Students of Shalom Bible Seminary presenting a song during
the ABCC quinquennial conference in Kohima town on Sunday. (EM Images)
KOHIMA — A
two-day quinquennial conference (Krodi Kehou) of the Angami Baptist Church
Council (ABCC) held at Khouchiezhie, Kohima local ground culminated on Sunday
evening.
Addressing the Sunday morning service, Rev. Dr. Rachulie
Vihienuo, ABCC executive director, urged the members not to shy away from
professing their faith and to declare God's glory in both faith and practice.
Asserting that God has called Christians to declare the good news among the
people, he highlighted the presence of practical atheism in Naga society and
called for a Christian way of living in daily life.
Dr. Vihienuo has stressed the need to seek God with humility
and to live like the disciples of Jesus Christ to be part of the church of
Christ. He also encouraged the congregation to have allegiance to Jesus Christ
with submission, fostering an unshakeable faith.
Extending greetings, the general secretary of Nagaland
Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, acknowledged ABCC as one
of the strong pillars of the NBCC. He said the church has a choice to die as a
result of resistance to change or to humble itself and die in Christ in order
to live.
"Today, as we aim beyond ourselves, the time has also
come to put our house in order. The time has come to look around our
neighborhood. The church has a choice to keep worshipping in our own comfort
zone within the confines of four walls and turn a blind eye to the ministry in
our neighborhood," said Dr. Keyho.
He also asserted that the church has a choice to celebrate
its glorious past and remain there or to move forward into new territories in
the power of the spirit.
Dr. Keyho stated, “A gathering such as this must make the
body smaller and the head bigger.”
“To the Corinthians and to the Colossians, Paul said we are
the body and Christ is the head. The body must function proportionate to the
head. If the body becomes too big, the head will be misplaced,” Dr. Keyho said
while referring the Bible.
He also called upon the congregation to work for the
extension of God’s kingdom by arising and shining for His glory.
During the morning service, Rev. Zhabu Terhüja, pastor of
Baptist Church ‘A’ Medziphema town, led the congregation in offering special
prayers for Angami leaders including the legislators, Angami Public Organisation
(APO), Angami Women Organisation (AWO), Angami Gazetted Officers Krotho (AGOK),
Angami Sports Association (ASA), Angami Youth Organisation (AYO), Angami
Students Union (ASU) and the ABCC population.
Songs were presented by Angami Baptist Nhicuko Krotho,
Shalom Bible Seminary Secü Zubza and the Krodi Kehou Choir, while scripture was
read by Vitsikhono Tsory, pastor of Medziphema ‘A’ Village Baptist Church.
Later in the evening session, Rev. Dr. Ashok Andrews, pastor
of Kolkata Bible Church, addressed the congregation by reminding them that they
were born for the glory of God. He emphasised the need for the church to arise
and shine by referring to the Bible from Matthew 9:37-38, which states that
“The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few; therefore, pray earnestly
to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
He proclaimed the authority of Jesus Christ over sicknesses,
diseases, demons, death and the power of miracles, which the church also yearns
for and looks forward to. In this regard, he urged the congregation to see
their surroundings through the heart of Jesus, understanding the struggles many
are undergoing.
Dr. Andrews also encouraged the congregation to visualise,
realise, agonise and evangelise in response to the world's challenges.
Diethono Nakhro, State Disability Commissioner, emphasised
the importance of sign language, which is imperative for the deaf community to
communicate effectively in church outreach missions. She also read a scripture.
Songs were presented by Angami Baptist Thenuko Krotho,
Angami Baptist Church Council Thepfuko Krotho, and the Krodi Kehou Choir.
