From the Editor's Desk

SUFFERING - TRAIL BLAZER
Suffering is the greatest barrier that stops people believing in the hopes of life!
There can be few who have not asked, why doesn’t God do something? Some suffering comes because human beings have free wills. Certain kinds of suffering - from war, for instance, or from injustice - are the results of human’s abuse of this freedom to choose.
Sin affects the created world. Thorns and briars’ grow in the garden of the Lord. This world is a stable world, regular and predictable. It is this which makes real choices possible. But it’s very regularity means that the fire which warms may also burn and that a sinful life may carry its own retribution within it. God does not watch his suffering world with detachment. He comes into people’s pain; agonies and bleeds with them.
If Jesus is alive then something good can be brought out of suffering. Christians are called to believe, sometimes in the teeth of the evidence, that God can transform every situation. He made humanity only a little lower than the angels, to be crowned with glory and honour and to have dominion over all things. He is the ‘pioneer’ blazing the trail ahead of us.
One day the Universe will be redeemed, the lame man leap, the dumb sing. Christ will come again, so suffering cannot be the last word.
God will wipe every tear from their eyes’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!

Warm greetings to all the readers in the powerful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As the New Year dawned, I presume everyone is gird up with new resolutions. Keep pressing on no matter how hard it is at times. I believe with all my heart that God has great things in store for us this year. Hence, we want to pursue the plan and purpose of God and bring into reality through prayer and commitment (for a more consecrated life). Let’s purpose in our heart to be deeper with God; going beyond the surface of things and obtain what He has for us as His children.
We have for our theme this year “Walk in the light”. In light of this I would like to share something which I hope and pray would elate us to live to our subject.
It is a known fact that we can walk straight when the path is familiar to us even when there is total darkness. In the dark, our familiarity with our way is our light. Rather than grope our way along the dark, we reach the end safely.
In this darkened world of despair, the Bible is our light. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Ps.119:105). Our familiarity with the word gives us light in the midst of adverse circumstances. It is the word of God that sheds light on our path. It paves the way for us no matter how dark our condition seems.
Having believed in Jesus, we have received the light (Jn.12:46), that we no longer wander in the darkness. Just as the light shines in dark places, Jesus who is the Word points to us the way we should walk. Even in darkness or difficult situation we are able to see clearly the way of Jesus – the truth.
Jesus says, “a man who walks by day will not stumble for he sees by this world’s light” (Jn.11:9). By the ‘Day’ Jesus is referring to the knowledge of His will. In times of darkness; when we are confronted with trials, sorrow, fear, loneliness, and so on, our intimacy with the Word will help us find our way out. But if we go ahead without the knowledge of His will, we stumble over every obstacle in our Christian walk. Christianity is not a bed of roses but is meant to cross over many hurdles. That is the reason Christ has given us His light to see and cross every barrier successfully. Eventually, we live a victorious life that Christ intent for us.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?(Ps.27:1). When we can have our path cleared by Jesus’ light, what is there to be scared of? The Psalmist David says in Ps.139:12, “Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you”. It is very important to store the word of God in our heart, for whenever we need to hear the Lord’s guidance, we will have the light available in our hand to show us the way.
For Christian there is no dark moment as Jesus is our constant light. Prov.20:27 says, “the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord” (KJV). God uses our spirit as His candle to enlighten and guide us. Just as the light of a candle will go out when the wick is not clean, our mind which is always picking up dirt by what we hear and see, if it is not renewed by the Word perpetually will get filthy and our candle (spirit) will go out. Thereby, we walk in darkness as our spirit loses the light of God’s word. Keep your mind renewed by the word so that your spirit keeps burning. As we walk in Christ’s light, we become light bearers (Jn.12:36), revealing and pointing people to God. Let your light shine before men as you walk in His light and bring glory to His Name.

"TRAIL" interviews Thungashan Ezung, A graduate from ‘Rhema Bible Training Centre’ Tulsa, Oklahoma U.S.A. and also a member of Asia Soul Winners.

