Molungkimong Baptist Church began its sesquicentenary celebrations on Wednesday evening at Molungkimong village, Mokokchung district.
The two-day celebrations mark the establishment of the oldest church in Nagaland, which according to a report sent by the church, took place on 22 December 1972 “when 15 converts from Molungkimong were baptized by American missionary Edward Winter Clark in a humble pond located in the village.”
Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho, general secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), delivered the sermon at the inaugural service.
Beginning by delivering greetings on behalf of the 1,708 churches under the NBCC, he stated: “I came to take your blessings and take it to the people.”
In his sermon, Rev Keyho spoke on the theme ‘The Hand of the Lord is Mighty’ and said the seed of Christianity was sown in Molungkimong when the villagers made the courageous decision to protect the missionaries in spite of the prevailing headhunting practices.
Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho. (Credit: Caisii Mao)
He spoke on the responsibilities and duties of a 150-year-old church and encouraged Naga Christians to stand up, walk and run, having emerged from darkness to light, and to learn to share the great light that has dawned upon them.
He also cautioned against the propensity to worship history and timelines, exhorting the congregation to return the focus of the sesquicentenary celebrations to worshipping what God has done.
Rev Keyho provided 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 recentering 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 everyday life.
The service was chaired by Immoaba, associate pastor, Changtongya. It began with an opening ceremony by Molungkimong Senso Union, Tuli. The invocation prayer was pronounced by S Lanu, pastor of Purana Bazar ‘B’ Ao Baptist Church, Dimapur, while the welcome address was delivered by N Nungsang, Tatar of Molungkimong Village Council.
Opening Ceremony at the inaugural service of the sesquicentenary celebrations of Molungkimong Baptist Church. (Credit: Caisii Mao)
Greetings on behalf of their churches were delivered by the following: Rev M Laka Tzüdir, pastor of Chungtia Baptist Church; Imliyanger, pastor of Yajang ‘A’ Baptist Church; Kepelhoutuo Chüsi, chairman of the Church Board, Mezoma Baptist Church; Biren Gowalla, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Sivasagar, Assam.
During the opening ceremony, original songs composed in Chungli Ao especially for the occasion were performed by the Sesquicentenary Choir, Merenkala B Tzüdir and the Molungkimong Senso Union Tuli.
The service also paid tribute to the contributions of pioneers who had brought the Gospel to Molungkimong like Godhula Brown, Lucy, Edward Winter Clark, Mary Mead, Süpongmeren Tzüdir and the 60 warriors who made the brave decision to escort Clark from Sibsagar in 1872.
The sesquicentenary celebrations will continue on 22 December with a morning and evening session. Rev Prof Dr Mar Pongener delivered the sermon at the main session on Thursday morning.
