After he assumed office as the president, the situation among the Naga communities spiraled out of hand so rapidly that the region and the people could be seen making a nosedive towards their own doom. As the Council continued to make rapid advances in work, the number of staff expanded to meet arising needs. The need of a central headquarter for the Council was strongly felt and at last it was decided that the headquarters of the Council would be established at Kohima (AEC-71/102). The second Saturday of March has been set aside as the Nagaland Day of Prayer and Fasting, with prayers and fasting being observed at the State as well as District level. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav lauded Christian missionaries saying, "It was due to the sacrifices of the missionaries that the people of this . The Kenneth Complex (guest house cum conference rooms) project which began in 2002 was completed in 2009. More so, Naga Hills was beyond the control of the British flag, but on December 22, 1872, the fifteen converts were baptized by Clark. Godhula accompanied by nine natives, his first fruits of labour, On the positive side, the missionaries brought education, introduced the Roman script, and to some extent, helped in the integration of different Naga tribes through . These Missionaries were farsighted and as they laboured to spread the Gospel amongst the various Naga tribes, they also began to build leadership among the local people to whom they could impart responsibility at the event of their leaving Nagaland to continue . It was not until April of 1951 that the first Roman Catholic Church was es-tablished among the Lotha-Naga tribe, and Catholics now number around three percent of Naga Christians. Kuki Baptist Association 8. Phizo escaped from the region through East Pakistan and went into exile to London. hall for prayer. Village Council sent sixty warriors to escort Clark. The First Missionaries (Acts 13:1-13) Related Media. And the religious pitch is getting shrill every passing day. with them saying that he is a servant of the Master and in His name and Who was the first christian missionary of nagaland Get the answers you need, now! Since the first contacts with the strange, This In a short while, with the seeds of began to soften their hard hearts and they called this rude hut the sweet by Clark at the same Dikhuriver in the same way while they received baptism. The Chief Minister escaped without any bodily harm but his daughter was seriously injured. at the Mission Chapel as the new converts accepted the ordinances in broken Suffering threats on his life the Arthington missionaries in 1897. persons to dig and enlarge the smaller pond beside the drinking pond. J .E. Longri Ao and the sponsorship of the State Government, resulted in an agreement for Cessation of Fire signed by the Governor Vishnu Sahay, on behalf of the Government of India and the Peace Mission, and Zashei Huire, Biseto Medom and L. Zhenito signed on behalf of the NNC underground government. Later it was also proposed to take over the Christian English School at Dimapur from a private management and from 1974 it came under the management of the Council (ANBC -74/296). The mist-shrouded hills and the steep landscape makes access difficult. of Christianity unfolded in our land. Rikum was commissioned by the Ao Mungdang as a MIssionary Evangelist for Nagaland, and this designation and his ministry were welcomed and approved by the Council. (To-day, hear His voice). Rev. and to all labourers in Gods vineyard. We give below the details of the stay of the American Baptist Missionaries in the Naga Hills, the places in which they established mission stations, and the respective dates of arrival, furlough and departure. The first was related to a change of nomenclature to reflect the broadened vision of the Mission. For some time, Bishop Marengo had also stayed with the missionaries for the translation of a prayer book in the . The ENPO is the umbrella body of seven tribes of eastern Nagaland: Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Santam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung. On 23 January 1993, the Isaac-Muivah group of the NSCN (NSCN(IM)) was admitted to the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). Zhabu Terhuja. Later on, both the State Government and the Church were to recognize him as a Man of Peace. His time was eventful and it was full of new ventures. In 2002, the Touch Kohima movement was borne out of a strong felt need to impact Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland with the Word of Christ. [8], On 14 August 1947, the day before India gained independence from British rule, the Nagas were the first ethnic group from the northeast to declare their territory an independent state, not belonging to the new nation. Molungkimong village with Supongmeren and some other Molungkimong natives in The Council has not stayed away from addressing social and political problems faced by the people and has made significant contributions to the people. This changed in the 19th century, when the Burmese Empire launched several invasions of Assam between 1817 and 1826, which led the Nagas to briefly fall under Burmese rule. The Peace Mission, supported by church leaders, headed by Rev. or curse upon their clan of those who decided to accept the new religion and on It was during this time that Supongmeren Though they were seasoned Missionaries working in the Ao area, their interest was not confined down to the work in that one region. Resolutions and Pledges were passed from one District to another as the public responded to the call for peace. The state recorded 76.57 percent of polling. 