The second day of the 7th NCYM convention began with a social awareness drive, which was flagged off by V Lucas Meyase, Retired Director of School Education and former Director of NCYM, from Cathedral at 7 am. The delegates were divided into 6 groups, who then proceeded to 6 different locations namely District Jail, Mental Hospital, Naga Hospital, Orphanage, Old Age Home and Local Ground. The delegates carried out cleanliness drive, distribution of food items & stationery, etc and also held interactions.
Peace begins with a smile, Mario Joseph, preacher from Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, Kerela, said as he began his testimony at the NCYM silver jubilee celebration at Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Kohima.
To attain salvation, doing good is not enough, Mario said in a hall packed with more than a thousand youth and members from various corners of Nagaland.
Born a Muslim and brought up as an Imam (Muslim priest), he faced a lot of persecution and even torture even from the hands of his own family when he decided to accept Jesus Christ. Mario related how his mother fought to keep his life over her own even before he was born and promised total surrender to Allah. This love of his mother and her promise of total surrender to Allah instilled in him the thirst to know God and study the different religions.
As Mario Joseph spoke of how he changed his heart and came to know Jesus, the packed convention hall sang along and shouted praise to the Lord. Speaking on his conviction in Jesus and Christianity, Mario noted that among all the religions, Christianity was the only one where you are sure of forgiveness. Confession brings no less value, it just adds more respect, he said adding that Christianity was the only religion where one had a helper – the Holy Spirit.
“If we know that we have a helper, we will ask help and when we do that, everything will be successful,” he said.
Mario asserted that the only surety on earth was death. However, he said there is a life after that, adding what you sow here, you will reap there. Among all the Gods, Jesus was the only one who underwent human hardships and suffered physical pain. And he was the only one who came back after death. “Believe in him, and you will not die,” he said.
Rev. Fr. C.P. Anto, Director of Peace Channel, Principal NEISSR, Dimapur, and former Director NCYM, led the solemn ‘Way of the Cross’ procession, where all the delegates took part with candles.
In the evening session, Quartet Competition was held where one group from each Parish took part. During the Business session, discussion was held on NCYM Resolutions and election of new office bearers was conducted.
Main highlights for Sundays programme would include: Ecumenical meet at 7 a.m., which would be followed by the jubilee mass at 10 a.m. The main celebrant would be Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima. During the mass, the new NCYM office bearers would be blessed by the Bishop.
Felicitation programme of ex-office bearers of the NCYM would be held where Francis Ngajokpa, Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Economic & Statistics, Government of Manipur, would be the chief guest.
Thursday, February 19, 2026