Arunachal Pradesh

Sanga Ralte was a renown sports man in Indian cricket and football (soccer) before God called him into the ministry. Although he no longer plays sports, the sports organizations still call him to speak at ceremony openings.

Currently, Sanga pastors a church of about 54 members in the Diyun village in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, an area that shares international borders with China, Bhutan and Burma. The growing congregation meet in a small room because their church building was damaged in a storm in 2009. They plan to start construction on a building in 2012. Various religions are practiced throughout the state. Diyun village is dominated by Buddhist religion.

One of Sanga's dreams is to open an orphanage home. He is looking for land and he is conferring with a lady in another area who has four small schools and an orphanage. Lack of a building does not hinder Sanga from ministering to youth as he is often involved in various youth events.

He says he has a burden for children, youth and orphans. Actually, I believe Sanga has a burden for ALL people. He tells me about the Chakma Tribe, refugees who migrated from Bangladesh, in Diyun village. The state government is bias and discriminatory towards these people. They are often denied basic rights such as education, employment and the right to live peacefully. Sanga cares about them and their plight, and seeks ways to minister the love of God to them.

Sanga travels to other districts throughout his state, taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to various peoples in small tribal villages. Most of the journeys take 2-3 days of travel, the majority of it by foot in mountainous terrain, to reach their destination. There are very few Christians, mainly indigenous people, in the hilly areas and there are no churches. On one such journey to Sissen Village, Sanga and other ministers were able to obtain a plot of land to build a church. Now they are looking for a sponsor for the church building.

It's been 13 years since Sanga Ralte left the sports world to become involved in the ministry. He loves God, he loves people, and he loves the ministry. In his own words, Sanga says, "I hope that until my last breath I will be in the ministry."