COVID & DISCRIMINATION DEVASTATING
NEPAL’S FAST GROWING CHURCHES

Dear Friend,
    
Nepal is an amazing case study of how the Christian gospel spreads. 

In the 1960s the number of Christ-followers numbered a handful at best. 

Today, in the space of two generations the number of Christians is estimated at around three million – roughly ten percent of the entire population. 

Nepal is arguably the fastest growing church in the world, and largely without the imposition of foreign mission agencies and denominations exporting their models. 

But right now, the evangelical church in Nepal is in serious condition.

As some countries around the world feel like they’re turning the corner on Covid-19, Nepal is one that’s plunging into deep despair and chaos. 

This became personal for me the other day as news arrived of the death of a dear friend and pastor of an influential church in Nepal - Pastor Amber Thapa.

Not even five feet tall, Amber was still a “giant of a man” in the Lord – having formerly endured imprisonment for preaching the gospel. 

But Covid is no respecter of persons, and many churches are likewise experiencing the tragic loss of their shepherds, at a time when the church needs its leaders. 

With one person dying every 5 minutes, the bodies are literally piling up. Those of Christians are often treated even worse. My dear friend’s body was bagged, tied up with rope and incinerated by the army. And Christians can be last to receive what little vaccines are available.

Rev Hanok Tamang, who heads our national church alliance in Nepal, recounted a phone conversation with the pastor of a growing church that epitomizes both the dilemma they face and their resolve to serve: 

“We have no idea, what transpires in next hours or minutes; God only knows. But let us seize every moment available, to be resourceful to help people in need. This morning we saw a tragic scenario of several people in hospital beds, struggling with death and life, asking and seeking for oxygen . . . if the current situation continues for few more weeks, cities can become like a graveyard with pin-drop silence.”

But the devastation of Covid-19 is not the only threat to the Christian community in Nepal. 
The current Nepali constitution renders it technically illegal to proclaim the gospel, which could even be as loosely understood as walking down the street carrying a Bible. Those guilty of solicitation can face a fine of up to US$5000 or five years imprisonment. 

Our Global Advocacy department is currently challenging this flagrant abuse of human rights and religious freedom through its representation to the United Nations and other diplomatic channels.

The apostle Paul encouraged us in his seminal description of the body of Christ, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

So we’ve just established the Nepal Pastors Emergency Fund. We’re rushing to get Rev. Tamang funds to:

• provide personal health kits of masks and antibacterial soap
• provide food to families including those who’ve lost their father and only bread winner
• provide medical care – oxygen, medicines, doctor and ambulance fees