Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 24 (EMN): The apex body of all Baptist churches in Nagaland, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), is set to organise a two-day bike rally on May 31 and June marking 150 years of Christianity in Nagaland.
The rally is being held to herald 150 years of Christianity along with the message of clean election movement (CEM) spearheaded by NBCC to the people, organisers said addressing a press conference at NBCC complex in Kohima on Tuesday.
General Secretary of NBCC and President of Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho said that Christianity is ‘something that does not belong to us’.
“Back then, the American missionaries’ original intent was to proclaim the gospel to the Shan ethnic groups in Burma and part of China. But when navigation could not take them through, they stopped in Assam and from there; the missionaries brought Christianity to the Naga Hills. Nagas of Nagaland then inherited Christianity from American missionaries.
“The history of Christianity in the state belongs to the Ao community with the first converts from the region. He said that the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang had already begun the 150 years celebration of Christianity since the beginning of the year,” he said.
“The 150 years is to celebrate God's faithfulness, His amazing grace and the fact that Nagas of Nagaland inherited Christianity from the missionaries under the theme ‘History’ as it is not our story but a history. The celebration will begin on November 17, 2922. Invitation has been extended to delegates from overseas, in the country and state,” he informed.
‘There are 1708 churches under NBCC. The bike rally heralding that 150-year celebration is around and to let people know that we are ready,’ he added.
Speaking on Clean elections, he said that the movement is for everyone.
“We are aware that things are not right with the electioneering process but we are weak and could not take a terminative decision”, he said.
As for the success rate of CEM, he said that the church body may not have seen significant progress but is slowly getting its ground.
‘Every time, we are able to gain a certain amount of success. Beneath the movement, there are success stories and these have become our foundation. It may be slow but certainly, it is making impact’, Keyho added.
Convener of the Clean Election Movement, NBCC and Academic dean of Shalom Bible Seminary, Dr. Villo Naleo said that youth is ‘very much’ a part of the movement and through the bike rally; they are on a lookout to take the message of clean election to the people.
“The clean election originally started in 1973 but was kicked off with vibrancy in 2003, 2008 and 2013. The strategies of CEM included – capacitating, networking, mobilising—where the bike rally comes in by way of involving youth to be a part of it, educating and reflecting—where one is mindful and reflecting back on our words,” he said.
He added that clean election is not against any political parties but a social responsibility that the church has taken up. He said that they are not bogged down by the failures of the movement as even 1% success is success.
NBCC youth secretary and convener of the bike rally, N Suhuto Chishi, informed that 150 bikers have been arranged for the rally to signify the 150 years of Christianity. The flag-off will be held at Thahekhu village, Dimapur by the general secretary of NBCC.
The places to pass through are Medziphema-Kohima-Tseminyu-Wokha-Mokokchung-Akuluto town-Zunheboto-Satakha-Chozuba-Kohima. The bikers will halt the night at Impur and culminate at NBCC complex Kohima. The bikers will be accompanied by a medical and squad team. All the 20 full-fledged members of NBCC along with two associate members and two individual members will join the rally, he added.
He assured that traffic will not be affected due to the rally and added that they have written to the traffic police with regard to the rally.