In this series of ‘Beyond Pulpit,’ Lanutenzuk Lemtur, pastor, First Naga Baptist Church, Texas shares about pastoral experiences in America which is a “land of cultural diversity” while trying the best to maintain “identity as Nagas in this foreign land”
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 19
“Uprooting social evils such as practice of corruptions and tribalism in the society is the biggest battle in our context today,” observes Lanutenzuk Lemtur, the pastor of First Naga Baptist Church, United States.
Inaugurated on August 10 and 11, 2019, the First Naga Baptist Church in DFW Texas, the pastor says, the church is passionate “to minister to Naga students and families in the Dallas Fort Worth area as well as to connect with all the Nagas living in the United States and to connect the Naga churches with the American churches.”
In this series of ‘Beyond Pulpit’, Lanutenzuk who is married to Limakumla Jamir shares with The Morung Express about some creative ways of engaging in ministry outside the pulpit. He believes that “building up relationship with the nonbelievers and building a relationship based on trust is the key to share an effective gospel message with them.”
In this exclusive interview, Lanutenzuk who hails from Mopungchuket village under Mokokchung district also talks about the importance of “mission” for any church. Currently, Lanutenzuk is also pursuing ThM in Missiology.
MExN: What is the story behind your commitment to Christian faith?
Lanutenzuk: From my childhood my parents sacrificed everything to bring up their three siblings (of whom I am the eldest) in the deep truths of Christian faith. Being the eldest son, I understood the responsibility of supporting my brother, sister and my parents. So I thought that I will go for a training and earn money for the family.
After completing my twelfth grade I joined in the Merchant Navy training at Navi Mumbai in the year 2006. But in the process of training the Lord miraculously called me to serve Him leaving aside all the ambitions that I had. When I narrated my spiritual struggle to turn back from earthly ambition to serve the Lord, my parents gladly accepted my decision, for it was an answer to their prevailing prayer.
Soon after I returned from Navi Mumbai the Lord opened the way for me to study Bachelor of Divinity in Clark Theological College at Aolijen, Mokokchung in 2007.
MExN: What convicted you to become a pastor?
Lanutenzuk: Immediately after completing BD in the year 2012, the Lord called me to minister to a small Nagamese congregation at Dimapur, as Assistant Pastor and at the same time engaging in the Church planting ministry with the East West International based in North East India.
After a year of Pastoral experience in that small church congregation I prayerfully applied for further theological education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas, USA in 2014.
Along with my study I was guided by the Lord to be involved in the church planting ministry among the refugees. In all those years the Lord gave me the burden to nurture a small congregation of believers in Christ.
MExN: Who has been the most influential to you and why?
Lanutenzuk: My dad has been the most influential person in my life because it was through his involvement in the ministry that inspired me to serve the Lord.
MExN: What are the core mission statement and the vision of First Naga Baptist Church?
Lanutenzuk:
• To minister to Naga students and families in the Dallas Fort Worth area as well as to connect with all the Nagas living in the United States.
• To connect the Naga churches with the American churches.
• To preach the Word and reach out to the lost souls.
MExN: How do you feel serving as Pastor of a Naga Baptist church in an entirely different culture like the USA?
Lanutenzuk: America is a land of cultural diversity and we are trying our best to maintain our identity as Nagas in this foreign land. Even though we live in an entirely different context, God has brought us here from our native homeland, so we have love and concern for each other as members of a family. Therefore, it is a privilege and a challenge to serve as pastor of the First Naga Baptist Church, Texas and I thank our Almighty God for this opportunity to serve Him.
MExN: How do you reach out to your members outside the context of formal Church worship and fellowship?
Lanutenzuk: Social media can be used positively in staying connected with the members of the church apart from personal home visitations. Due to COVID-19 pandemic we as a church are not able together in one place for worship, but we worship together through the zoom platform and it gives us wider opportunity to be connected with more members across different States in the US and even reaching out to friends living in different countries.
