CHAPTER FOUR: CREATION OF RCC MANGUN

4.1Establishment of RCC Mangun

The COCIN Regional Church Council [RCC] Mangun came to reality as a

result of the vision of the COCIN Executive Council [EC] to bring leadership

closer to the church congregation for effective shepherding and to also enhance

efficiency of the hwolistic gospel among the congregations as commanded by

Jesus Christ and as demonstrated by the Apostles and the early church as

recorded in the book of ACTS 6:1 – 6.

The researcher in an interviewed with the pioneer RCC Chairman of

Mangun, Retired Rev. Istifanus Gukom who stated that, before the inauguration

of the RCC, there were eight (8) LCCs under Mangun zone; The pastors saw

the need to come out from the former RCC Panyam in line with the church

policy due to the spiritual and physical growth of the church in Mangun zone.

Gukom reiterated that the zeal led to the inauguration of a eight man committee

who will pilot the affairs for the actualization of their dream.

The committee were as follows:

1. Pastor Daniel Dajan - Chairman

2. Da Michael Dalong - Vice Chairman

3. Mr. Gushit Kohoryon - Secretary

4. Mr. Francis Damuesh - Assistant Secretary

 5. Late Iliya Mwankorom - Member

6. Late Gideon Vwang - Member

7. Mr. Gabriel Darshak - Member

8. Rev. Emmanuel Gweng - Mamber

Gukom disclosed that, the committee swung into action by writing a

proposal for the creation of RCC Mangun to the GCC through RCC and PCC

Panyam respectively [Interviewed 30/09/22].

On his part, the vice Chairman of the committee Da Michael Dalong also

revealed that the committee were given the responsibility to visit, create

awareness as well as mobilizing funds towards the creation of the RCC .

Dalong further asserted that after some progressive efforts were made, the GCC

leadership of the church approved that Mangun should operate as “RCC Gwaji”

for a period of one year to ascertain the physical, financial and above all, the

spiritual growth of the church.

This new development led to the inauguration of the following people as RCC

“Mangun Gwaji” in 1998

1. Retired Rev. Polycarp Dashilip - Chairman

2. Retired Rev. Istifanus Gukom - Vice Chairman

3. Rev. Lengkat A. Tishak - Secretary

4. Rev. Markus Dawus - Assistant Secretary

5. Mr. Amos Istifanus Damwesh - Treasurer

Dalong further added that they worked hand in hand with the proposed EC

of RCC “Gwaji” Mangun created awareness and organized programmes and

fellowship services for the actualization of the RCC. More so, he said that from

time to time, the PCC and the former RCC Executive Councils of Panyam

delegated some EC members to oversee affairs and inspect the facilities of the

proposed RCC [RCC Gwaji] and then give their report to the appropriate

authority. Dalong opined that the GCC were impressed with the report

submitted by these delegations and approved for the creation of RCC Mangun.

The new RCC which was curved out of RCC Panyam was officially

inaugurated on the 28th January, 2001 with the following LCCs:

1. LCC Mangun 11 CCs

2. LCC Jipal 6 CCs

3. LCC Chakfem 8 CCs

4. LCC Mwar 3 CCs

5. LCC Gwakshesh 3CCs

6. LCC Kopnanle 4 CCs

7. LCC Kaharyam 3 CCs

8. LCC Zuwal 3 CCs

 The inauguration of the RCC was carried out under the leadership of then

COCIN President, Rev. Dr Alexander Lar with the following RCC

Executive members:

1. Rev. Istifanus Gukom - Chairman

2. Rev. Ibrahim Tonbe - Vice Chairman

3. Rev. Markus Dawus - Secretary

4. Rev. Emmanuel Ngweng - Assistant Secretary

5. Mr. Amos Istifanus Damwesh - Treasurer

[Interviewed 30/09/22].

4.2LEADERSHIP OF RCC MANGUN FROM 2001 – 2022

These are the comprehensive list of the leadership as documented by the

RCC Secretary, Rev. Godwin Serwet.

2001 – 2003:

1. Chairman - Rev. Istifanus Gukom

2. Vice Chairman - Rev. Ayuba Panden
3. Secretary - Rev. Markus Dawus
4. Assistant Secretary - Rev. Emmanuel Ngweng
5. Treasurer - Mr. Amos Istifanus Damwesh
6. EC Member - Mr. Dapak Tongshu
7. EC Member - Da Michael Dalong
2004 – 2006

1. Chairman - Rev. Samuel Yiltu

2. Vice Chairman - Rev. Markus Dawus
3. Secretary - Rev. Joseph Fwangtu
4. Assistant Secretary - Rev. Emmanuel Ngweng (2004)
Rev. Godwin Serwet Damush (2005)
5. Treasurer - Mr. Amos Istifanus Damwesh
6. EC Member - Mr. Hosea Klingwum
7. EC Member - Mr. Iliya Damuesh

2007 – 2010

1. Chairman - Rev. Samuel Yiltu

2. Vice Chairman - Rev. Markus Dawus
3. Secretary - Rev. John Dashe 2007
Rev. Lengkat Tishak 2011
4. Assistant Secretary - Rev. Godwin Serwet Damush
5. Treasurer - Mr. Amos Istifanus Damwesh (2009)
Mr. James Denshak (2010)
6. EC Member - Mr. Yohanna Pwahalsum
7. EC Member - Mrs. Dinatu Jepther Dipun