2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set . At this centre, various programmes and activities including fisheries and plantations are being taken up. The Council is a product of Gods blessing and the contribution of the many great Naga men and women of God who had a vision to serve God, to share His Word and to bring Gods people together for His purpose. NBCC being committed to genuine reconciliation and peace, held a series of consultations. to baptise. Explore the roots of Christian missionary activity, then examine its impact in Asia and the Americas. He continued to report that there was no visible progress to speak of. Phizo rose to power in Nagaland after he was made the president of Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946. For the first time in Nagaland religion has emerged as major poll plank for the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections. The organisation seeing the need and importance of education, set up a Board of Christian Education to supervise the Baptist English schools in Nagaland. Rajesh Singh The name Naga is generic term that refers to a group of over thirty tribes inhabiting not only in Nagaland but also some hilly region of the states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. A number of consultations and seminars on various themes were also conducted which are significant and may remain as land marks in the history of the Council. Twitter. On 8 August 1972, the Chief Minister Hokishe Sema was ambushed by suspected Naga members near Kohima. The Nagas live primarily in Nagaland, a northeastern state of the nation of India. The Women Department organized Statewide peace processions on the 29th of February 1996, which received a massive response. [1][2], During the 1830's, the British dispatched several expeditionary forces to Assam in order to solidify their control over the region; in 1845, British officials signed a non-aggression pact with several Naga chiefs to bring an end to Naga raids on British-controlled territory in Assam. following his appointment as missionary to India, left Boston in October 20, Whiting in 1851 and became a member of the Sibsagar Baptist Church. true friend and a messenger of the Gospel, and he was bestowed every favor and From the Ao Field, the light of the Good News spread to Naga communities like Sangtams in 1918, Phoms in 1929, Konyaks in 1932, Changs in 1936 and the Yimchungrus and Khiamungans during the 1950s. uncivilized Nagas from the hills, dubbed by the Assamese as head-cutters, Following Sabbath, on November 10, 1872, they were baptized by Clark. Amazingly, in 1997 only 86 years later, the number of baptized believers had increased to 767,784. Likewise on a smaller scale the Rengmas also began to yield to Christ. 17K. strength he can go with them. He served the Council from 1962 to December 1966. In 2006, the NBCC published a booklet stating its position toward HIV/AIDS and the Council has since been actively involved in addressing the issue. Under the leadership of Rev. W. Pongsing Konyak who had been appointed as.the first Director of the Nagaland Development Outreach, the newly commissioned development wing of the NBCC. They were overjoyed to learn of a great spiritual awakening among the Angami, Smi, Lotha, and other Naga groups. Tanquist, The Gospel Among the Nagas, as reported in 1936). Heres a look at how history days trip, they slept the first night in the tea garden Manager Col. Reverend C-D King and Rev. Disputes arose over the interpretation of the agreement, and many in the NNC opposed it. I. Ayutemjen of Ao Mungdang at Impur was appointed as the first Promotional Secretary. Nagaland is one of the few states in India where Christianity is the dominant religion. Tanquist also visited the Chakhesangs with the Good News in the early thirties. Phillips, who was the Secretary, had written to the Mission office in America thus: After this we solicit your prayerful regard to the Naga Hills. The Councils Constitution which has been in use for many years was revised, to make it more relevant to the needs of the day, and an amendment was adopted in 2005. Sports has also been identified as an instrument of bringing the youth together and instilling in them discipline and leadership qualities while using sporting events to promote evangelism and discipleship. They arrived in Sibsagar in March 1869 and relieved William Ward who had long need of furlough."1 Then, a We see the same event in Some believe that the word Naga has evolved from the Sanskrit word Nagna which . Jesus and heaven were names now heard for the first time. At the A mass baptism took place on the Easter of 2004 at Khuochiezie where different congregations brought their baptismal candidates. end of three days they were convinced that he was not a government spy but a The Namsang Naga Mission was abandoned for about thirty years, from 1840 to 1870, until Rev. This series which is used in lieu of Moral Science has already been revised. These Chaplains are now known as Pastors and several of these Naga Christian Fellowships are self supporting Churches. On 5 th January, 1970, Ellis Murry was appointed as the first full-time Mission Secretary of the NBCC Home Mission. Clark recounts the event in the following words Becoming Clark, safe yet exhausted, arrived at the Molungkimong village gate escorted by J.E. The Naga Baptist Executive Secretaries Fellowship was held at Pfutsero, from 25th to 28th November, 1982. To reach out to the youth, NBCC continued to spearhead the True Love Waits (TLW) movement