Rev Dr Imotemjen Aier with his wife Arenla Aier
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 29
Often we read and hear of many missionaries who have done great things for the Church and people. But sometimes there are some humble servants who quietly serve the Lord. One such servant is Rev Dr Imotemjen Aier, who has been working in different Christian ministries since 1961 was recently awarded a plaque by the American Baptist International Ministries for “Leadership and Contributions to American Baptist Mission in India and Global Baptist Family”. Although he has series of achievements, the Reverend kept a low-profile, of which he said: “I work for the Lord and he knows what I do.”
The honorary award was presented to Aier during the 7-day World Mission Conference held at Green Lake Conference Center, Wisconsin in USA. The convention was held in relation to American Baptist International Ministries’ 200 years celebration of global mission. “It was a pleasant surprise for my wife and I. They never informed us about it but we went there because we were also one of the participants at the convention.”
He humbly said the award itself is a message to the younger generation that “if you are sincere, the Lord will bless you.”
Earlier too he had received two honorary doctorate degrees in Divinity from The Eastern Baptist theological Seminary, USA and Council of Serampore College (Univeristy), India.
Something amazing about this special man is that even at 81 years; he remembers dates of every single event he had come across in his life. Also, he is serving with International Ministries India Property Team as an attorney, looking after the welfare of the mission properties in the region of BOBBC, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. “I want to retire because I cannot contribute much like before. I have even asked them to release me since I am more of a liability to them but they still want to keep me,” he said. Queried whether he has any health complications, he chuckled and said: “...by God’s grace I have no serious ailments till now except the old-age joint pains which bothers me time to time.”
Also, his wife Arenla Aier has been assisting him in every mission field. She is a former missionary to the American Baptist Churches USA and served as a missionary with International Ministries to the Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Convention (BOBBCA) in India from 1988-2000.
Evangelism is not just about preaching
Aier said preaching alone cannot fulfil evangelism; one has to train the people, make them confident to take over the leadership. Many missionaries or evangelists posted in different mission fields tend to overlook at it, which makes their mission work incomplete.
The Reverend narrated his own experience working with the ‘adivasis’. He said they are oppressed people and they need help spiritually, socio-economically and educationally. However, providing them with the necessities alone was not enough but he had to train them so that they can take charge and look after themselves well. Stressing that if the people are not trained, the church will not grow.
Concerning about accusing Christian missionaries of force conversion or bribery, he said people misinterpret the good deeds carried out by missionaries. According to the teachings of Jesus Christ, Christianity is about love – helping the poor and the weak, providing basic necessities, making them understand the love of God etc... So the missionaries follow the tenets laid down by Christ, however, people of other creed look at it as bribery.
An eyesore...
The reverend said some Christian missionaries get carried away by ‘worldly things’ that their actual mission work becomes secondary. Instead of thinking how to expand the church, they tend to look at the monetary benefits more. He also went on saying that when a church or a Christian organisation sends off an evangelist for ministry, they should also make sure that he is financially sufficient so that he is not distracted from his mission.
