CNC Golden Jubilee message from Rev. Puni Mao, Member of Collective Leadership, NSCN

At the utmost I would like to praise the Almighty, esteemed leaders, the invitees, fellow Nagas my brothers and sisters and beloved members of the Council of Nagaland Churches (CNC), I stand before you today, deeply humbled and honoured, as we celebrate 50 years of CNC’s Jubilee — a journey of faith, sacrifice, and spiritual awakening.

My journey with the National movement began in 1974, a time of deep pain for our people. The brutality of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) had wreaked havoc on our land —our men were killed, and our women were violated, even within the sacred walls of our churches. This overwhelming suffering led me to join the Naga national movement, driven by the political conviction that our people’s struggle for freedom must be grounded in justice and faith.

When I joined the NNC, I met many courageous and brave soldiers in our hideout camps, but spiritually, many of them were lost. There was no one to guide them, to save their souls from the bondage of sins that warfare inevitably brings. They were confused and started to question- if we were to give our lives for our motherland, but our hearts remained untransformed, what was the point of all the sacrifice? This question burdened our soldiers and leaders alike.

In response to this spiritual vacuum, the NNC federal government reached out to the Nagaland Baptist Convention Church (NBCC), asking for spiritual guidance. We pleaded for pastors and spiritual leaders to come and preach to our national workers, to help them find salvation and strengthen in Christ. But many were afraid — afraid of the Indian army’s retribution for associating with the national workers, labelled as terrorists. We were even rejected to be affiliated as a part of NBCC saying you are underground, law breaker, sinners and killers, and that they could not be part of our mission.

And yet, amidst our isolation, there was a deep yearning among our soldiers to know God, to understand His purpose for our lives. In that desperation, our elders, our leaders, and our nation’s workers came together to form the Council of Nagaland Churches (CNC). It was born out of the recognition that without spiritual guidance, our struggle would be incomplete.

When the Shillong Accord was signed, and many of our people were scattered, I was given the responsibility to lead CNC. At the time, I was just a mere preacher, volunteering to share God’s word. But as the weight of our nation’s struggle grew, so did my calling. And with that, CNC began to take shape, with the theme “Faith in Christ.” For we know, as it is written in John 14:6, Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.

Over the years, CNC has grown, and many theologians have joined us, helping to strengthen our mission. But we must always remember our basic teaching  — salvation does not come from good works or self-righteousness alone. Many of our leaders, commanders, and workers have proclaimed Christianity, but their actions did not reflect the life of Christ. Through CNC, many have come to understand the true grace of God and the path to salvation and hope of joy in their lives.

For me, CNC was like my own, growing under my care. But in order to lead it, I had to examine my own life, correct my own ways and change my attitude to seek God’s guide. One thing I have always believed in is: “Practice what you preach.” CNC’s mission has always been to live by example ourself first. If we are to share the gospel with others, we must first live it ourselves.

Today, as we celebrate 50 years, we witness the fruits of that faith. CNC has brought thousands to Christ, established many churches, healed the sick, and restored the broken. We have seen miracles — the paralysed walk, the mad regain their sanity — and it is all by the grace of God.

I remember vividly, when I was in China, a place where the Church was suppressed. We were given a Cinema Hall for our devotion. I fought tirelessly with the Chinese authorities to allow me to build a church in a communist country for our nation which will be considered a historic establishment. Eventually even the Chinese authorities saw the power of faith when we worshiped and promised us to build a church at the right place and right time.

Through all the challenges — whether it was attacks from the Burma army in our camps at that time, the spiritual doubts of our people in times of war — we remained grounded in our faith. In Bangladesh, when our soldiers were without food, without weapons, they feared they would perish without salvation. Yet, CNC stood firm in teaching them to trust and have faith in God, to seek salvation even in the face of death. And once again, we saw God’s hand in bringing them back to Him.

Today, as we stand at this historic 50-year mark, we owe it to those who have dedicated their lives to this cause. Let us never forget the foundation upon which CNC was built: to restore faith in God and to lead our people to be born-again.

As we look to the future, I call on all of us to return to the basic principles of faith in Christ. Let us recommit ourselves to living lives that reflect Jesus in all we do. Let others see Jesus in you—not just in our words, but in our actions.

To the world, I say this: If we wish to speak of God, we must first live His word. Let us pray for CNC to remain strong, so that it may continue to guide the lost souls. And may we all, as members of this great mission, live as true examples of Christ’s love and grace.

Thank you, and may God bless CNC for another 50 years and beyond.

On this momentous occasion, let us also draw inspiration from the Bible, where kings would forgive their subjects’ mistakes and release them from captivity during times of great joy. In that same spirit, I make a personal request to all our leaders: let us use this occasion to extend forgiveness to our subordinates for their past mistakes and grant them a chance to start anew. Let us embrace this moment of grace and renewal, as we continue our journey forward in faith and unity.