The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has called upon the Church to pray for the upcoming state Assembly election and the persecuted Christians in India on February 19.
Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, General Secretary of NBCC, in an update, asked the members to organise prayer walk in the neighborhood and strategic locations from 6 am to 7 am on Sunday, adding that local churches can incorporate other creative prayer activities throughout the day, including worship services.
In regard to the upcoming state Assembly election, the NBCC requested to pray for its members so that they will judiciously exercise their voting right for the good of the state by choosing leaders who would listen to the people; for peaceful polling; for voters so that they will cast their vote without influence or intimidation; for 183 candidates so that they will remain humble and do things that will honour God; and for discernment and wisdom for voters.
“As Nagaland prepares to go to the poll on February 27, we must remind ourselves that we need to keep our commitment to honour God. We must remember that we are responsible and have the power in our hand to change the course of our future. We must cast our vote to elect God-fearing leaders, leaders who will honourably lead us for the next five years to come,” stated NBCC, which initiated the Clean Election Movement (CEM).
Reminding that the election, which comes once in five years, is an opportunity to speak out one’s mind through vote and a privilege to build a better future, it asked the members not to surrender their rights as responsible voters.
“Do not be deceived by election promises doing the round. You know what is right in the sight of God,” it stated while expressing the need to ask God for wisdom, alleging that ‘there are forces out there demeaning our faith and trying to impose their religion on us in the name of politics’.
“We should not allow the Clean Election Movement to go unrewarded and disappears in thin air because of our greed and short term gratification. Remember, clean and fair election is for everyone. The church takes this challenge seriously as the church spiritual responsibility to fight against a system which has gone weary over the years. One person one vote, no proxy voting and no buying and selling of vote. Vote wisely, fearfully and yes, boldly as a Christian this coming election,” it stated.
“Let this election moment be a defining moment for the Nagas. Vote for your future and vote to honour God. Clean election is possible and it is just one resolute decision away,” it added.
The NBCC also asked it members to pray for persecuted church/Christians in India; for the communal forces so that they will be brought to justice; for Christians to stand firm in their faith; for those who are falsely accused and are in prison without trial; for pastors facing pressure because of their ministry work; for boldness and God’s protection for believers; and for people in authority so that they will rule the country justly and sternly deal with those sowing the seed of hatred.
It stated that minority religious groups are suffering everyday, with churches and Christian institutions being destroyed as communal forces are becoming very forceful.
“Christians do not need any special treatment, we only need equal protection and equal freedom. We only need to be respected and our rights be honoured. This we ask of the country because we believe in secular India where everyone is free to profess and practice his/her faith without fear,” it said.
The NBCC also laments the authority remaining mute spectators while people openly proclaim hatred against religious minority groups, thus creating a deep sense of insecurity in the mind of the minorities.
“Religious platform are openly used to advocate hatred for the minorities and yet, the authority are blind and deaf to those utterances. In a pro-development regime there is an anti-minority regime working hard behind the curtain and the shadow of it is becoming clear and clearer with every move. The face of India is changing by the day, the communal forces are emboldened because of the silence of the people in power. We must pray for India. We must be the voice for the voiceless. We need to stand for the minorities who are oppressed and are made to suffer everyday,” stated the NBCC.