dimapur: Around 1,500 women delegates from various churches attended the first Mary Jones Mega Seminar-2026, organised by the Bible Society of India, Kohima Branch (BSIKB), under the theme “Mary Jones and Her Bible” at Kohima Village Council Multipurpose Building on October 31.
Addressing the gathering, Kaisa Rio, wife of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, stressed that the value of the Bible lay not merely in owning it but in allowing its teachings to shape one’s character, strengthen faith and guide actions. She observed that although technology had made the Bible more accessible, access alone did not ensure that people read, understood or practised its teachings.
Highlighting the relevance of Mary Jones’s story to Nagaland, she urged parents, teachers, pastors and church leaders to encourage Bible reading among children and young people and nurture a generation that not only knew the Word of God but also practised its teachings.
She also stressed the importance of making Scriptures available in languages understood by people, particularly in a diverse country like India, so that communities could engage more meaningfully with the Gospel.
The seminar featured two sessions focusing on the historical significance of Mary Jones and contemporary issues surrounding Bible translation.
According to a press release, Dr Hrangthan Chhungi, Director of Church, Public Relations and Resource Mobilisation, Bangalore, spoke on “Mary Jones and Her Bible – Its Significance Today”, while Rev. Dr. Zhodi Angami, Associate Director of Translation Centre, Shillong, spoke on “Whose Language, Whose Bible? Translation and the Politics of Language in North East India”.
The programme began with an invocation by Rev. Dr. Rachülie Vihienuo, Executive Director of Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC). A welcome address and felicitation were delivered by Those Kraho, president of BSI Kohima Branch. Greetings were shared by Rev. S. Noksa Chiu, while Rev. Dr. N. Paphino, president of Dimapur Auxiliary, presented highlights of the auxiliary. According to the organisers, the seminar drew inspiration from the story of Mary Jones, a 15-year-old Welsh girl who walked 26 miles barefoot in 1800 to obtain a Bible in her own language. Her determination moved Reverend Thomas Charles and other Christian leaders, leading to the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1804.
The initiative later reached India through the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society in 1811, which subsequently became part of the Bible Society of India. The organisers said the seminar aimed to highlight the importance of Scripture in one’s own language and encourage greater participation of women in the Bible Society’s mission.
