In the late 19th century, various Baptist congregations in the Naga Hills were organised into associations on tribe and linguistic lines.[2] A broader fellowship of the Baptist churches in the Naga Hills first took the forms of the Naga Hills Baptist Church Advisory Board in Kohima.[3] It was renamed as the Naga Hills Baptist Church Council in 1937.[4] In 1950, the council became a founding member of the
Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India.[5]
In 1953, it took the name of Nagaland Baptist Church Council.[6] In 2007, there were 1,347 churches and 454,349 members.[7]
In 1987, the Mission Conference who took place in the
Pfütsero Town Baptist Church approved a global apostolate of 10,000 new missionaries.[8]
Resolutions
The Third Convention of the NBCC was held at
Wokha from 31 January to 2 February 1964. An important resolution passed welcomed the 'proposed Peace Talk between the Government of India and Mr. Phizo.'[9] Another resolution at the convention stated:[10]
a series of talks on the great danger posed by Communism and its atheistic elements both to the body and soul of man, be conducted in every village under the auspices of the local Church, and that all the Field Supervisors be requested to provide the Churches in their respective areas with necessary literature on the subject.
Statistics
According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 1,661 churches and 648,096 members. [11]
Communicant members including children and non-baptized family members are not included in the statistics.
^Thomas, John. Evangelising the nation: religion and the formation of Naga political identity (South Asia ed.). New Delhi: Routledge. p. 142.
ISBN9781138639928.
^Thomas, John. Evangelising the nation: religion and the formation of Naga political identity (South Asia ed.). New Delhi: Routledge. p. 149.
ISBN9781138639928.
^Baptist World Alliance,
Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
^ NBCC,
History, nbcc-nagaland.org, India, retrieved May 5, 2023