Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 16
The three-day silver jubilee celebrations of the Sumi Baptist Convention (SBC) held at Trinity Theological College, Thahekhu culminated on Sunday afternoon with Rev. Dr. Phughoto Aye, Director of Fire Around the World, NEI delivering the sermon.
With ‘youth revivalism’ as his main focus, Rev. Dr. Phughoto pointed out that more youth were losing interest in the Church and called for a strong youth revivalism to carry on the legacy of initial powerful revival that engulfed Sumis during the late 70s and 80s. He asked the congregation to ponder as to how many out of 99.9% Sumi Christians, attend Church.
“Instead of preaching about attending or not attending Church services, we should deeply study why people are not attending services,” he added.
The preacher rued that mostly the elders populate the Church and young people were seldom seen. To bring about youth revivalism, Rev. Dr. Phughoto opined that at least 10 Sundays out of 52 Sundays in a year should be kept aside exclusively for the youth so that they would inculcate a sense of belongingness and be a stakeholder in the Church. He also felt that at least 6 Sundays in a year be set aside for inter-generational combined services by letting them take various parts so that the younger generation learn from elders to come closer to God.
Stating that culture was a way of life for the Nagas, Rev. Dr. Phughoto said that inculcating Christian faith also should be given equal importance.
He also suggested that wealthy Churches build worship centres and youth ministry centres with modern facilities for the youth to come together and praise God.
According to the preacher, technology was overshadowing and diverting the minds of many youngsters from God. He pointed out that around 4000 Churches were being closed down annually around the world and that 2.7 million Christian populations in the world were Christians only in name and hardly go to Church.
With such impending danger on Christianity, Rev. Dr. Phughoto called for a strong youth revivalism in the state to be deeply rooted in the faith of the Lord.
During the programme, Thiulixu Baptist Church choir and Jubilee Choir presented a special number. The silver jubilee celebration was attended by thousands of people from the three Sumi Baptist Churches associations.
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