through its Youth Department. Sema Baptist Association 12. Talking of Godhulas Christianizing protect my life, and give me strength to live and labour many years among these His statement was welcomed by the Ao Christians there. Secondly, the Government decided against a further extension of the ceasefire agreement. evangelism, fifteen more natives were ready to accept the new religion. Counting from 1937, therefore, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council celebrates the completion of seventy five years in 2012. During this time Rev. First Deputy Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly: First Secretary of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly: First woman Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland: First Naga Woman President of the United Democratic Party, Nagaland: First Naga to be appointed as Governor of an Indian State: First Naga Woman to be Chairman of a Village Council (2005): First General State Election conducted (46 seats): 10th-16th Jan. First Nagaland Legislative Council constituted: Feb. First Naga to be a magistrate of British India: First Naga Woman IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officer: First Naga to serve as an Indian ambassador: First Nagaland Armed Police battalion established: First Director of Health Services in Nagaland (1963): First Chairman of Nagaland Public Service Commission: First Naga woman member of Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC): First Naga or the first Naga Woman Member of the UPSC: First Transport service inaugurated in Nagaland: The first Police Commissionerate in Nagaland: First Naga matriculate (passed class 10): First Naga graduate in science stream (PCM): Graduated from Madras Dental College in the year 1973, joined Nagaland state service in the year 1974. He came with a rich experience of faithful and dedicated Ministry under the CBCNEI, as Teacher at Jorhat and Missionary to the Konyaks. The Year 1997 was also declared as the Jubilee Year and the Council appealed to all Nagas to maintain peace. As the Council continues to grow and expand, the need to have an additional permanent structure has been felt. In addition to the Missionary activities of the Clarks at Molung in the Ao Field and the Kings in the Kohima Field, W.E. Sibsagar in March 30, 1869. India responded by crushing it with their armed forces. Meyipangma No! The Council decided that the new religion will be "We have invoked Rani Ma Guidenlu who was a freedom fighter and a Padma Bhushan winner. Gospel, he was convinced that this God would liberate them from every possible The Clarks as well as the Rivenburgs recognized that Kohima was an ideal centre for Missionary work for different Naga groups in that part of the country. To commemorate the celebration of 150 years of Christianity in Nagaland, a "Gospel torch" in memory of Dr. Edward Winter Clark, the missionary who brought Christianity to Nagaland, was lit on September 4 at the First . explained everything about the new religion and further assured that the God of This is "uncharted territory". some twenty-three or thirty, Godhula says, have been talking seriously of Few schools were also opened by the Government in addition to the Mission school. At the Dimapur Annual Session of 1967, the Nagaland Baptist Womens Union was also officially represented for the first time by its officers J. Savino (President) and L. Noksangchila Ao (Secretary). This effort continued in 1997 with 2nd December being marked as Repentance Day and Churches observed this day with prayer and fasting. It was in 1897 that the first Naga , named Nisier, converted to Christianity - a religion brought to this exotic land by the American missionaries. This was in one way a better plan and finally, the Patkai Christian College was established at Chumukedima, and the NBCC became one of the major sponsoring bodies. By 1959 several standing committees (with one Board), namely, (a) Literature and Christian Education Board, (b) Stewardship Committee, (c) Evangelistic Committee, and (d) Youth Committee, were also appointed (NBCC, Dimapur, 2nd to 4th April, 1959; NC 59/001). He continued to inspire the independence movement from there till his death in 1990.[10]. The Platinum Jubilee celebration marking 75 years of the existence of the NBCC is a testimony of Gods mighty work and His faithfulness to a people called out from darkness. Answer (1 of 2): About Nagaland The tremendous growth of Christianity in Nagaland started from a place called Molungkimong and is the result of the missionaries, Edward Winter Clark(an American) and Godhula(an Assamese from Sibsagar). A Convention Centre is also being constructed in the New Capital Complex at Kohima to cater to the needs of the Churches and the community. Get The Latest Nagaland News Today, News on Nagaland Politics, Nagaland Sports, Educations, Business, News on Northeast India Nagas. A Peace Director was employed to oversee the peace work. Zeliang Baptist Association. The minutes of the 40th Annual Session of Ao Naga Baptist Association (generally known as Ao Mungdang) at Merangkong, from 19th to 22nd November 1936, mentioned the presence of a delegation of five Angami Church leaders who exhorted the gathering saying that Nagas would not join a Council with the plains people but would rather come together as one Naga group. Was appointed as the first was Related to a change of nomenclature to reflect the broadened vision of the at. A prayer book in the following words Becoming clark, safe yet exhausted, arrived at the village... 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