Trail: We understand that the Asia Soul Winners is a new ministry, could you tell us something about it?
Thungashan : Asia Soul Winners is a mission movement incepted in 2002, with its HQ at Kohima, Nagaland, India. It seeks to bridge and challenge the NE India churches to reach the unreached and establish viable self-multiplying indigenous churches among the unreached people’s group in Asia. ASW provides 3 months intensive mission frontiers training with hands-on ministry opportunity to equip the workers for effective ministry. So far, we have sent out by supporting 20 workers into various fields of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bhutan, Ladakh, Nepal, North Sikkim and West Bengal.
Trail: What are the problems that you encounter and anticipate in the days ahead.
Thungashan : Like any organization at its initial stage, Asia Soul Winners too has its share of encountering difficult challenges. However, God has proved His faithfulness time and again. It’s a Red Sea, Manna experiences but surely ASW is on its way to the Promise land of abundance.
Trail: How can one support the ministry?
Thungashan :You can become a partner by supporting us through your prayers, finances and any material assistance as you are led by God, in order to win souls for Jesus Christ. For any further information contact the ASW Director Rev.G.Khing at 91370-2291102 or email asw1010@rediffmail.com.
TRAIL : Your message for MHBC Youth.
Thungashan : I want to take this opportunity to thank the youth department for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful and exciting Quarterly issue of Trail bulletin. I pray that God will continue to ignite a passion in your soul for lost people and will give you His Heart of compassion and that you will be consumed by the urgency of the hour. It is with great anticipation that lives will be changed and a mark will be made that cannot be erased as a result of reading your bulletin ‘Trail’. May God continue to pour out His blessing on you all.

When I start counting my blessings, it’s amazing that I just can’t seem to find an end. Each day is a new day, full of miracles. But many a times I fail to thank God. I tend to take His blessings for granted. When trials come my way, I tend to forget God’s grace which is greater than all my sins. Inspite of that, God has not failed me. He has proven His faithfulness over and over again. He promises me a bright morn’ after a cold and dark night. And after the howling storm, I know that I will see the sun again.
Leading a Christian life is not an easy one. But I cannot deny the joy I get from being in His care. I have experienced heartaches and tears, gloomy days and fruitless years. But for all these I now thank God for they were the things that helped me grow. I realize it’s more important to put my trust in God than in trying to cope with the expectations of the world.
The little miracles that we encounter everyday of our lives prove God’s unconditional love for us. He is always waiting with open arms to bless and to heal us – if we only let Him.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest….. for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Mathew 11:28 – 30

A church community which includes as its members old and young, rich and poor, literate and illiterate, talented and not so talented constitutes itself as the Body of Christ has to show marks of Christian charity, life-affirming relationships and love.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle had sagely observed that man is a social animal. Every individual needs the company, encouragement and fellowship of his or her fellow human beings to grow and evolve as well matured personalities. The old needs the young and the young needs the old. And this ‘need’ keeps them together. But the ego, self-pride, self-righteousness, lack of compassion and charity towards one and all-prevents at times both the old and young to bridge the generation-gap. This has a disastrous consequence in development of communication gap as well. Each side views the other side as unfriendly, uncooperative and uncharitable. So the old prefer to remain in their own shell-cocooned from the realities and possibilities around them. These are due to lack of healthy perception of others compounded at times by flawed self-perception too.
Here one is saying that at times our perception of others can be fully correct, and the other side, clearly at fault. Yet it is also possible that both sides could be right at times. It may be hard but it is always possible to discern them when both sides have generosity of heart and mind in abundant measure.
The church elders may fall into the trap of viewing young folks as too self-centered, materialistic, seeker of pleasure and fleeting sensation and showing marks of disrespect to the elders. The young people as always being impatient, adventurous and don’t care attitude, may sometimes rub the elders in a wrong way. Or at times do not know how to build bridges of understanding, rapport with the elders of the church. As lubricant makes the part of the machine smooth in it’s functioning, and removes the bottlenecks of rustiness and out of joint condition, likewise a little sweetness with a little humility from both the older folks and younger people in the church can turn the church itself into a vibrant community.
Growth, development, empowerment etc. is dependent upon good harmonious relationship between the people of older generation and the younger people belonging to the present generation. Neither side should form cliques, groups which divide the body of Christ, as it results in no Christian growth both in long or short- term period. Precious dividends and benefits of healthy communication between old and young people, means that we have understood the mystery and essence of human life on this earth. In diversity there is still unity. It is in the end win-win situation for both sides. What a blessing it is! It is indeed a rare blessing to be in the body of Christ.

