NBCC General Secretary, Rev Dr Mar Pongener and colleagues and women delegates seen during the one-day conference at NBCC Platinum Hall, Kohima on September 10.
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 10
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) General Secretary, Rev Dr Mar Pongener today said ‘diversity is not a barrier but a blessing when it is embraced with respect, acceptance and harmony.’
He was speaking at the NBCC Women Department’s one-day conference ‘Imagine the Future Conference’ held under the theme, “Beauty in Diversity: Inspire to Shape Future” held at the Platinum Hall, NBCC office Kohima on September 10.
Emphasising on the theme in biblical perspective, Rev Pongener explained that God created ‘us’ differently – tribes, cultures, languages, personalities and gifts not to divide but to enrich ‘us.’ The challenge however, he said is how as people ‘we’ use this diversity to shape the future which can enrich and strengthen a community or a society.
The beauty and richness of diversity, he said, doesn’t come from ‘uniformity’ but from the ‘differences’ which is not seen as ‘barriers’ but as blessings from God to enrich life, family, church and community.
Rev Pongener asserted that all must do away with the mindset of ‘Us vs. Them’ which creates resistance to new ideas or different people. He observed that diversity often struggles to find acceptance in Church and Christian communities and leaders and groups as people fear of losing influence, control or their familiar way of doing things.
‘New practices, perspectives or people may be seen as threats. The community prefers to stay comfortable rather than engage with diversity,’ he noted.
Beauty in diversity, he maintained, is not about competition but complementation which can build each other up, thereby, creating unity, harmony and strength. At the same time, he also went to state that people who are resistance to diversity be referred to as intolerant, prejudiced, discriminatory, biased, narrow-minded, bigoted and exclusive.
Encouraging the women delegates, Rev Pongener said when diversity is embraced women can be nurturer of peace by healing divisions, take the communities to grow stronger and more creative through innovation, teaching children to value differences for a more inclusive and peaceful society, and also breaking stereotypes and shape a society where cooperation is stronger than division.
To this end, the women were advised to celebrate their uniqueness, respect and learn from others, pass it on to the younger generation, to be an example of inclusion, mention younger women and encourage their growth and live as a role model by demonstrating integrity, humility and faithfulness both in personal and public life.
Naga women urged to teach, transform and connect
Recipient of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Quinquennial Human Rights Award, Sano Vamuzo, in her brief address reflected on God’s design in creating humanity with unique personalities, creativity and purpose.
Sharing her experiences as a social activist spanning over decades, she encouraged the women to recognise their individual gifts as tools to fulfill God’s purpose to transform the broken Naga society today.
She observed with pain that despite Naga women being educated, talented, well versed and well established today unlike decades ago, ‘there’s something missing – lack of concern for the society.’
Vamuzo encouraged the women to gracefully take on their responsibilities to teach, transform and connect with society through humility, love and faith.
The event also featured a series of impactful PowerPoint and video presentations, ‘The legend of Tabuanliu Gangmei’ by RBCAN; ‘Much Effort, Much Prosperity’ by Pelenino Chase; ‘The Anishe Flower: A Legendary Tale” by SBAK (Nito Mount) and presentations of ministries by Miqlat and LifeConnect.
The one day conference served as a platform to not only celebrates the richness of diversity but also to empower women and leaders across associations under NBCC to become active agents of change in their communities.
The event brought together association women secretaries, church leaders and tribal women apex body from across the state in a spirit of unity, inspiration and shared purpose.
The programme began with a welcome and introduction by Katoli V. Sumi, Women Secretary of NBCC and closing remarks by P. Angbhenla Phom, Chairperson of the Women Board, NBCC. The event ended with a small group fellowship basing on the theme fellowship, friendship, and love (FFL), reinforcing the unity and shared commitment of the participants to shape a vibrant and inclusive future.
