A life marked by perseverance, persecution and unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel.
By Dr Yumri Taipodia | Columnist
Revd Marbom Tasar, popularly known as Tabom Tasar, was born on August 20, 1947, to Kemar and Kabin Tasar at Lete village in present-day Leppa Rada district of Arunachal Pradesh. His life, marked by personal hardships, perseverance, unwavering faith and commitment to the Gospel, stands as a testimony to how God can use an ordinary person to accomplish extraordinary things for His Kingdom.
His journey from an aspiring businessman to a dedicated evangelist and church leader reflects a lifetime of sacrifice, courage and devotion to Christian ministry.
Early Life and Spiritual Transformation
During his childhood, Marbom experienced the painful loss of his father. Following this tragedy, he was brought up by his mother, Kabin, with the support and care of his elder brother, Marnya. Growing up in a single-parent household, he understood the hardships of life at an early age. He engaged in various activities to earn a livelihood and support himself and his family. Hardworking, enterprising and determined, he was a young man who knew how to make the most of every opportunity.
With ambitions of becoming a successful businessman, Marbom ventured into government construction and supply contract work. In pursuit of these opportunities, he travelled to Roing, where he stayed at the home of his close Christian relatives, Riknya and Yapu Tasar, recognised as pioneer church planters. The young couple were employed in the Agricultural Department, and their Christian faith and commitment to the Lord eventually became instrumental in transforming the direction of Marbom’s life.
During his stay with them for a few months, their Christian witness and ministry deeply influenced him. Through their spiritual guidance, he came to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour.
On February 1, 1968, he attended Sunday worship at Baptist Church Rayang, Roing, for the first time. This encounter with the Christian faith became a defining moment in his life. His personal experience of Christ gave him a new purpose, and he returned to his native village with a strong desire to share the Good News with his fellow villagers.
His decision to proclaim the Gospel marked the beginning of a challenging but fruitful journey of evangelism. After a few days of sharing the message of Christ, the Lord moved the hearts of the people, and a church was established on June 6, 1968, at Lipu Geko, a centrally located hilltop. The church served three villages, and Marbom was appointed secretary of the newly established Christian congregation.
Persecution and the Price of Faith
The establishment of the church and the spread of Christianity were not without opposition. Just two months after the construction of the church, in August 1968, Marbom was summoned and charged at Nyigam village. He pleaded not guilty before those who persecuted and threatened him.
The opposition did not end there. In November of the same year, he was arrested and placed under house arrest in Aalo for more than two weeks.
Another incident occurred in January 1969, when a large public gathering was held at Baterijo to settle a wet-rice cultivation land dispute. Following the departure of the Deputy Commissioner, those opposed to his Christian activities took advantage of the gathering and rearrested him. He was subsequently detained at the residence of the Political Interpreter in Aalo for another two weeks.
These repeated arrests, threats and experiences of persecution could have discouraged a young man who had only recently embraced Christianity. However, Marbom did not abandon his faith. Instead of renouncing Christ, he became more determined to consecrate his life to the Lord. The challenges strengthened his conviction and encouraged him to dedicate himself more wholeheartedly to evangelism. His life increasingly became centred on proclaiming the Gospel, regardless of the personal cost.
On September 12, 1969, the Christian villagers of Lete constructed their own church within the village. They had already accepted Christ in 1968, before the joint church was established at Lipu Geko. Nevertheless, Lete continued to worship together with the two neighbouring villages, as these communities constituted the first Christian fellowship in Tirbin.
On November 14, 1969, Marbom was baptised in the Ngensi River at Lete, publicly affirming his commitment to Jesus Christ.
In March 1970, another significant test confronted him. The government served him an ultimatum that his shop-trading licence would be cancelled if he did not stop preaching. For Marbom, this was a decisive moment between preserving his business interests and remaining faithful to his Christian calling.
Without hesitation, he chose the Gospel over his commercial ambitions. He surrendered his only regular source of income by transferring his trading licence, along with his newly constructed shop building, to his youngest brother. Remarkably, the building still stands today as a physical reminder of that important chapter in his life.
His personal life was also marked by grief. During this period, he suffered the heartbreaking loss of his beloved eldest son, Bomkar, who was just three years old. It was a deeply painful chapter for him and his family. Nevertheless, even this personal tragedy could not extinguish his commitment to the ministry. Despite the suffering, he continued to hold firmly to his faith and calling.
A Life Dedicated to Evangelism
The lone surviving leader of the Lipu Geko Christian community, Marbom began serving the Lord as a pre-evangelist in 1971. He continued in this capacity until 1977, receiving a monthly honorarium of just Rs. 25.
Although the financial support was modest, his dedication to ministry was never measured by monetary rewards. His primary concern remained the spiritual transformation of people and the establishment of Christian communities.
Recognising his ministry experience and commitment, the Dibang Lohit Baptist Churches Association confirmed his evangelist licence on April 24, 1977, at Doomdama, Panikua Mission Centre, Assam. This recognition provided an important foundation for his continuing evangelistic work.
His ministry involved extraordinary physical hardship and sacrifice. He travelled through difficult and remote areas using whatever means of transportation were available, including log-laden trucks, tractors and buses. At times, he walked for days and weeks to reach villages and communities with the message of the Gospel.
Carrying a Bible in his bag and a torch to guide him through difficult journeys, he ventured into different parts of the state, particularly the undivided Siang district.
His journeys were far from comfortable missionary tours. They demanded physical endurance, courage, patience and unwavering commitment to his calling. There were occasions when he had to depend on whatever transportation was available, while long stretches of his journeys had to be completed on foot. Yet, with the Assamese translation of the Bible as his constant companion and the conviction of his faith guiding him, he continued reaching people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Through his evangelistic ministry, he had the privilege of baptising approximately 2,500 individuals whom the Holy Spirit had drawn towards the Lord. This number represents not merely a record of baptisms but also the spiritual influence of a ministry that extended across numerous communities.
