“RVA Zo Service goes beyond Church, language”

Pu Ginsuanhau, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Indian state of Manipur, stated that “Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) Zo Service as it goes beyond church and languages of the state.”

Ginsuanhau is the Minister of MANIREDA and MTDC in the Manipur.

As a keen follower of RVA Zo service, Ginsuanhau urged all to forgive debts to the tune of 5000.00 Indian Rupees (USD 67.00) to keep up with the Old Testament practice of forgiving debts during jubilees.

Ginsuanhau, MLA of 60 Singngat (sub-divisional headquarters), spoke as the chief guest during the silver jubilee celebration of the RVA Zo service on November 8.

“Reaching out to people through social media platforms in this digital age is the need of our time and RVA Zo Service has just done that, and I heartily congratulate the service. Long live RVA Zo Service,”  Ginsuanhau said.

On the occasion, Michael Ginzasuon, the guest of honour, expressed that “broadcasting the Good News by RVA Zo Service was like sowing a tiny mustard seed. It needed guts and patience to bring the service to this present status.”

“The Zo community is a small community in the state of Manipur, but we are a giant when it comes to digital broadcast. This is what I would like to call ‘Evangelization,’ and RVA Zo Service is doing just that,” Michael Ginzasuon said.

Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal celebrated the silver jubilee mass and blessed a memorial stone to mark the occasion in St. Joseph’s Parish, Sugnu, in the Eastern Indian state of Manipur.

“Radio Veritas Asia is the child of the South East Asian Bishops Conference. The main objective in founding this radio service was to spread the Gospel message in South East Asia,” the archbishop said during the function.  

Archbishop  Lumon appreciated the work and promised to continue support to RVA Zo Service.

“Veritas means truth and RVA continues to spread the truth of our salvation through its languages service,” the prelate said.

RVA Zo service, formerly known as Zomi-Chin Service, includes Zomi-Chin speaking communities of India and the Chin State of Myanmar.  RVA Zo Service caters to Zomi-Chin speaking communities in India, Myanmar and the Zomi-Chin diaspora in Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United States. 

Started in 1994, the RVA Zo service began with the initiative of Father Mark Thang Khan Ai and Father John Omse of the then Hakha Diocese in the Chin State of Myanmar.

The dignitaries present appreciated the efforts of Father Mark Ai and the Zo service team.

Father Mark Ai, director of RVA Zo service, said that “the transition from a once-a-week service to a fully digitalized service, using available social media platforms is a historical landmark for the service.”

RVA Zo Service aired its first short wave broadcast on August 06, 1996, on Mondays, with a repeat on Tuesdays. The technology of the time, a recorded cassette tape. The broadcast was upgraded to four times a week in 2004, by then CDs became widely available.

“The celebration of this nature brings deep sentiments of gratitude to all those who had contributed to the beginning and growth of the service, beginning with the headquarters itself,” Father Mark Ai said.

RVA Zo Service started to broadcast daily in 2008, still prerecorded on CDs. The systems were fully digitalized in 2014, as programs were uploaded via the internet for the office in Imphal, the capital of Manipur. The departure from analog to digital service happened in 2016.

Father Mark Ali expressed gratitude to the “golden-hearted donors” of RVA Zo Service.

Singtom Village youth performed a memorable theme song with dance in gratitude to God, RVA Management Team, and benefactors.

RVA Zo service continues to reach out to six languages in the region: Zo, Thadou, Tedim-Chin, Gangte, Vaiphei and Paite.

RVA Zo service honored Ms. Christina Manneilam, a former staff member, with a Zo shawl from Ms. Ruth Zo, a current RVA Staff.