Mokokchung Town Ao Baptist Churches Mission (MTABCM), comprising 10 Ao Baptist churches in Mokokchung Town, has announced the observance of a “Day of Repentance” for the entire Ao community, scheduled to be held on January 30 and 31, 2026.
The observance would begin on January 30 with an evening service at Mokokchung Town Baptist Church (MTBA) starting at 5 p.m. This would be followed by a community-wide prayer and fasting programme on January 31 from 6 a.m. to 12 noon at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex. Every Ao citizen has been requested to attend the programme.
“For those unable to participate physically due to circumstances, the programme will be live-streamed on the MTBA Mokokchung YouTube channel on both days, during which prayer points will also be shared,” said the organisers.
The prayer and fasting programme on January 31 would be led by 12 pastors, with each speaker allotted 30 minutes, focusing on repentance at the individual, family, community, and ancestral levels. The prayer fasting venue at Imkongmeren Sports Complex will cover an area of 300 by 300, and the organisers are expecting a gathering of 7,000 to 8,000 participants. Seating arrangements are currently under preparation, and the organisers stated that more participants are welcome.
The initiative, according to MTABCM representatives, is aimed at collective and individual repentance, seeking forgiveness for sins committed personally, communally, and historically by the Ao people. They clarified that the programme is not bound by denominational distinctions and is open to all, irrespective of church affiliation, social status, or background. Addressing the press, they stated that there is no distinction of denominations, between rich or poor, nor any exclusion of individuals, and extended the invitation to all Ao people.
In this regard, MTABCM has also reached out to the Nagaland Christian Revival Church (NCRC) and Pentecostal churches of the Mokokchung Region, both of which have agreed to participate and are currently involved in preparations.
The decision to observe the Day of Repentance was taken following a series of discussions among Ao Pastors under MTABCM, which began during meetings held between July and August 2025 at Yimyu Baptist Church. The Pastors described the initiative as being born out of a shared spiritual conviction and a collective urge to pause, reflect, and seek reconciliation with God as believers. After consultations with pastors and churches, the proposal was unanimously accepted and agreed upon voluntarily.
Formal invitations have been sent to various civil and community organizations, including Ao Senden, Watsü Mungdang, Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), Aor Lanur Telongjem (ALT), Ao Officers’ Union, all ten Ao legislators, the Member of Parliament, and the wider Ao community. According to MTABCM, the invitations were received with appreciation.
MTABCM further informed that outreach has also been made to Ao individuals serving as national workers, including underground groups, inviting them to participate. The Mission expressed hope that the observance would provide an opportunity for reflection and offer a renewed direction for the Ao community.
For participants travelling from distant locations to attend the January 30 evening service, MTBA would provide lunch between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Accommodation arrangements would be made through the guest houses of the 10 churches, and coordination has also been done with Clark Theological College (CTC), though organisers stated that accommodation may be limited.
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Rev Dr Bendang Longkumer, Pastor of Artang Baptist Church, informed that a Chain of Prayer has been ongoing since January 4, involving all ten MTABCM churches along with NCRC and Pentecostal churches, and will conclude on January 29, leading into the Day of Repentance programmes. He added that awareness and sensitization programmes have been carried out in several wards and towns, including Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Medziphema, as well as across Ao-inhabited regions.
Pastor Puryapang of Yimyu Baptist Church acknowledged the support received from various individuals and groups, stating that the organising team has travelled extensively to reach out to the Ao community.
The organisers stated that this will be the first time such a collective repentance programme is being observed by the Ao community.
MTABCM, established 25 years ago, would mark its silver jubilee on March 17, 2026. The Mission stated that, setting aside other initiatives they oversee, the Day of Repentance was prioritised as a necessary and timely programme. MTABCM has been involved in various mission activities, including supporting the ABAM mission in supporting seven Christian schools in Arunachal Pradesh, where MTABCM has provided infrastructure and teachers for seven years. The Mission has also supported various ABAM missions and is currently providing salaries to three teachers at a Christian school in Nsong Village, Peren district. Additionally, MTABCM has been supporting the education of children of pastors earning below ₹10,000 per month earlier, which later has been extended to those earning below ₹20,000, subject to application.
MTABCM representatives explained that the Day of Repentance is rooted entirely in sincere self-examination and spiritual reflection within the Ao community. They emphasized that the initiative does not in any manner demean, criticise, or make comparisons with any other community, nor is it intended to involve or address anyone beyond the Ao people themselves.
According to the organizers, the observance is a voluntary response by the Ao community to reflect on its own spiritual journey, acknowledge shortcomings, and seek repentance and renewal before God. In this spirit, MTABCM has extended an open invitation to all Ao citizens, urging them to come together and be part of the Day of Repentance as a collective expression of humility, unity, and spiritual renewal.
