Centenary Jubilee Youth Choir in the evening service of the Centenary Jubilee Celebration of Sumi Baptist Church, Kohima.
Kohima, November 10 (MExN): The General Secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Rev Dr Mar Pongener, highlighted the “unchanging faithfulness of God” as the cornerstone of a century of missionary work in the region, while also issuing a caution against the rise of misleading doctrines.
Addressing the congregation during the Centenary Jubilee Celebration of Sumi Baptist Church, Kohima (SBCK) on Sunday, Dr Pongener stated that reaching a hundred years in the Nagaland Mission movement is a significant spiritual milestone, not just a numerical one. He emphasised that the church’s longevity is a direct result of divine “grace and might,” the SBCK Centenary Media Cell stated in a press release.
The two-day centenary jubilee celebration of SBCK was held on November 8 and 9.
In his exhortation, Dr Pongener sounded a note of caution for the faithful. He observed that despite Nagaland’s identity as a Christian state, the emergence of interpretations that deviate from Biblical truth is a “serious concern” today.
“Celebrations come and go, but the true strength of a church lies in its faithfulness to the Word of God,” he stated. He urged the congregation to remain spiritually vigilant and steadfast to ensure the church’s foundation remains “unshaken amidst deception and falsehood.”
The church leader paid tribute to the early believers, praising their “strong faith and perseverance” in advancing the mission through numerous challenges. He called upon the present generation to take up the responsibility of continuing this legacy of “faith, mission, and dedication.”
Dr Pongener reminded the gathering of the uncertainty of life, urging everyone to remain committed to this cause while they have the opportunity.
While acknowledging the utility of good infrastructure and large church buildings for growing congregations, Dr Pongener underscored their secondary importance. He clarified that God measures the purity of a believer’s heart, not the size of a church building.
Concluding his address, the NBCC General Secretary linked present actions to future outcomes. “Today’s faithfulness shapes tomorrow’s story,” he said, adding that the choices and priorities of the current generation will influence those to come. He urged everyone to ensure this legacy is carried forward in accordance with God’s will.
He shared that presently seven Sumi tribes are actively involved in the Nagaland Mission movement.
Rev Devanand Kadariya, General Secretary of Nepal Baptist Church Council (NBCC), delivered a greeting message where he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent 341 churches and 146 congregations.
He acknowledged SBCK’s continued mission work in Nepal, highlighting its profound impact on the growth and strengthening of church ministries across the country. Rev Kadariya noted that the mission partnership between SBCK and Nepal has spanned 40 years, leading to the establishment of numerous churches and a mission center.
He praised SBCK's commitment to children’s and youth ministries, emphasizing how these efforts have significantly expanded church outreach. Under SBCK's initiative, a Sunday School curriculum book was introduced, which now benefits over 2,000 children. He described this as one of SBCK’s greatest investments in Nepal’s spiritual growth.
Rev Kadariya also shared the Nepal Baptist Church Council’s Vision 2050, which aims to reach 1.5 million believers. He stated that each church is committed to establishing two new churches every five years, with an aspiration to achieve a network of 2,500 Baptist churches in Nepal by 2025.
Call for faithful living and mission
During the morning session on Sunday, Rev Kughato K Chophi spoke on the theme “Faithful through the Ages – Faith Legacy”. He urged believers to inherit and embody a sincere faith marked by humility and integrity in their daily walk with Christ. He emphasised the importance of reflecting on the church’s 100-year journey, not merely as a historic milestone but as a call to live out the lessons of faith in practical, everyday life.
Rev Chophi reminded the congregation to be thankful to God for allowing them to witness this centenary celebration while encouraging self-reflection on whether Christ and salvation are truly present in their lives. He concluded by calling on all believers to remain steadfast and faithful, seeking salvation and living with purpose as true followers of Christ.
The event’s main speaker, Pastor Khekavi K Yeptho, SBCK spoke on the theme “Faithful through the Ages – Mission.”
He reminded the gathering that God has uniquely gifted every individual and that believers must actively use their abilities to serve in God’s ministry.
Pastor Yeptho emphasized that after the centenary jubilee celebration, the church must carry forward its responsibilities with renewed dedication. He reflected on the message of Psalm 126, reminding believers that those who sow in tears will reap with joy, and urged them to live a purposeful, faith-filled life devoted to God’s calling.
