Naga Prayer Summit 2026 urges Nagas to rise above tribalism and work towards unity, reconciliation and social transformation
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DIMAPUR — Thousands of Nagas from Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Myanmar and other regions are participating in the two-day Naga Prayer Summit 2026, which commenced at Lotha Baptist Church (LBC), Dimapur, on Tuesday.
Organised by the Fellowship of Naga Baptist Associations (FNBA) on the theme “Oneness in Christ,” the summit seeks to bring Nagas together in prayer, fellowship and a renewed commitment to unity.
Addressing the gathering, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier called on Nagas to rise above tribalism, factionalism, prejudice and self-righteousness, urging Christians to translate their faith into meaningful social transformation.
Referring to Socrates’ statement, “An unexamined life is not worth living,” Rev. Aier said individuals must examine their roles and responsibilities in different spheres of life, including the church, politics, business, society and professional fields.
Quoting Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, who observed that “the ant knows the formula of its anthill, the bee knows the formula of its beehive, but man does not know his formula,” he said people often lacked clarity about their purpose and what needed to be done, despite speaking extensively and constructing narratives.
Relating this to the Naga context, he referred to Karl Marx’s eleventh thesis on Feuerbach, which states: “Philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.”
Rev. Aier observed that people had become preoccupied with interpreting events reported on social media and in newspapers, pointing fingers and debating who was right or wrong, while rarely examining themselves.
He said Nagas had become accustomed to building narratives rather than working towards meaningful change.
Drawing from the teachings of Apostle Paul, he highlighted two ways of life: slavery under fear, insecurity and self-justification, and freedom as sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ.
He emphasised that Christian freedom did not mean freedom without responsibility, but liberation from insecurity, pride and the need to assert superiority over others.
Expressing concern over divisions within Naga society, Rev. Aier said people continued to judge one another based on tribal identities, regional affiliations and preconceived notions despite professing Christian faith.
He cautioned that exclusiveness, prejudice and self-righteousness could lead to oppression and undermine the common good.
He also cautioned against using religion to justify factional interests, tribalism and hatred, stating that the liberating message of Christ called for acceptance, forgiveness and reconciliation.
He further criticised what he described as a tendency towards “social withdrawal” in Naga spirituality, whereby issues such as factionalism, corruption, nepotism and social divisions were treated as matters beyond the church's responsibility.
He stressed that Christianity should not be confined to personal salvation but must also contribute to social and cultural transformation.
Reminding the gathering that early Christians were described as people who “turned the world upside down,” Rev. Aier urged believers to become agents of positive change.
Citing the historical Truce of God movement, through which the church sought to end feudal conflicts and promote reconciliation, he questioned why Naga churches could not take similar initiatives to address divisions within Naga society.
He challenged the Fellowship of Naga Baptist Associations to renew its commitment to unity and reconciliation, urging participants to set aside their differences and recognise one another as brothers and sisters.
The welcome address at the summit was delivered by Rev. Dr. Yanbemo Lotha, Senior Pastor of Lotha Baptist Church.