GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY NEPAL

Transcription

1 GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY NEPAL GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report Report on Nationwide Outreach Campaign 2013

2 Background Information about Nepal Nepal is one of the most beautiful countries in the world; there are eight tallest mountains out of ten including Mt. Everest and Kanchanjungha. Nepal and Himalayan Kingdom are the two names go side by side. Nepal, in political maps, is one of the smallest countries of the world but has the amazingly diverse geography, landscapes, culture and traditions. Nepal has been made famous for its tourism, trekking, hiking, camping, mountain biking, national wildlife parks, jungle safaris, river rafting, sport fishing, and its many Hindu pilgrimages, temples and places of idol worship. Hinduism is practiced by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation, where a lowest minority of Christianity exists. Buddhism is second majority religion and Islam is found as the third. The Shah Kings ruled the country for more than 200 years, which forcefully imposed a caste-based Hindu socio-political system. A decade-long violent insurgency (1996 to 2006) initiated by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties led to departure of the Hindu Shah Dynasty in May Nepal Church History History of Nepalese Christianity in particular, as stated by Cindy Perry in her book's introductory paragraph, A Biographical History of the Church in Nepal, "The history of the young church in Nepal is unique It is fascinating an epic of hope and disappointment, of daring and vision, of struggles and persecution, endurance and triumph, joy and pain. Most importantly, it is a story of people encountering God people from a little known country in the remote Himalayas for whom Christ died people who responded to God's love in Christ, willing to risk their livelihoods, and even their lives to share that love with others." 1 Until 1990, the country observed a closed policy in terms of religion and cultural exchanges, excluding other faiths and officially marginalizing all practices except Hinduism. It was unthinkable to evangelize in the country by whatever means. Preaching of the Gospel in public or even in private was not allowed. The Christianity was totally banned. Missionary attempts like sharing Gospel and distribution of literatures were threatened. Nobody was allowed to accept new faiths different than the land's religion. The earliest account of Christian missionary works in Nepal is credited to the capuchin fathers from Europe. They served in India and Tibet, and used trek-way through Nepal. They seek for permission to stay for brief period in the valley. After several requests, the kings granted permission to stay and propagate the Gospel with necessary provisions. The missionaries under capuchin order of Roman Catholic Church were able to win a handful numbers of native Newars in Bhadgaon during their stay and services for more than 55 years. But the mission did not continue for long. Shortly after King Prithvi 1 Cindy Perry, A Biographical History of the Church in Nepal. Kathmandu: Nepal Church History Project, 1990 (3 rd Edition 2000). P xi. GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report

3 Narayan Shah occupied Kathmandu valley in 1768, his royal officers expelled 57 native Newari Christians of 14 families from Bhadgaon (present day Bhaktapur) because they suspected that the Christians having relationship with white-skinned Capuchin missionaries might spy for the British in India. That incident promoted the close-policy for the western missionaries and all Christian attempts for more than 200 years. Later on, the Rana autocratic rulers, who had been raised themselves as Neo-Kshetriyas from a tribal ethnic groups called Magars ruled more than hundred years since Those rulers fearing of losing control over the majority people did not allow foreigners to visit this country until The Christianity was not welcome in Nepal but the missionary zeal and compassion pioneered to plant churches among migrated Nepalese in North-East Indian states like Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Darjeeling, and Nagaland, Sikkim and also in Bhutan and Burma and so on. There was a huge attraction to many Nepalese to migrate in different parts of India because they would get opportunity to work, earn and have better financial supports to their families. Some would send their earnings back home and others rather chose to migrate with whole family. So there were permanent Nepali residences in the North-East and other bordering states of India as early as 18 th century. Thus the missionary efforts were also made like medical centers and hospitals to penetrate the Nepali speaking areas and people groups. The missionaries and local Indian churches started mission efforts to share the gospel among Nepalese. The small number of Nepalese Christians in different parts of those places were highly assisted by foreign missionaries and Indian churches. Thus, even though the country was politically closed for the gospel, God's work among Nepalese could not be resisted. More than hundreds of Nepalese churches were initiated and established in the Northern States of India, in Burma and Bhutan and around the bordering Indian cities. GOD-Nepal as National Outreach Movement Churches of Nepal had understood that all are called to take the message of hope and salvation to every regions of the country. As the GOD Vision gradually went throughout the country, the local churches started making their own plan to reach out the people in their own locality starting from May 25 th. This became a nationwide movement to inspire, encourage and mobilize most of the churches to come together into one heart and mind to pray and jointly to share the Gospel where was it most needed. The points listed below tell how the movement expanded and the message of Salvation in Christ spread all over the country by the strong participation of the local churches. Global Outreach Day Activities in Nepal Vision Casting: National Kickoff Meeting with Beat Baumann at Hotel Himalayan on 14 th February, 2013 Vision Casting Seminars Werner and Stephan: Two separate teams were formed to share the GOD vision to mainline church leaders and pastors to simultaneously reach different major GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report

