Pele George
A concerned citizen with hope for a new tomorrow
Nagaland is a land of faith, culture, and resilience. The Church has long stood as a pillar of hope and identity for its people, shaping generations with the message of Christ’s love. However, as the world around us changes and the struggles of our youth deepen, it becomes crucial to ask: Are we, as a Christian community, doing enough to address the real issues faced by this generation?
This is not an attack, nor a criticism of the Church. It is a heartfelt reflection from a concerned citizen who believes that the Church holds the greatest potential to transform Nagaland from within. I write this with full hope and confidence in the Church—a place that has healed many and united communities in the past. But I also write this as someone who acknowledges that we, being human and made of flesh and blood, are imperfect. We must constantly be open to growth, accountability, and revival.
Nagaland’s Social Realities Cannot Be Ignored
Today, we face a generation burdened by:
• Drug addiction and alcoholism
• Mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts
• Bullying and peer pressure, especially in schools and colleges
• Sexual abuse, broken families, and identity crises
• Unemployment and a lack of purpose
• The growing divide between religious appearance and authentic faith
These are not just issues of society; they are issues of the soul. And who better to address soul issues than the Church?
The Church Can Be the Catalyst of True Revival
What Nagaland needs is not just another event or conference. It needs a spiritual revival that touches every layer of human pain—emotional, social, mental, economic, and spiritual.
The Church must not remain silent on difficult topics. Jesus never avoided the broken. He walked among lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and the outcasts. He confronted sin, but He also brought healing, truth, and purpose. If we follow Him, then we too must be brave enough to enter the messy realities of today’s generation.
How the Church Can Be More Effective in Addressing Social Issues
1. Mental Health & Emotional Healing Ministries: Establish safe spaces within churches for counseling, emotional healing, and trauma recovery. Train lay counselors, pastors, and elders to understand and deal with depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and emotional abuse.
2. Youth Skill Development & Career Guidance: Equip young people with life skills, entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and guidance on how to thrive in the real world—not just spiritually, but also economically and socially.
3. Honest Conversations on Taboo Topics: Start Bible-based discussions on sexual abuse, LGBTQ+ identity, addiction, pornography, and bullying. When these topics are ignored, they grow in the shadows. When they are brought to the light of Christ, healing begins.
4. Empower Youth in Leadership: Let young people be more than just Sunday performers or youth camp attendees. Give them a voice in church decisions, community programs, and mission work. Let them shape the Church’s future.
5. Community Outreach & Social Justice: Be present in slums, rehab centers, schools, and prisons. Fight corruption, protect the abused, and support victims of domestic violence. Be known not just for good preaching, but for radical love in action.
6. Collaborate Across Denominations & Sectors: The issues we face are too big for one church or denomination alone. We need unity between Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Revival, and other churches. And we need partnerships with educators, NGOs, medical professionals, and psychologists.
Putting God First: The Foundation for a Transformed Generation
At the core of every social solution must be this one eternal truth: Put God first.
The Bible says in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
If we place God above our traditions, politics, pride, and fear—then a new generation will rise in Nagaland. A generation:
• That honors God not just in church, but in classrooms, workplaces, and homes
• That breaks cycles of addiction and replaces them with purpose
• That refuses to stay silent about abuse and speaks up for justice
• That serves the poor, respects the elderly, and uplifts the broken
• That glorifies God in excellence, integrity, and bold faith
Nagaland Can Be a Blessing
If the Church takes its place as a beacon of truth and transformation, Nagaland will not only heal itself—it will become a blessing for many other states. A shining light. A testimony. A living example of what happens when a people put God first in every aspect of life.
Let this be the generation that brings the Church outside its walls. Let this be the season of radical love, courageous truth, and holy transformation. We are not too late. We are right on time.
May the Church rise.
May the youth rise.
May Nagaland rise.