Among those who embraced Christianity through his evangelistic efforts were individuals who later became ministers, government officials, including a Commissioner in the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, presidents of councils, pastors and reverends.
Some of these converts have already departed to be with the Lord, while others have continued serving in different capacities in society and the Church. Their lives and contributions remain part of the legacy of his evangelistic ministry.
On the occasion of his retirement from active Church ministry, those who are still alive among the believers and prominent personalities associated with his ministry undoubtedly have reasons to praise the Saviour for the spiritual foundation laid through his faithful service.
Marbom remained focused on winning souls for Christ. He devoted his energy and time to evangelism, and the Lord blessed his efforts with fruitful results. His ministry was not driven by the pursuit of positions or personal recognition. Rather, he considered the proclamation of the Gospel and the spiritual growth of people to be his primary responsibilities.
Leadership, International Exposure and Ordination
Apart from his evangelistic responsibilities, Marbom was also entrusted with administrative and leadership responsibilities within the Christian community. His commitment and experience enabled him to serve the Church in various capacities.
He served as President of Adi Baptist Bane Keba from 1986 to 1987. Later, he was entrusted with the responsibility of serving as Vice-President of the Galo Baptist Church Council (GBCC) from 1992 to 1993. These appointments reflected the confidence and recognition he received from the Christian community and Church leadership.
His long ecclesiastical journey also provided opportunities to participate in international Christian gatherings and gain exposure to the wider Baptist community.
In 1990, he travelled to Seoul, South Korea, where he attended the 16th General Conference of the Baptist World Alliance. This international experience was a significant milestone in his ministry journey.
In 1996, he also had the privilege of undertaking a Holy Land tour to Israel, visiting the land associated with the biblical history of Christianity.
Although he had accumulated considerable practical experience through years of evangelistic service, Marbom recognised the importance of theological understanding and ministerial development. With a desire to interpret the Scriptures more responsibly and serve the Church more effectively, he attended a three-month leadership training programme at Pfutsero Theological College in 1998. This training further strengthened his ministerial foundation and prepared him for greater responsibilities.
Recognising his years of dedicated service, practical ministry experience and commitment to the Church, the GBCC entrusted him with another significant responsibility.
On May 24, 1998, he was ordained as a Reverend. By virtue of his ordination date, he became the first person to receive ordination in his council. This historic distinction became an important milestone in his ecclesiastical journey.
He expressed sincere gratitude to the Council for recognising his ministry and providing him with the honourable platform to minister in the holy sanctuary. For him, ordination was not simply an achievement or a prestigious title; it was an affirmation of his lifelong commitment to serving the Lord and His Church.
Family Support and a Legacy of Faith
Behind the long years of Marbom’s ministry stood the unwavering support of his family, particularly his beloved wife, Lobi.
Reflecting on the different stages of his life, he gratefully acknowledged God’s provision of a godly wife who stood beside him through every wave of life. Her companionship, encouragement and support helped him remain firm during difficult seasons of ministry.
The journey of a missionary and evangelist is rarely without challenges. It involves sacrifices, uncertainties, personal losses and difficult circumstances. Marbom’s life was no exception.
From losing his father during childhood to facing persecution for preaching the Gospel, surrendering his business, experiencing the death of his three-year-old eldest son and travelling through difficult terrains for evangelism, his life was filled with experiences that tested his faith.
Through these circumstances, the support of his wife and the wider Christian community played an important role in sustaining his ministry.
He humbly acknowledged that reaching his retirement ceremony was possible through the helping hands, prayers and encouragement of the sanctified Christian community. He did not claim that his achievements were the result of his own strength or ability. Instead, he attributed his journey and accomplishments to the grace and faithfulness of God.
As he looks back upon his years of service, Marbom remains conscious of his human limitations. Although he believes that he has contributed something to the Kingdom of God, he considers those contributions insignificant when compared with the eternal reward that awaits God’s faithful servants.
His reflection reveals the humility of a man who has spent much of his life in Christian service without considering himself greater than his calling.
A Faithful Servant Finishing His Course
After decades of Christian service, Marbom reaches a significant chapter in his life as he retires from active Church ministry. His journey from a young businessman in search of commercial opportunities to an evangelist who surrendered his livelihood for the Gospel is a remarkable testimony of faith and commitment.
His life reminds the Christian community that the work of the Gospel is not accomplished through material resources, prestigious positions or personal comfort alone. It also requires sacrifice, perseverance, courage and unwavering dependence on God.
The approximately 2,500 individuals he baptised, the churches and Christian communities associated with his evangelistic journey, and the generations of believers who continue to serve the Lord form an important part of his ministry legacy.
Though he is retiring from active Church ministry, the influence of his years of service will remain in the memories and testimonies of those whose lives were touched by his preaching.
His story will continue to inspire younger generations of Christians, evangelists and theological students to understand the value of faithful service and commitment to the Gospel.
The worshippers of the Lord Jesus have profound reasons to appreciate and honour Marbom for his dedicated service. His life stands as a testimony to the truth that God can use a person who is willing to surrender everything for His divine purpose.
Ultimately, the story of Revd Marbom Tasar is not merely the biography of a Church minister; it is the account of a man whose life was transformed by the Gospel and who, in turn, dedicated his life to sharing that same Gospel with others.
Despite his human frailty, God used him for decades to advance His Kingdom in Arunachal Pradesh.
May his years of faithful service remain an inspiration to present and future generations of the Christian community.
All glory, honour and praise belong to the King of kings, who called him, sustained him and used his life for His glory.
Dr Yumri Taipodia is a columnist.
