Curtain falls on ABAM 150 years celebration of Christianity in Naga Hills

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Nov. 3 (EMN): Rev. Prof. Dr. Mar Pongener, Executive Secretary ABAM, on Thursday said lack of prayers and word of god among the Ao people have compromised their faith, and therefore urged the congregation to mediate day and night on the law of the lord to strengthen one’s faith.

Pongener was the main speaker on the last day of ABAM’s 150 years celebration of Christianity in Naga Hills (Sesquicentennial) at Impur on Thursday evening.

Dwelling on the topic “Stand firm in faith”, the speaker said the churches in Ao areas and ABAM were a creation of God for his glory, and would always face earth-shaking storms by different powers of the world even to the extent of collapsing ABAM and churches as well.

To face such challenges, he told the congregation that there is a teacher who would protect them and align their eyes to the glory of our God.

“He tells us not to be afraid,” he assured the congregation.

Pongener also asked the congregation whether they were willing to enter the 151st year with the same or renewed faith.

In this regard, he said that they should enter it with a renewed faith that is recognised by work, and by feeding the word of God to the people around them.

Stating that Noah, Abraham and Moses followed God’s direction without questions, having complete faith in Him, he said faith is complete trust, a strong belief with deep spiritual conviction no matter what comes in one’s way.

He, therefore, said as inheritors of faith from the forefathers, ‘let us not desire wealth, power and trust philosophers but like Noah, Abraham and Moses’ faith on God’s commitment, face all the challenges that come on our way boldly knowing that there is God’.

Meanwhile, Rev. Sentisashi Aier, President, ABAM, also called upon the congregation to pray and ask for forgiveness and seek God’s providence upon the Naga people. Aier lamented that in the past 150 years of Christianity, Ao people have become nominal Christians and therefore there is an urgent need for “re-evangelisation” among the believers to correct this weakness. This process of “re-evangelisation”, Aier noted, should begin from each and every family and by “focusing on our children.”

Earlier, Cathy Longkumer, Global Mission International Miniseries and Imliwapang the first missionary to China under ABAM International Ministry spoke at the event.

Cathy Longkumer exhorted the congregation, not to dwell in the past laurels but to press on, in the calling and to seek God and stand firm on the foundation laid by our fathers and forefathers.

Imliwapang, acknowledged the prayers and contributions of the believers, and asked them to continue upholding the believers in China and their mission in that land, which now has more than 1 lakh believers.