Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 4
Hundreds of believers continued to throng the NBCC Convention Centre, Kohima as the ongoing India Mission Summit entered the third day on Saturday.
Asia Evangelical Alliance and Evangelical Fellowship of India general secretary Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, who was the main speaker at the evening service, challenged believers not to stay aloof but to answer to their call by involving in the society.
Delivering his message based on the Gospel of Luke (chapter 22, verses 14-30), Rev. Howell talked about empowerment through the promise of Jesus Christ at The Last Supper. He illustrated the chapter as ‘a story of three tables’ wherein the first section is depicted as a table of hope, new covenant, proclamation, anticipation and celebration. He explained the significance of the body and the blood (sacrifice) of Jesus which are symbolically represented in the bread and wine, the taking of holy communion, and His promise that the kingdom will come again.
The second table is that of the world, Rev. Howell said, pointing out that power play is widespread across the world for power over people, domination, manipulation, subjugation, exploitation and discrimination. He reminded the congregation that Jesus asked of his disciples that the greatest amongst them should be like the youngest and the one who rules, like the one who serves. He stated that through these words, Jesus is conveying a revolutionary message to all the people that one should not be consumed by greed of power.
The speaker said the third section represents a table of empowerment and mutuality through the verses -“I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table…”.
Rev. Howell, who has addressed various issues like religious liberty, gender issues, youth, children etc on both national and international forums, lamented that there are many young people in India who live in “hopelessness”. “Our dignity comes from His kingdom, young people, never think of yourselves as inferiors, useless or hopeless…We are the children of the king,” he asserted.
Earlier during the day, plenary sessions on Religious Liberty and 21st Century India Mega Trends were held.
On Sunday, the morning service will commence from 9 am. Rev. Vevo Phesao will chair the programme while Rev. TA Prabhu Kiran, Hyderabad based former journalist, writer, preacher, historian and Christian leader will be the main speaker and Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang will deliver greetings.
The NBCC has requested all Kohima dwellers to attend the programme and be blessed.
