Easter Sunrise service held at NSF Solidarity Park in Kohima

KOHIMA — The Kohima Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship (KBPF) organised the annual Resurrection Sunrise service at the Naga Students’ Federation Solidarity Park, which was attended by hundreds of residents from the capital city.

The Easter Sunrise service is usually held at the Second World War Cemetery, Kohima, but this year the permission to conduct the service there was said to be denied to the KBPF, according to sources. 

At the NSF Solidarity Park where the service was held for the first time, young and old from across the city turn up to participate in the sunrise service, which began at 5 am.

“The proof of the resurrection is us, you and me. Resurrection has given us a testimony of a reason to go out and serve. Let us go out and serve the Word,” General Secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho said in his resurrection greetings.

He lamented that believers today have taken Christianity and faith for granted. “We are influenced so much by what is going on out there that we do not know how to filter what is right and what is wrong,” Keyho said.

The source of information comes from social media; for some, it has become their primary source while the Bible has become their secondary source, he said.

What goes around in social media seems to be more appealing than what is said in the Bible, the NBCC leader added and called upon the gathering to go out and serve the Lord.

Pastor, Khedi Baptist Church, Ruokuovilie Sachu who shared the Resurrection message, said the resurrection of Christ is a defining factor for a Christian life today.

“Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we are also going to be raised at the end of the day when Jesus comes,” he said.

Sachu also said that as Christians, believing in Jesus is not magical nor is it fake; instead, one needs to be bold, and firm, and rejoice in the faith.

“We have enjoyed the legacy of forefathers who believed in Jesus. We have experienced and witnessed the transformation of the Truth. We are the witnesses of the blessings of God and the witnesses of the gospel’s power,” he said. 

But today, Christians seemed to have developed an indifferent attitude towards Jesus and are moving away from him. What has happened to the believers today? Have Christianity failed us, he posed to the believers and added the resurrection of Jesus stands true even today.

Since the beginning Jesus is the centre stage of humankind and still today, he is the centre stage. It is the Bible that has changed society and the gospel has changed lives. The power of Resurrection has not only given hope of eternity but also reshaped the day to day lives. Living to know more about Christ should be the appetite of Christians today, Sachu asserted.

“Our human values and dignities come from the cross and the resurrection. Fundamental rights, the Constitution of India or human rights will not bring nor enhance our human values and dignity. It is from Christianity, it is Jesus from whom we get our human dignity and values. It is the bible that gives us the true meaning,” Sachu added.

He further said that it is Christianity and the Bible that have transformed one’s lives and moving away from the biblical perspective means moving backwards.

The pastor called upon the congregation to make a decision to come back to the risen Saviour. It is high time to call upon His name, to repent, to stand firm and strong because the Saviour has risen from the dead, he concluded. 

Highlights of the service included songs presented by choirs from the Chakhesang Baptist Church Ministers’ Hill and Konyak Baptist Church; Bible reading (Old Testament) by Anung Chang, pastor of Chang Baptist Church and (New Testament) by Bendangtemsu, pastor of New Capital Baptist Church.

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