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gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lakher church experienced series of revivals in 1934, 1950, 1957 and 1960. Thus by the year 1956 the entire Mara people was won over to Jesus Christ.

The LPM had the holistic mission through Literature Mission, Medical works, School and education, Itinerating, Social and family work. It received some helps from All Nations Missionary Union, British and Foreign Bible Society, Religious Tract Society, and the Scripture Gift Mission.

Literature work of the LPM: R. A. Lorrain reduced the Mara dialect into writing in 1908, and compiled two sets of dictionaries Lakher-English Dictionary and English-Lakher Dictionary containing 7,000 to 8,000 words each. A complete Lakher Grammar was published. His Lakher Primer for use in school has been printed by the Assam Government for the Mission free of charges.[1]

Bible Translation: Lorrain started translating the Bible into Mara language in 1909. He started translating the Gospel According to John from Authorized Version and completed in 1912. In 1922, the 22 books of the NT were translated and printed. At the same time he started the OT translation of the Book of Psalms and the Book of Job. In 1928, the whole NT was published in the Mara language for the first time. He distributed the Bible free to those who could read the Mara language. Many Maras learned how to read and write in order to receive the free gift of the Bible. It encouraged Maras to attend Sunday School Class.

After 37 years of service in Maraland, R.A Lorrain died on February 1^st 1944 at Saikao in Maraland. All the tasks left were continued by his son-in-law Albert Bruce Foxall Lorrain who joined the LPM in 1928. He continued the OT translation and completed the whole OT translation in 1951. In March 1956 the first complete the Holy Bible in Mara dialect came out of the press. It was three years before the Mizo Bible was published. The whole Holy Bible was revised again; and it was completed in 1973, and released at Siaha Vaihpi Church on February 25, 1973.

The LPM also published catechism, and Hymn Book which contained 174 hymns in 1919. It was revised and published in 1951, including 255 hymns, 46 choruses, and prayers. The main principle works of Missionaries can be highline as follow:

February 11^th 1905      : Lakher (Mara) Pioneer Mission was founded in London

January 18^th 1907        : Rev. R.A. Lorrain founder of Lakher Pioneer Mission

along with his wife Mrs. Lorrain left London towards Maraland (Lakher Land)

September 26^th 1907   : The first Missionaries (Rev. R.A. Lorrain & Mrs. Lorrain)

arrived into Maraland.

March 16^th 1908          : The Alphabet of the Mara language was reduced into

writing by Missionaries

September 1908          : The first Mission School was established

The Year 1911                        : The Gospel of John was translated into Mara language

The Year 1919                        : 22 New Testaments books, Psalms, the book of Job and

Hymns were translated into Mara language and printed

 The Year 1928           : The whole New Testament was published in Mara

language

The Year 1929                        : Mission School for girls was established

The Year 1951                        : The Old Testament translation, a revised Hymn books

were completed

 The Year 1956           : The first edition of a complete Bible in Mara language

came out of the Press.

1.      Interpreting Socio-Cultural Transformations

Interpreting socio-cultural transformations and changes in the Mara Christian context brings out fresh and new outlooks. When the missionaries came and converted the Maras to Christianity, the concept of traditional practice of conversion or proselytization still remained in the minds of the people. If the early Mara Christianity is interpreted in the light of this proselytization, then Mara Christianity can be seen as a change of religion that means from the inferior Mara religion to the superior religion of Christianity. It can also be understood as a change of clan or race which means conversion from the Mara traditional family into the more civilized missionary’s western race or society. Therefore this approach saw the missionaries as the masters of Christianity and those who played advisory roles to sustain the life of the church; whereas the Mara Christian converts are seen as the subordinated, who cut themselves off from their religion, abandoned their social and cultural traditions and were completely committed to Christianity. If we look at the transformations of the Mara society from this perspective, it was not only the missionaries but also the Mara Christians themselves who were responsible for the changes and transformations of the society. These changes and transformations had both positive and negative impacts on the life of the Mara society which can be discussed as follows:

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[1] Rev. Vazi Lai, Article in Brief History of MEC, p. 3