Over a century ago a Scotsman named William Pettigrew took his devoted wife to Northeast India and they began to hack their way through the wild, thick forest with the purpose in their hearts of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to a people group who were known to be violent head-hunters. This group was the Tangkhul tribe of the Naga people, descendants of Chinese immigrants who fled the atrocities committed during the building of the Great Wall. By the grace of God the Pettigrews were eventually accepted by the Nagas and over several decades “Uncle William” as the Nagas call him even today, learned the Tangkhul dialect and started a school for Nagas that would teach basic subjects as well as the English language. Incredibly, Pettigrew even translated the Bible into Tangkhul dialect.
On September 29th, 1901 the first 12 Naga converts to Christianity were baptized in a local pond leading to the conversion of countless Nagas since then. In a true testimonial to the transformational power of the gospel, the Naga people laid down their war axes and never looked back. Today, there are literally millions of Nagas who profess Christianity. Because William Pettigrew was sponsored by the American Baptist Association, most Nagas are Baptists and have a deep affection for America. This engagement of Naga head-hunters by western missionaries constituted a major clash of cultures.
Now that over a century has passed, we see an ironic second clash. While the Nagas continue to faithfully practice the conservative, principled Christianity brought to them over a century ago by white westerners, they are now having to fend off the negative effects of contemporary American media. The same U.S. A. that sent the Nagas the biblical message of life, virtue and peace now uses modern technology to deliver the Kardashians, hip hop, and ever-shifting post-modern standards of right and wrong.
Because the Nagas have already been successfully evangelized, they would be considered a “reached” people group by most missions agencies, however, Christian leaders among the Nagas desperately need help in combating these contemporary assaults on their faith community. It is for this reason that the Leadership of Faith Fortress has felt led to initiate ministries among the Nagas. Please join us in prayer and support of these precious brothers and sisters.
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