EMN
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27
THE congregation at the Town Baptist Church, Dimapur had a rare address from the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at the Christmas morning service. Politicians are not known to make addresses from the pulpit but it was clear that the season’s cheer and the fast approaching ending year had moved Rio to the stand to give his testimony of the Lord’s workings in His life and also to share his concerns for the Naga public as a leader of the state. He began his address by expressing his thanks for the opportunity to share his gratitude and that his presence in the church is a promise of keeping his word to his late father who had instructed him that when he is in Dimapur, he should attend services at the Town Baptist Church.“Nagas are a blessed people”, said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his address. He said he was stating this not as a teacher or preacher of the word of God but from the strength of his experience as a leader working for the Naga public. In his travels across the state and meeting with the public in all circumstances Rio said he was convinced that the word of Life the Gospel has indeed brought deliverance for the Nagas. In particular he referred to the theme “From Darkness to Light” of the sesqui centennial celebrations of the arrival of the Gospel to Nagaland where in he added that this was certainly true. Rio said in the temporal world there are always many occasions when quarrels and fights take place between contending parties and personalities and in the political field even more so. But the grace of God he added does not condemn. In fact politicians, he added on alighter note are blessed more than others and in this he feels he is most blessed because he enjoys the prayers of many faithfuls praying for wisdom to guide their leaders.
Rio added that 2013, has been an extra ordinary year in the state. It began with the formation of a new government in February 2013, the Golden Jubilee of the state and 50 years of the birth of a regional party in the state. There are still he said many milestones to achieve for the Nagas and this is possible he added if we move ahead united and with understanding. He was convinced that the gospel simply did not come to the Nagas to keep here but there is a larger role the Nagas must play with the gospel that has taken them from ‘darkness to light.
There could have been some sitting in the benches that morning wondering what Rio was going to share, some even debating the wisdom of giving time to a politician to speak on one of the most significant mornings of the year. But perhaps that Christmas morning they learnt that as is the case so often in life , we learn most when we don’t judge others .
