This week’s Truth Keepers for Truth Seekers column is about the mindset one should have during festive season and events like visit of Billy Graham’s son Franklin Graham.
Over the next few months, what you will see going up here in our State will be the announcements and banners of many marriages but also most likely be numerous boards, stands billboards with the word “Revival”, “Arise”, “Crusade” and announcements of meetings, conferences and gatherings where they have the intention of bringing on revival and the like amongst the people that gather.
To put in a side note on the sanctity of marriage, personally, I am very thankful that in our State, many still get married in public (that is a matrimonial between a man and a woman, the original intention of marriage) and that under the blessing of a pastor, reverend, priest or the like, celebrating it with their friends and loved ones. Thereby officially stating who they belong to from then on. One man, one woman. Although it does seem that there is more and more competition of who has the nicest and best marriage. Although often a lot of money get spent on it- which saddens me- I agree to the principle of celebrating and publicly exchanging marriage vows. How that is done, is to everyone’s own conscience. Jesus Christ of Nazareth first miracle was the turning of 120 gallon of water into a delicious wine because they had run out of wine on that particular marriage that Jesus and his mom had been invited to. (This was a grape juice wine, not the modern poisonous alcoholic wine or liquor). Why was he doing such a seemingly worldly miracle?
Because he celebrated the sanctity of marriage although He Himself never got married (this too goes against popular beliefs that Jesus had a bloodline and thus must have been married. There is no proof of that one and definitely no scriptural one).
But besides marriage announcements, there will be gatherings of people, searching for truth, healing and freedom.
One is the upcoming visit of the son of Billy Graham -- Franklin Graham -- who will be coming late November to Kohima, as some of you might already be aware of. An article was written about his visit earlier on September 11, 2025
Who was Billy Graham?
William Franklin Graham Jr. (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist minister, and civil rights advocate, whose broadcasts and world tours featuring live sermons became well known in the mid-to-late 20th century. Throughout his career, spanning over six decades, Graham rose to prominence as an evangelical Christian figure in the United States and abroad.
Billy Graham visited Nagaland in November 1972 for the Kohima Crusade, which was attended by over 100,000 people and was a major event for spiritual growth and renewal in the state. The crusade took place during a period of political unrest and fighting between Naga groups and the Indian army. Many attendees fondly remember his visit as a time of hope and inspiration during conflict because it provided hope during a time of political instability and violence between Naga groups and the Indian army. It was also a time of spiritual renewal, meaning a significant moment for spiritual growth and awakening among Christians in Nagaland, with 5,000 people signing decision cards in response to his altar call. It definitely created a positive memory with many Nagas continuing to fondly remembering the crusade, and referring to Graham as the "great man of God".
Right after Franklin’s Graham’s visit, Ankit Sajwan from Delhi – with the fastest growing church -- will be the speaker in Dimapur stadium for three days from Dec. 2-4.
What should we expect of all these gatherings and is all this needed? What is true revival anyway? Is it created by God or man?
Let’s look at Biblical History which by the way is true history as many events in the Bible are confirmed and proven by scientists, Christian apologists and biblical archaeologist.
What is true revival according to Biblical history? What was God’s part and what was men’s part? What should be our response now in the upcoming events? What should not be our response is the victim-poor-me-attitude.
The comeback of many people here if I may say is: “What can I get out of this, her, him or even God? We say: “help! Whoever you are, I have the right to take my cut, my share, that job no matter how, my comfort drink, or shot or worse”. A typical poor me attitude.
I thank God for the people--especially the young people--who are saying like Charlie Kirk taught them: “No! not on my watch (meaning not in my time!). I am a victor of this negative situation and suffering. How am I going to handle it? I will NOT complain because this is a potential blessing! I am 100 % in control of the attitude to things that are out of my control”.
Secular society and modern society say that we are a victim of our circumstances. Not so. We get to choose how we handle our circumstances.
When someone else got the government job you wanted. Or you failed that one exam you had to pass. You have two choices, Number 1 – You are a victim, feel sorry for yourself. You now want special rights and privileges. Number 2 – “Wow this is making me tougher, I am going to grow closer to people I care about”.
Boom, mindset shift. Is our society going the Western way? ‘Are you just a creation of stuff? Or will we speak truth? We truly are a creation of who we choose to be. We definitely are a creation of the mindset we bring to the game.
So here in our state, what mindset will we bring to any of those conferences and gatherings in the coming months?
1. We should recognise the state of sin we are in and call it what it is.
2. It should bring us to our knees in repentance.
3. People will be brought into our life that will speak truth – messengers. We ought to recognise them and allow them to speak truth and let it change our direction of me towards helping others who need us.
4. God confirms his Word with signs wonders, miracles. Many Healings will be taking place. We will see the power of the Holy Spirit at work.
5. People’s response will and should be that they are baptised in the power of the Holy Spirit after they recognise the state they are in, coming to that state of repentance, and turning away from their life of sin, whether big or small.
6. People will be added to the Lord. Meaning they are added to the Christian community as a whole (not necessarily a particular church although all churches should be growing after this).
7. Teams should be ready to help people grow into what God has created them for and full fill their God given destiny on this earth according to Psalm 139:16 in the Word of God.
So, when you go into the festive season in the next few months, choose your attitude now. Take your position now! We need bold brave men and women speaking for truth, light and the true love of God!
You can be one of them. And be remembered for what you stood for. Either Godly eternal truth and light. Or Ungodly fleeting dishonesty and darkness. The choice shouldn’t be too hard. God told his people through his prophet and servant Moses: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live". This was after He had given a list of the blessings they could have or the curses. It was their choice. Not God’s. Dependent on their obedience to God’s simple commandments.
The choice between life, death, blessing or curse is still ours.
Join the right side.
And be on the blessed side.
Blessings
Akhrienuo