Attendees and dignitaries gathered at the Mary Jones Mega Seminar-2026 at Kohima Village Council Multipurpose Building on October 31.
Kohima, November 1 (MExN): Around 1,500 women from various churches attended the first Mary Jones Mega Seminar-2026, organised by the Bible Society of India, Kohima Branch (BSIKB), at the Kohima Village Council Multipurpose Building on October 31. Held under the theme “Mary Jones and Her Bible,” the seminar highlighted the importance of Scripture in one's own language and encouraged greater participation of women in the Bible Society's mission.
Addressing the gathering, Kaisa Rio, wife of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, said the value of the Bible lay not merely in owning it but in allowing its message to shape one's character, strengthen faith and guide actions. She observed that while technology had made the Bible more accessible than ever, access alone did not ensure that people read, understood or lived by its teachings.
Highlighting the relevance of Mary Jones's story for Nagaland, she urged parents, teachers, pastors and church leaders to encourage Bible reading among children and young people. She called for nurturing a generation that not only knew the Word of God but also practised its teachings. She further stressed the need to make Scriptures available in languages people understand, particularly in a diverse country like India, to enable communities to engage more deeply with the Gospel.
The seminar featured two sessions. Dr Hrangthan Chhungi, Director of Church Public Relations and Resource Mobilisation, Bangalore, spoke on “Mary Jones and Her Bible – Its Significance Today,” while Rev Dr Zhodi Angami, Associate Director of the Translation Centre, Shillong, delivered a talk on “Whose Language, Whose Bible? Translation and the Politics of Language in North East India.”
The programme began with an invocation by Rev Dr Rachülie Vihienuo, Executive Director of the Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC). It also featured a welcome address and felicitation by Those Kraho, President of BSI Kohima Branch, greetings by Rev S Noksa Chiu, and highlights of the Dimapur Auxiliary presented by its president, Rev Dr N Paphino.
According to the organisers, the seminar drew inspiration from Mary Jones, a 15-year-old Welsh girl who walked 26 miles barefoot in 1800 to obtain a Bible in her own language. Her determination moved Reverend Thomas Charles and other Christian leaders, eventually leading to the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1804.
The initiative later reached India through the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society in 1811, which subsequently became part of the Bible Society of India.
