Biography of Rev. S. Prim Vaiphei
Rev. S. Prim Vaiphei was born during the World War II at Geldim tang, while his parents were taking shelter because of the war at Geldim hillrange at their jhuming paddy field. He was born on the way while his parents went for working in the field on April 5, 1945. He was named after the Geldim hill as Geldim-Dimkhothang. Later he changed his name to Prim Vaiphei
His father Mangkholam was one of the first converts to Christian in the area. When he went to attend a Christian meeting at Shangshak a Tangkhul village, one missionary (white man) addressing the meeting said ‘you should go for wet cultivation. Because Jhuming cultivation will not go in the long run’. After hearing what the missionary said, he decided to move to Salam Patong, their present village which is very closed to the valley and good for wet cultivation. Thus they shifted from Mualnuam village to Salam Patong village in 1947. From Salam Patong they moved to a valley area for cultivating the unclaimed valley. And thus settled near Chandrakhong Meitei village. This make him fluent in Meiteilon. We believed that It is the way God, with His foreknowledge, prepared him to work among the Meiteis for the propagation of the Gospel among the Meiteis.
His father being the first convert used to preached the Gospel in the ttribla villages and set up more than 15 village churches among the hill people. Their family faced so much persecution and discrimination form the villagers while he was a boy. Even his maternal uncles (brothers of his mother) hated their family members.
Education:- in those days there were no school for education. But his parents wanted to educate him by any means. So though a small boy of 6-7 year, Prim had to walk everyday from Chandrakhong to Ningel Meiitei village which is 3-4 km to attend school. After completing L.P. School he had to look for a suitable place to study, thus he had to go to different villages for schooling. The villages were Nambasi, Kamuching, Thangkanphai, Yairipok, Thoubal and Motbung. There was a Hostel known as Adimjati Shikshya Ashram at Motbung, giving almost free food and lodging for poor students. This enable him to complete his high school study. We are thankful to God for this. Thus he passed
HSLC from Motbung High school in 1966. As soon as he passed Matric he had a desire to study Theology and thus went to Jorhat in 1966 July, recommended by the Sadar Baptist Association for CBCNEI (Council of Baptist Churches in North East India) scholarship. Thus he completed
L.Th. (Licentiate in Theology) from Eastern Theological College Jorhat in 1970
B.Th. (Bachelor of Theology) from Hindustan Bible Institute, Madras in 1972
B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) from Serampore College, Serampore in 1974 sponsored by an Anglican Church in England through the negotiation of Rev. Allan Jenkins, a teacher of the College.
Th. M. (Master of Theology in Missiology) from Fuller Theological Seminary, California in 1979. Sponsored by the BIM (Board of International Ministry) of the American Baptist Churches.
After he got his B.D. Degree in 1974, he was invited to work with the Manipur Baptist Convention as the Youth and Education Secretary. He accepted the invitation and worked with MBC from Sept. 1, 1974 - March 1990.
Married - He married a humble lady Miss Lhaikhoneng Hangshing, a Staff Nurse, d/o Mr. Lamjathang Hangshing on Sept. 25, 1975. The marriage was administered by Rev. Seikholet Singson the first General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention and also the first ordained minister among the Kuki community in Manipur.
God blessed their marriage with 6 children (4 girls and 2 boys)
1. Tingneivak @ Boinu Vaiphei, M.A. (Sociology). She is working now as lecturer at Johnstone Hr.Sec. School. Imphal. She is married to Mr. Thanglien Tuboi, who works as asst. Manager Bank of Baroda Dimapur. (They have two kinds one girl and one boy).
2. Their second child Samuel @ Lamginlal Vaiphei, M.A.(Eco.) he got his IRS in 2013 and now posted at Aizawl Mizoram.
3. Niangneichong @ Agatha B.A., married to Onngam Haokip, a Pastor of Believers Eastern Church. They are blessed with one boy and two girl.
4. Thanggoumang @ Mamang Vaiphei, B.Sc. (Physics hon.) worked at called centre Delhi but now lives with his parents because of ill health
5. Tingdoikim @ Kimgrace Vaiphei, M.Sc. (Physics hon.) from IIT Bombay. She worked at Damdei Christian College as lecturer but unwilling to continue and resigned
6. Dr. Nemneilam @ Vashti Vaiphei, MBBS from UCMS Delhi
Travelling -
1. Asia Youth Mission Hongkong 1977
2. 1978 attended Fuller Seminary for Th.M.
while returning visited holy land for 2 - 3 days
3. Attended “Seminar on Biblical Roots” (One month Seminar) at Ecumenical Institute for Advanced Theological Research, Tantur Jerusalem, Israel in July 1983.