A sacred recreational cabin belonging to the Sipongsang Baptist Church (SBC) Tuensang was completely destroyed in a massive fire on December 3 at around 7:30 pm in what church authorities have described as a “heinous act of vandalism” by unidentified miscreants.

According to SBC Tuensang, the blaze gutted the church-owned cabin—revered by the local community as a holy space—and also caused extensive damage to the adjoining tourist site, including the observatory. Church leaders said the site holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Chang community and has long served as a place of prayer and reflection.

The fire also destroyed the steel prayer cross, originally erected in memory of the CBYE Convention of 1971 and later rededicated by Rev Achu Chang, Executive Secretary of CBLT, on December 14, 2019. The cross, the church noted, was more than a structure: it symbolized devotion, identity and the enduring resilience of the Chang people.

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SBC Tuensang has appealed to authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice. “We seek justice not only for our community but also to ensure that such a sacrilegious and destructive act is never repeated against any church, community, or institution the future,” the church stated, adding that timely intervention would help restore assurance, foster healing, and guide them toward a brighter and more hopeful tomorrow.