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Dimapur, Dec. 22 (EMN): Molungkimong Baptist Church (MBC) in Mokokchung district commenced its sesquicentenary celebrations on the December 21.
A two-day celebrations was organise to commemorate the establishment of the oldest church in Naga soil on December 22, 1872, when 15 converts from Molungkimong were baptised by American missionary Edward Winter Clark in a humble pond located in the village, an update stated.
Bringing greetings on behalf of 1708 churches under Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, NBCC general secretary said, “I came to take your blessings and take it to the people.”
Speaking on the theme ‘The hand of the Lord is mighty,’ Rev. Keyho, stated that the seed of Christianity was sown in Molungkimong when the villagers made the courageous decision to protect the missionaries in spite of prevailing headhunting practices.
He raised questions regarding the responsibilities and duties of a 150-year-old church and encouraged that Naga Christians must stand up, walk and run since “we have already emerged from darkness to light, and learn to share the great light that has dawned upon us.”
Keyho also cautioned against the propensity to worship history and timelines, and exhorted the congregation to return the focus of the sesquicentenary to worshipping what God has done.
Further, Keyho threw three critical challenges for Naga Christians to reflect upon.
Firstly, he underscored the necessity of reconciliation in the context of contemporary Naga society that is divided and fractured by divisive politics.
Secondly, he emphasised on recentreing attention on sharing the Gospel instead of focusing too much on celebrations and erecting monuments.
Lastly, he exhorted the congregation to practice the culture of the Gospel beyond the church and integrate it in our everyday life.
Chaired by Immoaba, associate pastor of Changtonya, the service began with an opening ceremony by Molungkimong Senso Union, Tuli.
S Lanu, pastor of Purana Bazaar ‘B’ Ao Baptist Church, Dimapur, pronounced invocation, while N Nungsang, ‘Tatar’ of Molungkimong Village Council, delivered the welcome address.
Rev. M Laka Tzüdir, pastor of Chungtia Baptist Church; Imliyanger, pastor of Yajang ‘A’ Baptist Church; Kepelhoutuo Chüsi, chairman of Church Board, Mezoma Baptist Church; and Biren Gowalla, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Sivasagar, Assam; shared greetings on behalf of their churches.
Original songs composed in Chungli Ao, especially for the occasion, were performed by the Sesquicentenary choir, Merenkala B Tzüdir as well as the Molungkimong Senso Union, Tuli, during the opening ceremony.
The service also paid tribute to the contributions of pioneers who brought the Gospel to Molungkimong like Godhula Brown, Lucy, Edward Winter Clark, Mary Mead, SüpongmerenTzüdir and the 60 warriors who made the brave decision to escort Clark from Sibsagar in 1872.
The sesquicentenary celebration would continue on December 22 with a morning and an evening session. Rev. Prof. Dr. Mar Pongener would deliver the sermon at the main session on Thursday morning.