NEPAL:
CHRISTIANITY GROWING IN SPITE OF A NATION IN TURMOIL
By M.K. Henderson
Saturday, July 9, 2005
 KATHMANDU, NEPAL (ANS)
-- The Church in Nepal is strong, in
spite of persecution from Communist Maoists. Enduring severe torture
for the cause of Christ the Nepali church calls out for prayer support.
Recently M.K. Henderson visited with several pastors concerning the
political turmoil that is increasing in Nepal. (Pictured: Nepali Christians Worship Boldly
in Spite of Persecution).
Nepal, known as the “Hindu Kingdom”, nestled between China on the north
and India on the South has been in turmoil since 1996. That is when the
Communist (Maoists) rebels began their attempt to overtake the
monarchy/democratic government and instill Communist rule.
The Maoist party has instituted and enforced bandhs; (forced shutdowns)
blocked major highways, slowed down and sometimes cut off the supply of
basics such as oil and food coming into cities. Forcing loyalty through
fear by raping and torturing people in the villages, and bombing major
highways, the insurgents have murdered 12,000 people since 2001.
On February 1st, King Gyanendra took full control of the alleged
corrupt government ousting Prime Minister, Deuba and turning the
government into a dictatorship, leaving democracy suspended. On May
27th, speaking at Tribhuvan University, King Gyanendra called for all
parties to safeguard democracy. The Royal Nepal Army is aggressively
fighting the Maoists. India and the US have attempted to show their
support for democracy by providing arms.
 Some churches in the
Kathmandu Valley have been closed by the Maoists, yet in spite of
severe persecution, according to Pastor Gurung, the Nepalese Christians
are growing stronger in their faith. (Pictured:
Nepali Churches Display Exuberant, Joyful
worship in Kathmandu).
In a video interview with me, Pastor Gurung said, “In some areas of the
countryside, Maoists forced them (pastors) to close down the church
services, demanded money. They thought that the Christians received
funds from outside the country--that was the allegations on the
believers. Pray for the believers that God would continue to multiply
our numbers.”
He went on to say: “In spite of all this...the political situation, the
churches are growing because people are seeking, peace, seeking
security, seeking love. Because of the political situation--this Maoist
infiltration, one of our churches in a remote place, the pastor was
forced to leave that church and was taken to their camp, beaten
severely and asked for 10,000 rupees, he didn't have----was over there
eighteen days---then gave them 4,000 rupees. Somehow he escaped and
came to one of our cities and his life was saved.”
“Some of the churches are prohibited from having a church meeting---a
service on Saturdays. They (Maoists) say that this is American
Imperialism--so it must stop and we cannot gather people, if you want
to worship, stay in your homes, but don't gather people. You have to
move from here. Because of.....the threats of the Maoists......
churches are closed. People are finding it difficult to serve the Lord,
to worship God together. They are in their homes alone (because) in the
remote places the churches are closed down.”
When asked if the people’s faith is strong, he said, “Yes, in spite of
all of these problems and difficulties, they are on their knees praying
to the Lord that one day these people (Maoists) will also kneel down
before the Lord and worship him. That is how we are praying and
believing in the Lord”
In spite of persecution the Nepali church continues to grow rapidly in
numbers. In the 1960s there were only about 50 Christians in Nepal.
Today that number is estimated to be well over 500,000.
Parajule, a former Hindu priest was forced to leave home after his
conversion at the age of 15 years old. Thus began the wonderful but
difficult course of his life.
When asked how his family reacted to his conversion and his leaving the
priesthood, he said, “When I accepted the Lord in my life as my savior,
they told me you are not ever allowed to be in our home as our home is
holy......and you've already accepted this religion (Christianity) for
low caste people.”
“When the gospel came into Nepal, most went to low caste people because
(although they were Hindus) were not allowed into the temples. My older
brothers were not allowed to meet me there. They rejected me so I had
to come to Kathmandu.”
He said it was difficult when he first arrived in the city because he
didn’t know anyone there and he felt that he was in total darkness. “I
prayed for God to be with me--through His grace, I found a pastor who
helped me.
“When I became a Christian---was baptized--I prayed to the Lord. What
must I do? The Lord gave me a vision and put a burden in my heart for
the street children since 1980--until today I have been working with
the street children. We have a drop in center for those children from
different parts of Nepal, staying on the streets begging for money from
tourists. (Many had been forced into sex tourism) I am helping them to
learn to read and write and with medical problems.
Today Parajule operates the Morning Star Children's Charity, a home for
street children in Nepal. The home is bright and cheery and the
children are well cared for here.
Nepalese Christians ask that believers around the world continue
praying for them and their nation during this difficult season of
unrest.
M.K. Henderson can be contacted by e-mail at: mk.dd.hen@juno.com
MK Henderson is a freelance writer, minister, former
pastor and
director of the non profit organization, Brand New Images, Inc.
(founded
in 1991) that has as it's mission to bring healing and restoration to
oppressed women and children in the US and overseas by providing
counselor training and workshops on healing. MK recently returned from
traveling to several locations in SE Asia. In South India she worked
with aiding tsunami victims (sex trafficking prevention) and in Nepal
worked with pastors and churches in their efforts to house and bring
healing to street children, many victimized by sex slavery. Henderson
has a BA degree from Evangel College and an MA degree from Regent
University Graduate School. Previously to working as the executive
director of BNI she was the founder and CEO of a public relations firm
in New York City for seven years. She is currently based in Denver,
Colo. For more info please email: brandnewimages@aol.com.
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