International Gold Star Award (2001), Neiliezhü Üsou (7 July 1941 – 30 January 2009) was an Indian baptist minister and public leader from Nagaland.
[1] Üsou joined Baptist English School in Kohima as teacher and married the youngest daughter of Rev.
[4] Üsou was the first Honorary Youth Director of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) in 1972[5] and actively participated in the Billy Graham Crusade held in Kohima the same year.
[12] He attended the 16th Baptist World Alliance Congress at Seoul, South Korea, 14–18 August 1990 and was among the 370 ordained ministers from 149 countries to take part in a mass Baptism at the Olympic rowing competition site in Misari Regatta, where 10,000 candidates received water baptism.
[13] In 1974 he was sent by the Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India (CBCNEI) to Arunachal Pradesh to conduct a two-week music seminar.
He successfully carried out the dangerous mission, conducting music classes in the afternoons and Bible studies in the evenings.
[1][4] He successfully completed twenty five years as full-time pastor and was conferred the title of Senior Pastor during the Silver Jubilee celebration held on 12 October 2003, attended by many Church leaders and believers from various Churches including the State Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio.
[15][16] Every three years the relatives and war survivors from the United Kingdom visit Kohima for memorial services where he conduct these solemn occasions.
[17] He chaired the Remembrance Day service along with some Agape members from Japan led by Keiko Holmes, recipient of OBE, working for reconciliation on 11 November 2002, at Kohima War Cemetery.
[citation needed] They are considered to be the only musical family in Nagaland and they perform in different concerts, government functions and Churches.
[22] The school has been producing many amateur musicians and Church pianists and now offers programmes of study in voice, violin, piano, saxophone, drums and conducting departments under the music exam boards of ABRSM (the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and Trinity Guildhall, London.
He was conferred Doctorate in Divinity (D.D)[37] by the International Institute of Church Management (IICM)[38] on 24 August 2002, at Gurukul Theological College, Chennai.
He fell sick in the first part of 2006 and was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi in the month of August and underwent major surgery.
Under his Chairmanship his native village Nerhema Baptist Church successfully celebrated 100 years of Christianity from 15 to 17 December 2006.
Prayers of the believers were answered and he came back home stronger and was able to continue serving the Lord by being one of the main speakers during the crucial Naga Peace Convention[42] held from 22 to 24 February 2008, at Dimapur.
His funeral service took place at 2:00 PM IST on Sunday, 1 February 2009, in his Church (MHBC) and was attended by thousands.
[29][44] Speakers at the Funeral included the Chief Minister of Nagaland;[45] representatives from various government and civil societies.
Shürhozelie Liezietsu, Minister for Higher and Technical Education and Urban Development, Nagaland presnnted the award as the Chief Guest of the auspicious occasion.