To break Indo-Naga deadlock, Nagaland seeks divine intervention

Our Correspondent Kohima, Oct. 24 (EMN):  As the fate of the Indo-Naga talks remains uncertain, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has called upon churches in Nagaland to pray for the current political situation. The NBCC, had on October 23, wrote to all the executive secretaries, executive directors, Baptist associations under NBCC to direct their constituent churches to organise prayers starting from October 24. “The Naga unity is at crucial testing period once again and challenging times are ahead of us. The urgency and intricacy of the current political situation calls for prayer, fasting, humility, and repentance. We call upon believers to remain steadfast in their faith und engage with the deepening challenges,” the letter stated. “We must promote dialogue amongst us that builds unity and pray that our political leaders make decisions not for their self-interest but for what is right for our people and before God,” it added. The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) has also urged churches of all denominations to pray for the leaders to come together to a mutual understanding and peaceful solution. “The NBCC has also issued a call to prayer to all the 1661 churches of the Baptist churches to organise prayer sessions in the local churches from October 24 till November 2, the day of prayer and fasting called by NJCF”, Zelhou Keyho, NBCC Secretary told Eastern Mirror on Thursday. “The NBCC called upon prayer because this is the time where we must make prayer our best weapon and intercede for our leaders and the situation. God may seem to be silent and we tend to become restless. Even in the worst situation, God can make things change. We must seek His will and purpose through true repentance and sincerity.  At this testing time of our history, we must not give up on God. Our help and deliverance will surely come from God. As much as we pray for our leaders let us also seek God in all humility,” Keyho said. On the gravity of speculations and rumours doing the rounds on social media platforms, he added, “We need healing of minds, healing of our nation at this time. We cannot allow our insecurity and fear of situation take away our confidence in God's power.” The associations, at their own levels, have started praying in the churches, which will culminate on November 2. Few of the church councils, including the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council, have already sent out messages and letters to its churches. On Monday, October 21, members of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) had conducted a prayer meeting with the NSCN (IM) group’s leaders in Dimapur. A day later, the NSCN (IM) thanked churches for upholding them in prayer.