Dimapur, August 21 (EMN): A conclave of Naga Christian Fellowships across India was held at the Dimapur Rengma Baptist Church during August 18-20.
A press release from the organisers informed on Monday that NCF pastors and leaders participated in the program speaking about their experience in the ministry. Association mission secretaries with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and members of the Baptist Pastors Fellowship of Dimapur and some other pastors from the Dimapur areas attended the conclave too, it was informed.
“This is a platform where all the NCFs Pastors come together for a time of prayer and spiritual renewal,” the press release stated. The speakers for the event were Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, general secretary of the NBCC; Rev. Dr. Rachülie Vihieno, pastor of Union Baptist Church, Kohima; and Rev. Vilodi Sakhrie, pastor of Town Baptist Church, Dimapur.
Pastors and leaders from Guwahati, Aizawl, Itanagar, Happy Valley, Shillong, NEIGRIHMS Shillong; Kolkata, Nagpur, Dehradun, Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, and Pondicherry attended the programme, the organisers stated.
The director of the NMM, Rev. Andrew Semp, told the pastors that the programme was an opportunity for them to ‘come out of their cocoons to relax, refresh and rejuvenate their minds and be strengthened.’
‘This is a time of remarkable change with great challenges and exciting opportunities. Technology and communication are making the world smaller and more connected than ever which at the same time there are unique challenges which confronts us that needs creative and intelligent means to stay adaptable and responsive to complex situations,’ the press release quoted him as having said.
“Coming together in a forum like this can ensure and help NCFs to continue to stay strong, relevant, connected and be on the task.”
Likewise, the general secretary of the NBCC, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, spoke to the gathering based on the theme of “abundant life—shepherding.”
‘This is a time to hear from them about their success and failures in the ministry. He encouraged and reminded them that they are the shepherds called by God to take care of the sheep. As owners of the sheep, until the sheep returns to the owner we are to look for them,’ the statement explained.
As representatives of Jesus Christ, the church leader stated, ‘shepherds’ must develop Christ-like attitudes and behaviour. Only then, he said, “shepherding will be comfortable.”
The NBCC leader reminded them that in times of discouragements ‘it is easy for us to solve the problems but in such kind of situations where do they go.’
“If we do not find our shelter in Christ, we cannot provide protection to the sheep. He further encouraged the Pastors that to be good shepherds we need to enter into personal relationship with God daily,” he said.
During the conclave, the Naga Christian Fellowship Forum took a resolution to support the Clean Election Campaign under the banner of NBCC.
The next conclave would be held in Bangalore, 2019. A departing member of the forum Sakurepba Tzudir, pastor of NCF Mumbai, was replaced by Toshi Jamir, pastor of NCF Mysore, the organisers informed.
Also, the convenor of the forum, Wapangtoshi commented that the conclave was the ‘first time coming together’ with association mission secretaries and pastors ‘which was a good platform.’
