Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: About 1,500 women delegates packed the Kohima Village Council Multipurpose Building on October 31. They attended the inaugural Mary Jones Mega Seminar-2026. The Bible Society of India, Kohima Branch organized the event under the theme Mary Jones and Her Bible.
Kaisa Rio, wife of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, addressed the crowd. She noted that technology makes scripture accessible, but access does not guarantee understanding. She urged church leaders and parents to foster a generation that lives by these teachings. "The value of the Bible lay not merely in owning it but in allowing its teachings to shape one’s character, strengthen faith and guide actions," Rio said.
The program featured two primary sessions. Dr. Hrangthan Chhungi of Bangalore spoke on the contemporary significance of the Mary Jones story. Rev. Dr. Zhodi Angami from the Shillong Translation Centre tackled the politics of language and Bible translation in North East India. Rev. Dr. Rachülie Vihienuo of the Angami Baptist Church Council gave the invocation. Those Kraho, president of the local BSI branch, handled the welcome address. Rev. S. Noksa Chiu offered greetings, and Rev. Dr. N. Paphino of the Dimapur Auxiliary presented organizational highlights.
Organizers modeled the event after the 1800 journey of Mary Jones, a 15-year-old Welsh girl who walked 26 miles barefoot to buy a Bible. Her resolve helped spark the creation of the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1804. The movement arrived in India by 1811 via the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society. Today, the seminar aims to boost women's participation in the mission and stress the need for scripture in local languages.
Comments