Missionaries first arrived in Nepal in 1950, but they were primarily emphasizing social work. By 1968 less than 100 Nepalese professed faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Today that number has grown to 1.5 million.
Pastor Gopal Regmi, founder and president of an evangelical Baptist association based in the capital of Kathmandu, warmly welcomed Chris and Deb Hindal to Nepal. Pastor Regmi began the ministry 25 years ago and has started 50 churches in four districts of the country. The association is organized with an administrative board with regional representatives in each of the districts. Only three of the churches currently do not have pastors. Since the country follows the Hindu calendar, Saturday is the only day when businesses and schools are closed; Sunday is a regular work day. So the churches gather for worship on Saturday. For those who are able, Sunday morning is designated for prayer and worship, but only a few are able to attend.
Chris was invited to preach on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the mother church in Kathmandu. Three hundred people gathered for a two-hour service including singing Nepali songs, extended prayer, three testimonies from Deb, two guests from England, and an hour of preaching. The Hindals were given a tour of the facilities, including the church, orphanage, elementary school, widows’ home, and Bible college. The orphanage cares for 87 children at two sites. At the Bible college, 30 students are enrolled. The college teaches in the Nepali language with a very limited library of Nepali resources. Consideration is being given to changing to English teaching by the next term. At the widows’ home, the Hindals learned that although most families care for their elderly parents, the church assumes the responsibility for the Christian widows, who are widows indeed.
Chris also preached at the Sunday prayer meeting to a group of about 100. At the close of the services, Chris and Deb received traditional Nepali gifts: a handwoven purse for Deb, and an official Nepali cap along with leis of flowers for Chris. It is not common for a Nepali to shake hands or embrace, but Chris and Deb were asked to stand at the back of the church, where every man, woman, and child greeted them with palms together, saying, “Jamosee” (“Praise the Lord”). Christian fellowship is warmly practiced in Nepal.
The regional representatives had been invited to the meeting and Chris met with them over dinner. He shared the history of the GARBC and the functions of the International Partnership. Though the Napalis asked few questions, they obviously were warm toward the concept. Pastor Regmi asked Chris several questions related to the GARBC’s position and practice of separation. He also queried about its placement on the Armenian Calvinism continuum. As the Hindals and Napalis said their goodbyes at the airport on Monday morning, Pastor Regmi indicated that they would be filling out the application online for partnership in the near future.
Early Sunday morning Chris and Deb met with Pastor Gore Tamang, a Nepali missionary church planter of the New Testament Baptist Church Association of Manipur, India. Pastor Tamang started his ministry in 1998 and has planted four churches in Kathmandu. The Hindals visited the main church that seats 100 people on the floor. The church people erected the building on leased land. Their goal is to purchase the land in the next five years. They have saved $3,000 U.S. but realize they will need others to help, since the cost is $150,000. They also have a small orphanage out in the countryside for eight children. In answer to prayer, God used an unsaved German man to purchase the land and erect a suitable two-story house. One room in the house has been set aside for worship, as they reach out to the surrounding village of 50 houses. About 25 attend worship.
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