A total of 63 students were conferred Diploma in Bachelor of Divinity during the 21 graduation service of Trinity Theological College (TTC) held in its Chapel Hall, at the college premises, Thahekhu village, Friday.
Delivering the graduation address, Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC), general secretary, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho said it was an important day for the graduates as their parents, sponsors and people who had anxiously waited for them to join the ministry would finally get to work with them.
Rev. Keyho was confident that the college had equipped the graduands well enough and that they would plunge into field ministry confidently. Preparing the graduands for the environment they would be exposed to shortly, Rev. Keyho said that they would be tested by their congregation and then people would know whether they were qualified.
He encouraged them to work hard which would result in their ministry going far, if not, he warned them that no amount of further studies or degrees would help them in any way. He further said people will not be interested in the grades or degrees of the graduates but in the person itself, in their spiritual grades, their inter-personal skills and their lifestyle grades, how they go about in conducting their lives, how they incarnate the gospel in their lives and how they interpret the Bible in their personal lives. These, he said, were things that would be of interest to the people they would be serving.
Exhorting the graduands, Rev. Keyho said their theological education should enable them to carry the crucified Lord which was the embodiment of their own crucified lives. He expressed hope that the cross of Christ would lead them as they move ahead in their own field of ministries.
Earlier, a welcome address was delivered by the principal Rev. Dr. Kavito Zhimo while Sumi Baptist Convention (SBC) president Hosheto Achumi released the college magazine. Proficiency awards for outstanding students were conducted by the academic dean Dr Zakali Shohe. The awards included The Principal’s Award for Best Disciple in Christian Living, bagged by K Niamting. Dr Hokishe Sema Award for Social Service was given to Renchio Erui while The Sumi Baptist Convention Award for Best Sermon was bagged by Joseph Jeriel T Chiqhimi. Rev. Dr. Najekhu Sema Award for Scripture Knowledge, Ivulho Shohe Award for Biblical Studies, The Faculty Award for Outstanding Academic Performance and the Governing Board Award for General Proficiency were all bagged by Ikali H Ayemi. Marshalls for the service were Neuto Kiho and Rongsenzenla Aier.