Nagaland: SBC condemns burning ofChurch-owned recreational cabin

Sipongsang Baptist Church has condemned the burning of a church-owned recreational cabin- referred to as a “holy place”—which was completely destroyed in a fire on December 3 around 7:30 p.m. The incident occurred at a tourist site that also houses an observatory, both of which suffered significant damage in the blaze allegedly caused by unknown miscreants.
In a condemnation letter, Sipongsang Baptist Church, secretary M. Chuba and pastor M. Mosa described the act as a heinous and sacrilegious vandalism that has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Chang community. They said the site holds immense cultural and spiritual value, particularly the steel cross erected in memory of CBYE Convention of 1971.
The church leaders said that for the Chang community, the site represents collective faith and unity. The steel cross, erected in memory of CBYE Convention in 1971, has stood for decades as a symbol of hope and a place of prayer, it added. Its rededication by Rev. Achu Chang, executive secretary of CBLT, on December 14, 2019, reaffirmed its spiritual significance. They asserted that the cross was more than a structure- it embodies devotion, identity and the enduring resilience of the people. The church leaders urged the authorities to initiate a thorough investigation into the incident, stating that justice was essential not only for the Chang community but also to prevent such sacrilegious and destructive acts against any church, community or institution in the future.
They said timely intervention would be crucial in restoring assurance, fostering healing and guiding the community toward a more hopeful tomorrow, while expressing gratitude for the authority’s attention and support during this difficult period.