Church in Nagaland responds to substance-use with hope

Council of Rengma Baptist Churches dedicates ‘Thyükeshün: A Renewal Centre’

Phentejon (Tseminyu), November 30 (MExN): The Council of Rengma Baptist Churches (CRBC) dedicated ‘Thyükeshün: A Renewal Centre’ at Phentejon village located around 8 km away from Tseminyu Town under Tseminyu district, Nagaland on November 30. 

Thyükeshün Ministry is an initiative of CRBC with a particular focus on individuals struggling with alcohol, drugs and other addictions to experience healing and physical and spiritual renewal, stated a press release. 

“It seeks to bring hope to those without hope and strength to those without power through faith in Christ in family-focused intensive care and, discipline them toward spiritual maturity,” the release stated. 

“The biblical basis for this ministry is Isaiah 40:31 (But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint),” it added. 

Graph 2

Impact communities 

Rev Haiwalo Apon, Executive Secretary of CRBC, dedicated the ministry to “further the Kingdom of God” in the presence of CRBC staff, officials, church leaders and the children of the late Ndatsü/Rüzensü. 

He shared how the need for this ministry came about as a culmination of the Council’s Intensive Discipleship Movement where the need to reach out to the “unchurched” group, substance users and addicts was deeply felt, in addition, to the need of providing centre-based counselling care. 

He remarked, “God’s will works in amazing ways, like the process of pollination He puts the burden and vision on like-minded people whereby different parts come together to bear and manifest His ultimate vision.”

“Therefore, the vision of Thyükeshün Renewal Centre is to restore, renew and empower lives to impact communities. Its mission is to be a Christ-centered care giving home that provides hope and value, in addition, to assisting, mentoring, and empowering addicts and alcoholics to experience a life-transforming process in a safe and friendly atmosphere,” he asserted. 

The centre will provide care and counselling, spiritual mentoring, physical, mental and emotional care, and activities that will foster holistic growth and personality development, Rev Apon added. 

Jacob Keppen, an evangelist of CRBC who has been working amongst substance users shared that “they too have the desire to change but they need God’s blessing and, support and understanding from their family, church and society.”

He urged the family members of substance users and addicts to bear patience and not impose their high expectations during the early phase of their recovery. “This will help them to recover better even in the event of relapse,” he conveyed. 

Er Gwanyelo Keppen, an elder from the late Ndatsü/Rüzensü family said “the family is blessed to be the steward of this piece of land where the centre has been established. Today, the family commits this land in gratitude to God and the Council for this ministry.” 

Athonglo Khing, President CRBC, conveyed his gratitude on behalf of the Council to the children of the late Ndatsü/Rüzensü for their generosity in donating this land to this ministry.

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Reaching unreached group 

Under the CRBC’s Intensive Discipleship Movement Programme, the opportunity to address the challenge of alcoholism and drug abuse (or substance users) was realized. Likewise, the Council could address this need by initiating an outreach ministry to reach the unreached group in January 2021, CRBC stated. 

“As a result, the Council appointed Jacob Keppen who would liaison and coordinate with local churches in Tseminyu area and Phenshunyu village to initiate the process of mobilization, identification and scoping of the broad areas of intervention. Likewise, Home visiting of substance users and fellowship with family, counselling and mentoring members, Intensive prayer and camping fellowship and follow-up with members on their recovery was conducted,” it added.

“Through this programme, the Council has been able to identify 221 members and profile the nature of substance users in our community vis-a-vis Tseminyu area and Phenshenyu village,” the council informed. 

Graph 1 shows the number of members identified in five locations. Graph 2 and Graph 3 shows the type of substance use (a) alcohol (b) drugs respectively and the correlation with unemployment status by location and age-group. 

The graphs show the status of alcohol and drug use along with unemployed status of members in five locations where the outreach programme was implemented.  “Here, we cannot find a strong linkage between unemployment and substance use across all locations. However, in Graph 2, we can see a strong link between unemployment and age-group with respect to type of substance use. As the age increases, there is decrease in unemployment and drug use, whereas there increase in alcohol use,” it added. 

Source: https://morungexpress.com/church-in-nagaland-responds-to-substance-use-with-hope