Good news not shared is no news: Rev Dr Keyho

February 6, 2024 25 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Niuland | February 6

Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho, General Secretary, NBCC on Sunday spoke on God’s desire for his people to forward the ‘good news’ across nations. He was the speaker during the morning Indigenous Worship at the 23rd Triennial & 87th Annual Gathering of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), which was hosted by Western Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (WSBAK) in Niuland.

Rev Keyho conveyed the message on the theme, “Experiencing God Together in Outreach,” on February 4, the concluding day of the four-day convention.

NBCC executives and church leaders from different associations praying for the nine missionaries who were commissioned on February 4 at Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Niuland. (Morung Photo)

He prodded the congregation if one was good at forwarding the ‘good news’ that one has received, while defending his message with God’s longing that no one should perish without receiving the ‘good news.’

Hence, the believing community is commended to go out beyond one’s own border and share the message of ‘salvation,’ Rev Keyho declared, while adding that “we have to be a group of people willing to get up, and go out into the world.”

In order to reach out to the lost souls, he drew attention to the act of “obedience” to God’s command.

To obey is ‘to go,’ and not to obey is to bring another condemnation not only to “ourselves but to humanity again,” Rev Keyho said, while underscoring that what is expected of believers is obedience.

Based on the theme, the speaker elucidated three pointers to the congregation of church leaders from across Nagaland and delegates from beyond.

Delegates and associate members from across Nagaland during the concluding day of the four-day 23rd Triennial & 87th Annual Gathering of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on February 4, which was held at Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Niuland. (Morung Photo)

Stating that “good news not shared is no news,” he gave a picture of how there are lost souls “right outside our door,” and that the mission of the church and the believer is to reach out to them. “Reaching out to the lost souls is to share the good news of salvation,” he told the congregation. He further expounded that for an outreach to take place, there must be a point of contact, which in today’s context is “experiencing God together.”

‘Are we committed and willing to cross the boundary line?’
While the word “outreach” in and of itself may be an overused word, Rev Keyho said that its literal meaning, “to extend or to go beyond” needs to be accomplished, that experiencing God together should go “outside of us,” while prodding, “Are we committed and willing to cross the boundary line?”

“There is no other business except to reach out to the lost souls. Go into the world and announce the message of good news to one and all.”

Earlier, during the service, the NBCC commissioned nine missionaries, to which Rev Keyho said it was not enough. Just as the first missionaries to the Naga nation came in obedience, which led them take the risk, leave their comfort zone and sacrifice all that they had for gospel, he encouraged the church to send out more workers to the field.

Thirdly, Rev Keyho reiterated how “God is not willing that any one perish.” He underscored that this fact should be stated time and again, because the very message of ‘good news’ lies in it. Asserting that outreach is not be a hobby, but a full time activity, he mentioned how one must be filled with God’s spirit and to which the church must be his witnesses in reaching out to the ends of the earth.

‘We need more (church workers)’
Earlier, Dr Joshua Bojungjoko from Nigeria, who is the International Director of Serving in Missions (SIM) extended greetings.

With his visit this time to the North-east of India being the third time round, one thing he has learned is the hospitality of the people, he shared. On behalf of the SIM and the missionaries of the North-east India, he acknowledged Nagaland for raising the banner of Christ to the nations.

He said that Nagaland has been the first from the region to take part in commissioning missionaries, with now 60 of them working for God. According to statistics, almost 90% of all church workers are still working within the church, he said as he made an appeal to the congregation, “We need more.”

With a conviction that “no one should live and die without hearing the good news of Christ,” Dr Bojungjoko who is a medical doctor by profession called by God into his ministry, implored upon the church leaders to send more workers into the “harvest field.”

Deaf Fellowship Kohima also attended and took part on the concluding day of the convention.