Why Is Christianity Thriving in Nepal?

By Jo Anne Lyon , Op-Ed Contributor – March 3, 2016

Christians in Nepal.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9

In Nepal, Hinduism reigns as the primary religion — out of Nepal’s population of 28 million, Christians make up less than 1.5 percent. Recently, the former Hindu kingdom adopted a new constitution that declared the country a secular state.

Under the new constitution, the freedom of religion is technically upheld but attempting to change or convert someone from one religion to another is punishable by law. In addition, Christianity remains socially unacceptable, often inciting violence and oppression. While you can legally choose your religion in Nepal, Nepali Christians continue to suffer inequality and persecution as they have for decades.

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First of Its Kind Raid: 11 Girls Rescued and Two Major Traffickers Arrested

News Staff : Mar 2, 2016 : Free for Life International

An official escorted [the girls] back to Nepal to the NGO’s shelter in Kathmandu where they are being medically, emotionally and physically screened and repatriated with their families.

(Franklin, TN)—Free for Life International, a U.S. anti-trafficking organization, in partnership with a Nepalese NGO, Peace Rehabilitation Center (Shanti Punarsthapana Griha) just completed a first of its kind raid and arrest of two major traffickers. This is the first time in history that the Indian Police Special Task force has partnered with a U.S. and Nepalese organization to assist in this type of mission which resulted in the rescue of 11 girls and the arrest of two major traffickers in India. (Photo via Free For Life International)

For the past month Free for Life International Liaison, Suman Sapkota, and his team from Peace Rehabilitation Center (Shanti Punarsthapana Griha) have been arranging this rescue operation.

After receiving a tip off from an individual, whose wife had been trafficked, the Indian Police had been watching two traffickers: Rajan Adhikari and Jivan Pun. The victim’s husband worked with Free for Life International, Peace Rehabilitation Center (PRC), and the Indian Police to set up a sting operation with the suspected traffickers.

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Hindu Priest Doubted Jesus Until He Showed Up in a Super Powerful Way

Hindu Priest Doubted Jesus Until He Showed Up in a Super Powerful WayVivian Chou, Mark Ellis : Mar 1, 2016 : God Reports

“I was shocked. I was very afraid. I kept saying, ‘Who is this? What’s happening to me? What’s inside of me running very fast?'” –Kosh Dahal

Nepal)—If 330 million gods and goddesses couldn’t respond to his prayers, Kosh Dahal doubted whether one God like Jesus could do very much. Plus, the Nepalese was a Hindu priest from the highest caste in Nepal, and he didn’t want to submit to a belief system he perceived as having a lower status.

“There was no caste higher than my caste,” he said in a YouTube video. “I didn’t want to mix with the people of the low castes.”

So Dahal repeatedly dismissed a Christian evangelist who showed up day after day to share the Gospel at his veterinary clinic in Kathmandu.

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Gospel Still Spreading Despite Nepal’s New Constitution That Bans Converting Others

Christian Aid Mission Staff : Nov 13, 2015 : Gospel Herald

“When there was persecution, professing the name of Christ was very costly, but since the government became secular there’s freedom, and because of that there’s a lot of false teaching coming in, so it’s imperative that they know what true teaching is.”

(Nepal)—Nepal has quietly enshrined a long-time ban on proselytizing in its new constitution. For an indigenous ministry in Nepal that has long found ways to quietly proclaim Christ as Lord, that means business as usual.

As did the interim constitution of the prior seven years, the new constitution signed by Nepal’s president on Sept. 20 outlaws “any act to convert another person from one religion to another or any act or behavior to undermine or jeopardize the religion of another,” with violations punishable by prison and/or fines.

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Christian Ministry In Nepal Competing for ‘Gospel Truth’ Against ‘False Teaching’ of Prosperity Preachers

The Christian Post – Stoyan Zaimov – November 15th, 2015

Nepalese Christians pray during their National Convention in Kathmandu April 20, 2010. The Nepalese Christians demanded the timely drafting of the constitution.

A Christian ministry in Nepal has reflected on the changing political currents in Nepal, and noted that as room for preaching the Gospel has grown, so has “false teaching” coming from groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and prosperity gospel preachers.

“When there was persecution, professing the name of Christ was very costly, but since the government became secular there’s freedom, and because of that there’s a lot of false teaching coming in, so it’s imperative that they know what true teaching is,” one ministry director working from Nepal said in a press release shared by Christian Aid Mission.

“With Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, prosperity gospel and others coming in, that problem is increasing, and the people that they are shepherding need to get fed the truth of the Scripture.”

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After Devastation and Death, Nepali Church Returns to Worship

May 06, 2015 – Baptist Press – Susie Rain

Members of a small Kathmandu church gather at an alternate place of worship one week after their building was damaged in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Nepal on April 25. IMB Photo

The small Nepali congregation started worship Saturday (May 2) right where they left off the previous week — singing.

Two dozen voices gained momentum, clapping hands, dancing and raising their faces to heaven in song: “Still I will love You and spread Your love to the people.”

The congregation breaks into prayer, for this is the moment when the song was interrupted by Nepal’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake a week earlier, on April 25.

They shed tears and cry in reliving the moment together: … The congregation grabbed hands and crouched against an inner wall of their fourth-floor room. Someone prayed aloud and others joined. The pastor, Rajaan Tamang*, looked up and saw the outer wall shaking. He looked over his shoulder and saw a crack form across the wall where they had sought shelter. He knew that if they didn’t get off the fourth floor, they all might die. They lurched down the stairs and gathered in the field outside. A few moments later, a building across the street crumbled and killed seven people. They were safe and together….

A lone voice gently leads the Kathmandu congregation back to the present by finishing the song: “Heaven has seen me. The cloud of testimony is surrounding me. Soak me with Your anointing power.”

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