shaping the destiny of our nation. H.I. is not only relevant to the theological institutions in the country but a need of the hour.