4 city churches. We were able to held 14 Vision Casting within a week (March 11-17, 2013) 2000 plus pastors were able hear what the GOD movement was all about. Vision Casting (Follow-up) and training: The National Core Team formed and mobilized regional, zonal and district coordination teams to carry on the vision casting and trainings. We were able to hold 64 trainings outside of the Kathmandu valley and other 26 trainings were conducted in the valley. More than 7,000 pastors and leaders participated. Printing: Gospel Tracts (8 million copies), Training Booklets & GOD Flyer (50,000 each) and Posters (10,000 copies) all distributed. Mobilization: Praise God, more than 80% local churches actively participated in the movement. Outcomes of the GOD-Nepal Activities We planned to take Gospels to 5.4 million households mobilizing a million of Christians in the country. We praise God for active involvement of the local churches that whole body of Christ was mobilized. Most of the church members, Bible college students and number of Christian organizations were challenged to take part in, and we saw how they gave themselves into the movement. Twenty short-term missionaries (567 young men and women) were formed and send to remotest areas into mountain regions. As encouraged and instructed, the entire body of Christ took and share the Gospel to all 75 districts. They reached in Schools, homes, Army camps, Government offices, hotel, restaurants and other marketplaces. The sharing on 25 th and 26 th went through various of techniques such personal relation building, friendship, stage shows, storytelling or sharing live-testimonies, musical shows and street-drama, and tracks distributions, whatever techniques were used God turned those to be a powerful tools to penetrate the hearts of hundreds of thousands people in different locations: o Dhading: One mentally retired woman was prayed for by a group of ladies on to door-to-door evangelism on May 25 th and she was completely healed. o Baglung: An old man, who was Hindu priest for almost 50 years, and his wife decided to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior on 25 th. Right away, they throw off everything in their belongings what were used for idolatries before. o Sanga, Kavre: Nine people gave their lives to Christ after GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report

5 hearing the outreach team shared about Christ and they have been counted as the first House-Church as the result of GOD-Nepal. o Dalko, Kathmandu: 11years old girl was healed from a terminating sickness immediately when an outreach team entered the house and prayed over her. Now she and her whole family members are worshiping God as the member of Gyanashwor Church, Kathmandu. o Chitwan: GOD-Nepal brought all the church leaders together into unity for gospel. There is one village called Keyrak in the district, the home of Chepang tribal people to whom Good News was brought and several of the villagers gave their lives to Christ and there a new church has been started. o Hetauda: A lady was delivered from devil possession and she throw a 'Jantar' off which was tied on her neck for several years. The leadership of one of the National Core Team Member plants one new church there. And recently, 5 people were baptized including an 82 years old man. o Damak, Jhapa: Jyoti Church is one of the oldest Churches with many daughter churches in the eastern region. GOD-Nepal created another opportunity for the entire church-believers and leaders to be mobilized and share about Christ's message of salvation to their lost ones in the neighborhood. Now they have started many house churches wherever they reached with the Gospel. o Kathmandu: The National Core Team strategically divided the Capital Metro City into 21 geographical sectors and more than 600 churches in the Valley were mobilized including two mega churches like Nepali Isai Mandali (Gyaneswor Church) and Koinonia Patan Church. o Jumla, the remotest district in the western Region: Two short-term missionary teams were badly harassed and beaten by Hindu extremists called Shiva Sena (Army of Shiva, the destroyer god of Hindus). In Several places in East and southern Nepal the same extremist groups stood against of GOD campaigners. They had already noticed what the Christians were about to do, so they also printed and distributed anti-christian posters as earlier of 25 th May. o The ripple did not confined in the country alone, Nepali Diaspora in India, Malaysia, Gulf countries and rest of the world was greatly influenced by the movement. The National Core Team is still receiving reports from GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report