(The writer is an educationist, active social worker and is the Headmaster and Proprietor of CD King School, Kohima)

The source of our term for the Friday before Easter, “Good Friday,” is not clear. It may be a corruption of the English phrase “God’s Friday,” according to Professor Laurence Hull Stookey in Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church (p. 96). It is the common name for the day among English- and Dutch-speaking people. It is a day that proclaims God’s purpose of loving and redeeming the world through the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a day that is good because God was drawing the world to God’s self in Christ. As seen in John’s gospel, particularly, God was in control. God was not making the best of a bad situation, but was working out God’s intention for the world — winning salvation for all people. We call it “good” because we look backward at the crucifixion through the lens of Easter!
“Good Friday” is not a universal name for the day. The liturgical title for the day in the Western church was “Friday of Preparation,” since the time Jews used the word paraskeue (getting ready) for Friday, meaning the “day of preparation.” Popular names for the day are “Holy Friday” among the Latin nations, “Great Friday” among the Slavic peoples, “Friday of Mourning” in Germany, “Long Friday” in Norway, and “Holy Friday” (Viernes Santo) among Hispanic peoples.
Why is Easter on a different day each year?
In 325 AD, the Council of Nicea set the date for the celebration of Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, March 21. For this reason, the date will change each year and can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25.

Dara Singh, the main suspect behind the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, was convicted last year. The conviction came more than four years after Staines and his sons were roasted alive by a group of people allegedly led by Dara. The missionary who had spent 34 of his 58 years in Orissa working for leprosy patients was burnt alive with two of his most loving worldly possessions as they were innocently sleeping in their jeep unaware of what was in store for them.
The murders sent shock waves throughout the world and brought international attention to the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. When the rulings on Dara Singh were being handed out, media attention had hovered around the Districts Court in Bhubaneshwar. It is said that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ and the All India Christian Council while expressing satisfaction on the court ruling have commented that the delay in bringing justice has enabled the communal cult to grow in the country.
Though the controversy will continue as it is not easy to forget a crime like the Staines murder, it is pertinent that we look at the noble gesture of late Staines’ wife, Gladys. Without any doubts, in her mind, Gladys has forgiven the murderers of her husband and two sons in true Christian spirit. Gladys’ announcement came immediately after the incident and her decision has not changed even today. She says that “the Bible teaches us that we should forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. It was something which came automatically”.
Today Gladys has not only forgiven Dara Singh and the others who burnt her most loved ones alive but she has also taken up the mantle of her husband’s work. She has decided to stay on in India and work with leprosy-inflicted patients bringing comfort to people who are forgotten and made to suffer by themselves. Near the Staines’ home in a small church, with news of the court ruling filtering in, the congregation prayed for the souls of Graham and his sons Timothy and Philip Staines and most importantly the church also prayed for those who allegedly ended their lives. Even as the inhuman act of those people who carried out the gruesome murders has to be condemned, we should pray that such incidents are kept away from humanity. But most importantly the Staines incident, though unfortunate, teaches us that in forgiveness and love there is triumph.
Gladys’ has shown that through the divine virtues of love and forgiveness, she is today living a normal life extending love and compassion to the rejected and the forgotten. Her act of love and forgiveness has ensured that Gladys is indeed a true winner. Her life is an example to live upto not only for all Christians but also for humanity as a whole.

24h Jan ’04 : A welcome service for the Junior Youth was held. 35 members joined.

21st February 2004 : MHBC Youth led the Praise and Worship at the ABCC Quinquinnial Conference on Saturday Morning Worship Service.

13th March 2004 : C.E.M. Junior, Intermediate and Senior Class Sports Day at Govt. High School Ground, Jotsoma. Altogether 90 + children including teachers participated in the programme.

20th March, 2004 : Beginners and Primary Class of C.E.M. had an outing to the Zoo.

20th March 2004 : Kohima Town Baptist Youth Combine Service at Lotha Baptist Church.