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In Nagaland's church-oriented culture, though, Christians have an unusual opportunity to work openly. In December, for example, Baptist leaders agreed to ring their church bells each morning at 5:30 a.m. in a public call to Christian prayer. "Let the praises of God flow and fill the hills and valleys throughout Nagaland," they proclaimed in launching the program. Pastors decided on one specific prayer item each day. Families were provided hymns to sing at 7 p.m. each evening.

For Khala, this kind of communal spirituality is nothing new or unusual. He typically gets up every morning at 5 a.m. to pray.

On one calm, cold, and sunny November Sunday morning, while the sounds of church bells fill the Kohima valley, Khala takes his seat at Sema Baptist for the 10 a.m. service. Soon the church is full with more than 1,000 worshipers; many others sit outside in white plastic chairs.

During the sermon, Sema's pastor tells an inspiring story of 15 Myanmar tribesmen who walked for three days through violence-prone border areas in order to attend a mission training camp organized by Sema Baptist. It's yet another example of how Nagaland's churches are reaching out to meet new demands for leadership training.

Khala, his rough face turned soft, says, "People talk about heaven after life. I've found my heaven in this life. I feel like sharing with others this happiness. I feel like telling them to come and feel happiness instead of a sinful and worried life."

Manpreet Singh is a journalist based in New Delhi, India.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

More articles on Baptist missions in Nagaland are available from Baptist Press and International Ministries.

Past Christianity Today coverage of India includes:

Flood of Mercy | Christians at the forefront of aid after the deluge in Mumbai. (Sept. 15, 2005)

Cover Story
India Undaunted | Escalating repression can't seem to dampen the church's growth. (April 28, 2004)

Christian Dalits Fight Bias | Seek benefits withheld by government. (July 5, 2005)

Indian Court Commutes Death Penalty for Staineses' Murderer | Christians worried as attacks continue with little interference from the government. (May 25, 2005)

Hindu Radical Redux | Church leaders report more than 200 new incidents of persecution. (April 15, 2005)

Christians Fear Some Backlash After India Elections | Still, they're heartened by voters' chastening of nationalist Hindus. (June 15, 2004)

India's Historic Elections and the Hand of God | Persecution will continue, but without as much implicit state support, says the president of the All India Christian Council. (May 14, 2004)

Indian Churches Hail the Defeat of Hindu-Nationalist Government | "Vote consciously" campaign urged Christian voters to elect secular political parties. (May 14, 2004)

The Immense Commission | Most postal areas still don't have any Christian workers living in them. (April 28, 2004)

Watch Those Web Postings | What Indians say American Christians should, and shouldn't, do to help. (April 28, 2004)

Blockbuster Evangelism | Millions have been converted after seeing films about Jesus, and Hindu radicals are responding with violence. (Nov. 26, 2003)

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February 2006, Vol. 50, No. 2