MExN: Can you describe some creative ways of engaging in ministry outside the pulpit?
Lanutenzuk: The church is involved in outreach ministry by meeting the needs of the people coming into the United States as refugees. They come from different parts of the world and it is a good opportunity for us to build relationship with them by meeting their basic needs and building up relationships with them.
Building up relationship with the nonbelievers and building a relationship based on trust is the key to share an effective gospel message with them.
MExN: Is personal relation and spiritual mentoring more effective than formal pulpit ministry?
Lanutenzuk: Apart from formal pulpit ministry, member care ministry is the most effective and important approach in Pastoral ministry. It strengthens the faith of the members as well as the faith of the minister.
MExN: How do you promote spiritual experience in a non-religious context?
Lanutenzuk: To my understanding, one should first have personal spiritual experience of Christian order to promote spiritual experience where ever we live. In order to promote spiritual experience in a non-religious context we should prayerfully establish good relationship with the people around us, and start sharing our own story of spiritual experiences; and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict their hearts.
MExN: What are some of the most important ideas and practices that you think cultivate health in a church?
Lanutenzuk: Cultivating true teaching from the Word of God, healthy relationship among the members of the church, coming together in fellowship and prayer, and witnessing by every believer are the most important components of a healthy church.
MExN: What do you perceive the major task of the church to be and what do you see as your role in that?
Lanutenzuk: Proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the major task of the church. This is the mission of the church on earth. If the church neglects to fulfil her mission, there is no meaning of the existence of the church. Therefore, my role as a Pastor in a church is to have clear vision for the church and motivate its members to be actively engage in her mission.
MExN: Are social issues and causes something the church should be involved in?
Lanutenzuk: The church exists in the midst of the society. Therefore, social issues affect the church life. In no way believers can stay away from the problems of the society. Therefore, believers should be involved to contribute towards constructing a just society.
MExN: What is your understanding on the church as an agent of social transformation?
Lanutenzuk: The church as the body of transformed believers is an agent to transform society and we can achieve that by:
• By being a true followers of Jesus Christ
• Working together with the leaders of the society
• Bringing justice in the systems of society
• By educating members to become responsible citizens
MExN: What is your opinion on the role of the church in politics? And should the church be involved in the state politics?
Lanutenzuk: The church plays a great role in politics. It is the duty of the church to give proper teaching and guidance from the word of God so that the members’ political foundation may not be founded in falsehood but in truth.
MExN: What would you suggest for different churches to co-exist in the same society?
Lanutenzuk: All Christians believe in the Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit exist in one unity. Churches of different denomination may not agree to maintain uniformity, but all Christians can co-exist unitedly in the same society.
MExN: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your evangelism?
Lanutenzuk: During this COVID-19 pandemic our church continued worshiping through the online platform which gave us an opportunity to connect with Nagas from other states in the US and around the world.
The pandemic has made it harder to visit individual church member’s homes and gather for fellowship but the church was able to partner with World Relief in distributing food boxes to the people in need and it opened up a way for us to reach out to more people.
MExN: In these times of global crisis, how do you manage to keep the faith of your congregation going?
Lanutenzuk: With the online facilities we are able to stay connected among members of the church and that is how we encourage each other through the Word of God and also through the power of prayer our faith and hope are strengthened.
MExN: Are there certain social issues that you are particularly passionate about? How do you address them as a church leader?
Lanutenzuk: Uprooting social evils such as practice of corruptions and tribalism in the society is the biggest battle in our context today. As a Pastor I believe in continues teaching of the biblical truths which provide understanding to abstain from social evils.
MExN: Any message you would like to share for our readers?
Lanutenzuk: Humbleness is what you teach the world and so being humble no matter where you are and in what position you are in is the key to success in life. If you’re a Christian you must respect God’s creation. If you cannot love and respect God’s creation you cannot be a good Christian. Stay positive and strive for the best. Life is short so love and forgive one another.
