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Neiphiu Rio speaking at Molungkimong village in Mokokchung district on Saturday.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Dec. 22 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday said the arrival of the American Baptist missionary Rev. Dr. Clark in Nagaland—at Molungkimong village in 1872— was godsend.
The preacher’s arrival in Nagaland, Rio said, had transformed Naga society through the spread of Christianity and education. The chief minister was at Molungkimong village to inaugurate the first ‘Baptistery Annexe’ on Saturday.
The Baptistery Annexe at Molungkimong is where the first Baptism in Nagaland took place on Dec. 22, 1872 when Clark baptised the first fifteen Christian converts.
Rio said that Nagas were headhunters then, living in isolation without a ruler or a government. The arrival of the American preacher during that time, he asserted, transformed Naga society.
The chief minister also said that though the Christian community in India constitutes only 2.5% of the country’s population, no government in the Centre could ignore them because ‘Christians are the most advanced community.’ He added Nagas are part of that ‘special and powerful community.’
Speaking on the current context of Naga society, Rio observed that Naga groups, both ‘underground and overground’, are thoroughly divided. He said that Nagas still have traits of “animal instinct and barbaric attitude” that causes quarrel and fight among them instead of learning from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The chief minister encouraged the people to ponder whether they will remain mere followers of the Christian religion or be true Christians in spirit following the values and teaching of Jesus Christ.
"As Christian, we believe in God. But if our belief and our action do not go together, I think we are destroying ourselves," Rio asserted.
He also expressed hope that the differences among the Nagas can be solved, and the people united through the common platform of Christianity.
Rio also called upon the church leaders to remind themselves about Naga history and rededicate their life to Christ.
On behalf of the state government, the chief minister also extended Christmas greetings to the people of Nagaland. “Let this Christmas be a special Christmas for every individual,” he said.
The chief minister was accompanied by ministers: Tongpang Ozukum, Metsubo Jamir, CM Chang and advisor Imnatiba.
Rio also visited the monolith placed at the ‘First Gospel Path’ in memory of the 60 warriors from Molungkimong who first escorted Clark; the ‘First Gospel Gate’; the ‘First Chapel Monument’ and Rev. Dr. EW Clark monument. Later in the day, Rio held a public meeting with the villagers.
The Baptistery Annexe was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, the executive secretary of Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang.
