Christian Leaders Gather for Prayer in Northeast India, See it as ‘Lord’s Doing’

Eighty-five Christian leaders representing different churches across East Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, gathered on September 22 at St. Mary’s School in Namsai for a day-long prayer meeting focused on Christian unity and prayer for the nation, its leaders and society.

The gathering brought together pastors, evangelists, women leaders, catechists and youth leaders from churches across eight districts of East Arunachal Pradesh.

Welcoming representatives of different Christian denominations, Bishop George Pallipparambil, SDB, of Miao Diocese, who organized the prayer gathering, said the meeting was a fulfillment of Christ’s prayer for the unity of his followers.

“Today, we are not Baptist, Revival, Pentecostal or Catholic, but we are Christians,” the Salesian bishop said.

Referring to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21, Bishop Pallipparambil emphasized the responsibility of Christians to pray for one another and their neighbors.

“Praying is our duty, as Jesus has asked us to pray for one another and for our neighbors. And in doing so, we come as one family that belongs to Christ,” he said.

Prabhin Baraik of United Christian Prayers for India (UCPI), who led the participants in reflections on intercessory prayer, said praying for others is both a Christian responsibility and a biblical mandate.

Drawing from 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Baraik led the participants in prayers for national leaders, those in authority, community leaders and all people.

Church leaders welcomed the initiative as an important step toward greater fellowship and collaboration among Christians in the region.

Speaking on behalf of the Heva Baptist Association, Rabi Angu thanked Bishop Pallipparambil and UCPI for bringing church leaders together for the prayer gathering.

“Such initiatives are the need of the hour and this would bring us closer to each other as one family,” he said.

Ralte, a member of the Church of the Living God, described the gathering as “the Lord’s doing,” while Gamjum Haging, a women’s leader from the Revival Church, said the meeting strengthened her commitment to pray for others.

“This gathering is a source of strength to continue to pray for one another, leaders, neighbors and for everyone,” she said.

Noromso Chai, president of the Lohit Anjaw Christian Forum, said the gathering had encouraged participants to adopt a more focused approach to prayer.

“This prayer event has given us a new orientation to our manner of praying. We shall not make obscure prayers but we will make focused and person-oriented prayers as we go forward,” he said.

Fr. Daniel, coordinator of the program, expressed gratitude for the strong participation from churches across the region.

“God has opened a wonderful way to bring people together to pray, fulfilling His desire,” he said.

The gathering concluded with a resolution to prepare and distribute a common prayer card containing a short prayer and space for participants to write the names of 20 people for whom they would commit themselves to pray.

Organizers said the initiative was intended not merely as a one-day gathering but as an encouragement for Christians across East Arunachal Pradesh to continue praying regularly for one another, their communities and the nation.