Nepal

Overview

The Democratic Republic of Nepal is located in the Himalayas of South Asia, and it is landlocked by India and the Chinese region of Tibet. The mountains of northern Nepal are home to eight of the ten tallest peaks in the world, including the highest, Mount Everest. The capital and largest city of Nepal is Kathmandu, having a population of over 2.6 million people. Historically a monarchy, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768-2008. The civil war of 1996-2006, between Maoist fighters and the existing government, ultimately led to the end of the monarchy and the establishment of a secular democratic republic. Nepal is relatively low on the U.N. human development index, with their economic growth continuing to be stunted by political uncertainty.

There is little recorded Christian activity in Nepal before the 20^thcentury. Most of the recorded activity came from the migration of those who came back to Nepal from other parts of the world. The work of William Carey in India, and his translation of the New Testament into Nepali, also played the important role in Nepali Christianity. One man, Ganga Prasad Pradhan (1851-1932), was born in Kathmandu in wealthy Newar family, but was raised in Darjeeling, India. It is there that he became a Christian. He is known as first ordained Nepali pastor. He labored to translate the Bible and other evangelistic material into the Nepali language in 1914. He returned with his family to Katmandu to establish a Christian presence in Nepal, but he was soon expelled by the Rana rulers. In 1951, King Tribhuvan opened Nepal’s borders and invited the world to assist in Nepal’s development. This now opened the door for the foreign missionary to enter. It is said that the first church was formed in 1952. Mission’s originations soon started hospitals, nursing colleges, clinics, and schools. Even though they were forbidden to convert people to Christianity, these institutions played a vital role in its development. After the institution of the multi-party democracy in Nepal in 1990, a new constitution brought more freedom for Christian activities. However, in recent days, we have seen this freedom restricted by the government, as they are now instituting laws that would prevent the spreading of the gospel. The need for more laborers is great, for Nepal has the fifth highest number of unreached people groups in the world.

Sources: Wikipedia, Joshua Project, and Operation World

HeartCry Missionaries

Dhal B.

Church Planter - Nepal

Dhal B. was converted through the witness of a coworker when he was working for Sony in Punjab, India. He returned to Nepal in 2003 and has been working in the ministry... read more

Dul G. 

Church Planter - Nepal

Dul G. grew up in a Hindu family in the mountains of Nepal. Upon hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, he was convicted about his sin and radically transformed... read more

Ghan S.

Church Planter - Nepal

Ghan S. serves as a leader of a group of pastors that HeartCry partners with in Nepal. He also pastors his own local congregation. Ghan is married and has two sons... read more

Gopal G.

Church Planter - Nepal

Gopal G. was converted from an orthodox Buddhist background, and has been planting churches in Nepal since 2002. God has used him to plant multiple churches in southwestern... read more

Khem C.

Church Planter - Nepal

Khem is the son of a Hindu priest and as a young man he followed the Hindu tradition together with His family. Shortly after the Lord saved him in 2003, he went to study... read more

Neel G.

Church Planter - Nepal

Neel was saved out of a Hindu and Buddhist family, and after his conversion was used to start a church plant in his home village. Since then he has begun... read more

Ragunandam V.

Church Planter - Nepal

Ragunandam is serving as a church planter in Nepal, where he returned to serve full time in the ministry after studying at a Bible school for a year in India from 2003 to 2004... read more

Ram B. 

Church Planter - Nepal

Ram B. began working in the ministry in 2003. In 2005 he became an elder and soon after began working to plant a church. He remains the pastor of this church today... read more

Sarvajit G.

Church Planter - Nepal

Sarvajit graduated from a seminary in North India in 2010 and returned to Nepal in order to work alongside his father. He has a great desire to see Nepalese believers grow... read more

Tul B.

Church Planter - Nepal

Tul began a church in his home village shortly after his conversion. He later went to Bible school in India, and has now returned to Nepal to serve as a church planter... read more