Morung Express News
January 13 | Dimapur
Paying last tributes to former pastor of Dimapur Ao Baptist Church, late Reverend Longkok, a grand funeral was conducted at Lingrijan in Dimapur and later at the community’s church in Duncan Basti, Dimapur today, January 12.
As a sign of mourning, church workers wore black attires as a mark of grief for the demised church leader. After the service, the body was taken to Naga Cemetery at LRC, Dimapur for the final rites. Here, the coffin was carried to the burial ground by six men from Aliba Union, who wore Ao traditional waistcoats with black pants, white shirt and gloves.
Nostalgia
Several people narrated how Rev Longkok worked for the church in various capacities. Most of them described the late reverend as a simple, honest and hardworking man. Former Dimapur Ao Baptist Aorogo (DABA) treasurer, Lanu Imchen said that, the late reverend pedaled from house to house spreading the gospel in Dimapur when he was the pastor of DABA during the 19 70s. Seeing his effort, Dimapur pioneers Nyamo Lotha and his family donated a microphone.
Also church leader Rev Sosang said late Rev Longkok was a simple, efficient man, who had a ’second hand bicycle’ and later a ‘second hand scooter’. He never asked for any vehicle but was contended with what he had.
Likewise, Rev Kari Longchar spoke on behalf of the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) and Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC). He recounted how Rev Longkok worked for the Nagas and participated when the NBCC christened Nagaland as ‘Nagaland for Christ’. He said Rev Longkok was arrested by ‘Indian Army’ along with the other church workers on suspicion that they were ‘Naga underground workers’, when they were on the way to the Sumi regions. Rev Kari also narrated that Rev Longkok was put inside a sack, tied on a tree and beaten so hard that he was unable to feel his own body after the thrashing.
On behalf of the family, Dr Imcha Jamir, son of the demised reverend, expressed gratitude to all that reached out in time of need. Reverend Longkok’s is the first funeral service ever conducted inside the church in the history of DABA.
