RICE COLLECTION

One of the main sources of income among the Home League in India Eastern Territory is rice collection. This practice of setting aside some rice for God is not yet started at the time when the Home League begins their ministries. They bring their own eggs, woolen threads, rice, fire wood etc and sells for fundraising. The Mizoram Presbyterian Church adopted this practice from the Khasi Christians to raise fund for their church construction around 1911 -1913. We were not able to get the exact date when this ministry is practiced by us, but February 1948 issue of Salvationist War Cry (Sipai Tlangau) mentioned that the Khawruhlian Corps Home League collected some rice for their ministries.

This is how Rice Collection is done – 

Each member has to place a pot near the fireplace where they cook and on that pot they should stick a word GOD’S POT or ORPHAN CHILD’S POT. Every time they cook rice they have to take out a handful of rice and put them on that pot. After a month the rice which they set aside is about 4 Kg’s and they sold to a fair price shop and the money was used to look after the orphanage. Then more corps become aware finding it useful and also creates a good fellowship among the Home League members. It is practiced till today and never stops arousing members to join in, and Home League members do not want to be excluded in this ministry.

After some years they found it is not enough to put only a handful of rice. Some women’s testifies and express that for every meal they prepare, they put aside a cup of rice for Jesus seeming that Jesus is the Guest in their family. This campaign was made among the members and many of them practice the same. The collection of rice was increased so much within a few months and the project for the orphanage was now changed to outreach ministry.

Everybody could not go as a missionary, everyone is not called to preach among the non believers, everybody is not given the talent to teach the illiterate but everybody can be involved in this simple ministry of giving rice since rice is the main food for all the members. Even a simple woman can do this important ministry from her kitchen. The amount of rice collection is increasing every year as the demands for the outreach is also getting higher and higher. Each Home League member is engaged, and they were always encouraged to give more in the corps level as well as division level. Prizes were given out annually to Home League members according to their contribution in the corps. Now it became a common practice in every division to give appreciation gifts during the Home League rally to the highest contributor or the highest top ten  within the division. Home League members were proud to know that about 35% of the territorial budget for outreach ministries is covered by their rice collection ministry.

By Major Lalhlimpuii HRDS