2011 – 2014

1. Chairman - Rev. Mangya Kefas Dawit

2. Vice Chairman - Rev. Markus Dawus
Rev. Dauda Agwom
Rev. Rabbo
 3. Secretary - Rev. Lengkat Tishak
Rev. Dominic Tonbish
Rev. Barry Fwangjel Tongbu
4. Assistant Secretary - Rev. Godwin Serwet Damush
Rev. Barnabas Ngumush
5. Treasurer - Mr. James Denshak
6. EC Member - Mr. Goshit Kohoryon
7. EC Member - Mrs. Lydia Samson Shokden

2015 – 2018

1. Chairman - Rev. Mangya Kefas Dawit

2. Vice Chairman - Rev. Rabbo
3. Secretary - Rev. Barry Fwangjel
4. Tongbu – 2015 - 2016
- Rev. Danjuma Deshi Yaka – 2017 - 2018
5. Assistant Secretary - Rev. Barnabas Ngumush Davulong
- Rev. Pankyes Tallo
6. Treasurer - Mr. James Denshak
- Mrs. Victoria Dawuk
7. EC Member - Mr. Goshit Kohoryon
- Mrs. Lydia Samson Shokden
8. EC Member - Mr. Luka Kanshen
- Mr. Gospel S. Tupshak

2019 – 2022

1. Chairman - Rev. Danjuma Deshi Yekak

2. Vice Chairman - Rev. Emmanuel Dashugum – 2019 – 2021
 - Rev. Lengkat Tishak - 2022
3. Secretary - Rev. Godwin Serwet Damush
4. Assistant Secretary - Rev. Pankyes Tallo
5. Treasurer - Mrs. Victoria Dawuk
6. EC Member - Mr. Luka Kanshen
7. EC Member - Mr. Gospel S. Tupshak

All the offices above is by Election and there are instances that some of the

officials only stay in office only for one year due to transfer of Pastors.

4.3. LOCAL CHURCHES OF RCC MANGUN

These are comprehensive list of the LCCs under the RCC as documented by

the RCC secretary, Rev. Godwin Serwet.

1. LCC Mangun

2. LCC Chakfem

3. LCC Jipal

4. LCC Mwar

5. LCC Gwakshesh

6. LCC Kopnanle

7. LCC Kaharyam

8. LCC Kopeta

9. LCC Pantilong

10.LCC Bul
11.LCC Manja

12.LCC Wubel

13.LCC Yilpiya

14.LCC Kanjing

15.LCC Larkwas

16.LCC Koon

17.LCC Jing

18.LCC Tokkung

19.LCC Tookshar

20.LCC Gullam

21.LCC Dyes

22.LCC Bukjir

23.LCC Tilleng

24.LCC Kopkuli

25.LCC Koleshik

26.LCC Shwak

27.LCC Ligis

28.LCC Wumti

29.LCC Timmwar

30.LCC Jiblang
 31.LCC Nyempang

The RCC Mangun started with only 8 LCC and now have 31, 23 has been added to

the expansion of the RCC in twenty one years (21yrs).

4.4. NUMERICAL EXPANSION OF RCC MANGUN

The first mission station established by the missionaries in Nyempang

in1932 served as a muster seed for the growth and expansion of the church

in Mangun and beyond. The congregational church in Nyempang later gave

birth to the worship centre at Bakin kasuwa which later became the central

church in Mangun and the RCC Headquarters in particular. Other church

that were established later were Kaharyam, Yilpiya, Kopnanle, Nyemdung,

Gung as well as the following churches who were outside Mangun District:

Dungsambe, Ampang West, Jipal, Chakfem and other worship centres that

were still operating as prayer houses qualified Mangun to be inaugurated as

an LCC in 1963 under the leadership of Rev. Daniel Davwam [COCIN

Mangun Central Church Dedication Report 14].

More so, while in an interviewed with Rev. Istifanus Gukom, who

applauded that the new LCC Kept on attracting new members, the church

structure also developed and expanded. He stated that, as the church

continued to increase in number and in size with more worship centres

created while others were elevated to an LCC status such as, Ampang West,
Jipal, Chakfem and Bwonpe respectively. Gukom asserted that with the

elevation of these churches to LCC status, the leadership of the church at the

GCC level saw the need to create a new DCC in Mangun zone out of DCC

Panyam that comprises churches in Ampang District, Chakfem and Jipal

Districts in 1981 after 18 years of an LCC headquarters of the zone under

the leadership of Rev. Ishaya D. Panbwot with the following LCCs:-

LCC Mangun

LCC Jipal

LCC Chakfem

LCC Bwonpe

LCC Mwar

Gukom Further reiterated that some few years after the inauguration

of the DCC, LCC Ampang West was elevated to the status of DCC with

other LCCs under her within the territory of Ampang West District

[Interviewed 30/9/22].

Mangun DCC kept on growing with the following leadership until COCIN

came up with a policy that abolished the DCC structure in 1996 as reported

by the RCC secretary, Rev. Godwin Serwet. The DCC leaders from 1981 –

1996 were:

1. Rev. Ishaya D. Panbwot

2. Rev. Manasseh G. Toma

3. Rev. Paulycarp Best

4. Rev. Istifanus Gukom

Serwet further opined that these spiritual and physical growth of the

church took a period of 18 years and 20 years before Mangun was

elevated to DCC and RCC status in 1981 and 2001 respectively. Serwet

also revealed that, the RCC presently is blessed with 31 LCC with 46

CCs, 6560 communicant members, and with a total number of 20,945

adult worshipers of Sunday service as well as the total of 7,650 Sunday

school children which are the future church of the area. The RCC is also

blessed with 30 ordained ministers and 15 unordained Pastors.

[Interviewed 30/09/2022].