“Before God, no one is holier than the other. By race, Jews are not more acceptable or accessible to God than the Greeks or the African blacks because of their skin. No woman, however beautiful she looks, is more pleasing before God than an ugly woman or a leper because of her beauty.
No Church is closer to God because of its age than a young Church just born recently. The span of years of being a Christian doesn’t reserve a better or higher seat for you or me before the throne of God. No denomination holds the hegemony of power or favor before God. Unfortunately, Nagas are overly conscious about denominations, and as a result, we are easily drawn away from each other, affecting our unity and, above all, our “LOVE” for one another.
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One and all of us are just required to believe and confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again, and is seated at the right hand of God as the only Savior of mankind. Whoever believes in Him has been sealed with the Holy Spirit for everlasting life.
We must live in unity, bearing with one another and upholding one another. Jesus Christ, the hope of all mankind, is not sectarian or denominational, nor does He go by the majority. He is universal, compassionate, and merciful to one and all. He welcomes all of us—great and small, rich and poor, men and women—transcending race and color.
Until the beginning of the ’70s, I had seen a lot of uneasiness, inconveniences, and hitches among the rank and file of the national workers on the issue of denominations. The assertion of majoritarianism was glaring; the mentality of “holier than thou” was strong. Some elements were overzealous, treating others as untouchable.
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Thank God, the top echelon of the national leadership remained clear, balanced, and firm about inter-denominational coexistence. After much prayer and deliberation, a historic decision was made, and the Council of Nagaland(lim) Churches (CNC) was formed on 5th September 1974 at UNSETI National Assembly. It was established with a vision for future generations—not only for smooth, harmonious, and loving mutual acceptance among denominations for all time to come. Praise the Lord!
Heartfelt gratitude to God, Jehovah of the Nagas, for His protection, guidance, and for bringing up the CNC with all His blessings until today, to celebrate this Golden Jubilee with all pomp and gaiety to His glory.
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Having been shattered politically by the Shillong Accord in November 1975, we returnees from the Alee (China) Command, led by Mr. Th. Muivah, the General Secretary, along with Mr. Isak Chishi Swu and a few junior colleagues, decided to establish our base in Eastern Nagalim, under Burma. The Eastern Nagas were politically, socially, spiritually, and in all ways in pitch darkness. People were wildly engaged in head-hunting, naked, and unreached. They had no knowledge of Hell and Heaven.
As soon as Mr. Isak Chishi Swu was elected leader of the people, he took utmost pains to reach everyone with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, the only Savior, the Son of God, and the hope of mankind. Still, we were condemned for forming the NSCN, with some calling us communists, mistaking Christian Socialism for a brand of Chinese Communism rather than Naga National Socialism.
The devil got hold of the reins of terror and spread smear campaigns against the Naga patriots led by Mr. Isak and Mr. Muivah, labeling them as “communists,” when in fact, they were working tirelessly to save the Naga Nation from the clutches of India and Burma, and to lead our people out of darkness and into the marvelous light of spiritual salvation.
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We were reminded of John 16:2 at that time, which states that the killing of national patriots under the leadership of Messrs. Isak and Muivah was considered a service to God. However, we did not allow ourselves to be defeated by this satanic design. With broken hearts, we took up the rifle in one hand and the Holy Bible in the other, as the Israelites had done under the leadership of Nehemiah to repair the walls of Jerusalem.
Jehovah has never failed us when we sought Him wholeheartedly. God did answer our prayers and showered the fire of the Holy Spirit upon the people. The lepers were healed and rose to witness, the paralytics stood up and joined the preaching to witness for Jesus’s name. The deaf were restored to hearing. The dumb gained their voices and spoke of Jesus’s work of salvation. In no time, the number of people accepting Jesus as Savior swelled, and hundreds upon hundreds were baptized.
Our most venerated late Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, as President of the CNC and Chairman-Yaruiwo of the NSCN/GPRN, grappled with innumerable problems. Church leaders came and saw with their own eyes, and they were satisfied. The little sparks of the CNC spread like wildfire, and Eastern Nagalim was engulfed by the fire of Revival. Today, the Naga Baptist Convention in Myanmar, the youngest convention among the ethnic nationalities, is the largest convention, with 90% of the Naga population having become Christian.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! All credit goes to Him, our Jehovah. Yes, Jehovah sie! Alhoishe! God is good all the time. Without Mr. Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah, our history could have been altogether quite different today.
Be brave, oh CNC! God is on your side. We must forgive all those who have spitefully condemned and opposed us. Let us be humbler. But we must tighten our belts with the spirit of live! Live! Die! Die! for this land of Christ.
RAISE THE BANNER OF NAGALIM FOR CHRIST HIGHER & HIGHER
Lastly,
As apostle Paul said, in Philippians 3:13-14, let’s forget and put the past failures, mistakes, and sins behind and let’s press forward keeping our eyes fixed on the Promise of God’s “RESTORATION”, and crown of victory.
God bless Nagalim!
God bless Nagalim!
God bless Nagalim!
All for His Glory!
Speech of Lt. Gen. Retd. V.S. Atem – VC, Deputy Ato Kilonser of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak Muivah), on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of Council of Nagaland(lim) Churches held on September 26, 2024.
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