6 Diaspora that many young people are coming to Christ due to the publicity and outreach attempts in those countries. Impact of GOD-Nepal GOD-Nepal movement opened a door to unite many denominations, churches and mission-organizations to take the Gospel to bring the Good News to entire Nepalese. The leaders put aside all differences and joint hands to proclaim the Day of Salvation to every households of their own neighborhood. The GOD movement revived the Churches for the Gospel. Up to this day, every leader has gathered some stories about the impact of the movement that they were able to go out and share the Gospel to the people around them and it was so effective when they went all together. We prayerfully hope and believed that more than 150,000 people will give their lives to Christ till the end of this year The Local churches are continuously taking initiative to follow-up whom they were able to share the Gospel during the GOD-Nepal campaign in last May-June. Our God, through Global Outreach Day Worldwide movement, brought all churches together in unity. We made assured of this at the meeting held in Kathmandu among senior pastors of all mainline denominations, churches, and Para-church organizations. Most of the senior and influential leaders willingly endorsed the movement with their encouraging statements to GOD-Nepal promotional flyer and training manual. Fellowships were started in number of places like Sarlahi Banke, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Kavre, Sindhuli, Jhapa, Morang, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Jumla, Doti, Darchula and many other Districts. This information is just a glimpse of the whole story. We are reported that hundreds of house churches are newly started as the result of Global Outreach Day. Many miraculous healings and deliverance occurred because simple people took the word of God in genuine love for Christ and their own people. The outreach campaign is ongoing! As the main orientation of Nationwide Trainings, the local churches were asked to commit for an ongoing campaign, not to take this as an event. Reports are coming that the short-term missionaries and local churches have started Small Bible Study Groups and House GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report

7 Churches. Latest poll counts that more than 800 house churches have formed in different parts of the country. Reports in Figure Eastern Region Central Region Central Hills Kathmand u Valley Western Region Mid West Region Far west Region No. of Households 1,230, ,638 1,659, ,196 1,070, , ,980 6,474,805 Population 5,811,555 4,423,725 9,115,409 3,087,055 4,926,765 3,546,682 2,552,517 33,463,708 No. of Churches 1, , , ,196 Trainined to Share 1, ,385 1,255 1, ,320 Evangelization 70% 76% 90% 92% 91% 100% 92% 87% Tracts Distribution 1,150,000 1,083,730 2,296, , , ,000 88,529 5,854,469 Positive Response 38, , ,522 29,235 66,505 23,770 49,789 1,093,705 Decesion Made 23,488 3,391 9,604 6,153 24,229 5,768 3,761 76,394 New Fellowship 1, , , ,631 Total Challenges ahead for the church in Nepal When a rapid growth took place and also the political system with much freedom guaranteed, the high pitch of the work of evangelism somehow slowed down and the churches had become inactive in terms of sharing the gospel to their neighbors. But, we thank God for the GOD initiatives and passion demonstrated to the lost, we once again were able to come together for His sake. Had never before like this, most of the prominent National Leaders and all members of the church joined their hands to achieve the common goal, to speed up the pace. More than 550 young people recruited to serve as short-term missionaries and bring the good news, where there still was lacking to bring the gospel to everyone within the country. We had targeted every household in the country, and yet the National Core Team is not fully satisfied. There is much to do ahead. There are still left some of the villages unreached. And the follow-up process seems to be lacking something. Yes, the Church of Nepal needs to have longterm ongoing plan in the area of Church planting, Discipleship training both mobile and residential, and so on. Since Most Leaders are first generation converts from Hindu, Buddhist and other religions, the Church of Nepal needs a strategic plan to fill the momentum on outreach, follow-up, discipleship and church planting. GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report

8 Therefore, we are prayerfully planning for continual momentum for the movement even in year 2014 and beyond till we will not be able to share about Christ's Good News every single man and woman who is a Nepali! We humbly request you to stand with us praying that the every person in this beautiful Himalayan Country would be delivered from all sorts of problem and come to be reconciled with Eternal God forever! Thank you! Sincerely Yours, Mr. Madan Shah 'Prince' National Coordinator Kathmandu, Nepal GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report

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10 Report compiled, verified and finalized by the National Core Team Tek Prasad Rijal Finance Govind Budhathoki Prayer & Administration Dilli Ram Paudel Para-Church Organizations Harka Bahadur Khadka Church & Denominations Rajendra Malla Church & Denominations Coordinator BP Khanal Publicity & Nepali Diaspora Mailing Address: Global Outreach Day Nepal, GPO Box 8975, EPC 2776, KTM., Nepal GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY Report