Nagaland Baptist Church Council bike rally on clean election movement

To mark 150 years of the advent of Christianity in Nagaland and with the objective to create awareness on ‘Clean Election Movement’, a two-day bike rally was flagged off from Western Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (WSBAK) Centre, Thahekhu village, Dimapur on Tuesday.
Organised by Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), more than 150 riders, including three ladies, are taking part in the bike rally. They are accompanied by a medical team and 20 full-fledged members of NBCC along with two associate members and two individual members.
The rally was flagged off by NBCC general secretary and Nagaland Joint Christian Forum president Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho and WSBAK executive secretary Rev Dr Phughoto Sema.
The bikers will pass through Medziphema, Kohima, Tseminyu, Wokha, Mokokchung, Akuluto, Zunheboto, Satakha, Chozuba and Kohima. They will halt for the night at Impur.
In a short programme held on the occasion, bikers were informed of the dos and don’ts during the ride like avoiding traffic disruption, maintaining disciple, etc.
A prayer was also proposed by WSBAK executive secretary Rev Dr Phughoto Sema.
In his speech, Keyho thanked all the riders, saying their participation would be forever remembered by Naga society. He claimed that NBCC had been taking forward the initiative of Clean Election with active participation of young minds.
He hoped that traffic would not be affected due to the rally and added that NBCC had written to the traffic police regarding the rally
With 1,708 churches in the State affiliated to it, NBCC will celebrate the 150 years of Christianity in November this year on the theme “Celebrating His Story”.
Meanwhile, upon reaching Kohima, the bikers were received by Kohima Baptist Pastor’s Fellowship (KBPF) office-bearers at Old MLA Hostel Junction.
In his brief speech on the occasion, NBCC youth secretary N Suhuto Chishi said Nagas must be grateful to American missionaries who brought Christianity to the State, adding that following embracing of Christianity, love spread in Naga society, which should be sustained.
He mentioned that irrespective of any denominations, all Christians in Nagaland must celebrate the 150 years of Christianity and spread the gospel beyond the border.
On Clean Election movement, which was a part of the 150 years celebration, Chishi stressed on reflecting upon Christian morality while choosing a leader and avoiding age-tampering, proxy-voting, booth capturing or asking money or vehicles from candidates. He cautioned that with such an attitude, Nagas would be deprived from having the right leader and the State will be deprived of employment or job.
“We must not destroy our future generations because of our own greed,” he emphasised, noting that Nagas were sceptical of Clean Election movement. He however maintained that it was every individual’s responsibility to maintain integrity while choosing a leader and must start from “you and me”.
KBPF president and CBCK pastor Rev Vezopa Rakho offered a prayer as the bikers continued their onward journey.
Meanwhile, more riders from Kohima joined the bike rally.