Kohima: Amid COVID-19 pandemic, the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) and Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) have decided to observe March 22, Sunday as a day of prayer.
The two church organisations have urged upon the people of the state to offer prayers and seek divine intervention and protection from the deadly virus.
According to a statement, Rev N Paphino, vice president of NJCF, said that the rapid spread of COVID-19 has created a high risk for the state as well and although citizens must stay alert and vigilant and follow all precautionary measures issued by the competent authorities, people “must turn to God for His divine protection”.
Appreciating the efforts of the state government for its preparedness, Paphino said: “We all must do our part at this crucial and critical situation because prevention is our best defence. We cannot just be debating on the lapses, in our inadequacies and our unpreparedness. We all must stand behind each other and give any possible support”.
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NJCF called upon all the churches across the denominational line to observe a day of prayer and fasting on March 22. It urged upon the denominational head offices to issue precautionary guidelines fitting to their ecclesiastical worship and liturgy.
In a separate statement by NBCC, Rev Zelhou Keyho, its general secretary, called upon all its members and churches to remain vigilant and alert to potential dangers from this virus.
Saying that the public should be part of the solution rather than being the problem, it urged the congregations to take measures to keep themselves and their communities safe.
It also said that the church should remain open to be a place of worship and prayer and a place to experience the presence of god for comfort, guidance and to strengthen one’s faith. Possible alteration adhering to the precautionary issue may be followed as the situation demands keeping in mind that the church must be rooted in prayer, it said.
