Generation of hope

Nagaland’s tribal society is woven from a tapestry where churches have always played crucial role in society. Accommodation and compromises has today led to a crisis of confidence in the church and once respected institutions. Amidst all these, churches often remain silent, reluctant to confront the lure of mammon within or hold themselves accountable. The hypocrisy resonates with Apostle James’s admonition that “faith without works is dead,” exposing the painful irony of a society that is over 87 percent Christian yet still plagued by graft, greed, and moral decay. Yet within this setting, a profound disconnect is emerging-especially among millennials and Gen Z-between the ideals they have been taught and the realities they witness daily. Raised in an era of rapid global transformation, these young people have absorbed sermons on integrity, service, and biblical truth in bustling prayer halls. But the contradictions they observe among elders in government and religious institutions are stark. Nagaland’s present youth have grown up in a complex sociopolitical environment, watching leaders who should embody ethical stewardship instead turn a blind eye to entrenched challenges- extortion rackets, manipulation of tribal divisions, a blatantly corrupt election system and distortions of social norms. The church, once a bulwark against such ills, has retreated into ritualism-lavish building projects and grand conferences-while remaining conspicuously silent on moral failings. This retreat has eroded trust in institutions once regarded as guardians against colonial legacies and the struggles of post-1963 statehood. Yet this awareness does not breed despair but sparks a desperate awakening finely attuned to Nagaland’s precarious socio-political and economic context. Youth comprise nearly 60 percent of the state’s 2.2 million population, but their futures are constrained by systemic failures. Educated yet unemployed, many face bleak prospects at home, their frustration compounded by factional politics, tribalism, denominational divides, and ineffective governance. Against this backdrop, the recent prayer and healing festival conducted by Apostle Ankit Sajwan of Delhi, in Dimapur has ignited renewed spiritual fervor. Amplified by viral testimonies on social media, the mammoth gatherings symbolize a grassroots hunger that transcends traditional church hierarchies and resonates across Nagaland’s 16-plus tribes. They mark the rise of a spiritual flame fueled by resilient youth navigating both societal and moral challenges. Unlike elders anchored to tradition, these tech-savvy young people engage with movements through mobile devices, even amid frequent power outages. If this awakening is indeed divinely orchestrated, as many believe, a multiplication of voices and movements across villages and towns seems imminent. Despite six decades scarred by conflict and unrest, Nagaland’s spiritual soil remains fertile, ready for the unique gifts and commitment of its youth to inspire change. Ultimately, this generation stands at the cusp not merely of witnessing transformation but of embodying it. In a land where faith, economic hardship, political fragmentation, and cultural crossroads intersect, Nagaland’s millennials and Gen Z may become catalysts for redefining society. Much was expected of the generations born between the 1920s and 1950s, yet they faltered in fulfilling the moral and civic responsibilities entrusted to them. Their failure to rise above corruption, division, and complacency has left a legacy of disillusionment. In contrast, the journey of Millennials and Gen Z carries the promise of a different future-one rooted not merely in inherited tradition, but in lived experience and shared transformation. This rising generation embodies the hope of authenticity, accountability, and renewal, charting a path toward a society where faith and integrity converge to inspire genuine change.