Disputes hurting and helping missions work in Nepal
The missions in the country of Nepal are seeing both opportunities and obstacles as a result of the current violence currently taking place in the world’s only Hindu kingdom.
“We have at least 38 missionaries who had to be relocated simply because the missionaries are now caught between the government soldiers and the Maoists, kind of a crossfire situation,” said Gospel for Asia’s president, K.P. Yohannan.
Gospel for Asia (GFA) reported that fighting has had an impact on their work in rural areas, and that the government has been preventing them from freely sharing the Gospel. However, Yohannan says that is changing in the rebel held areas. “The Maoists are telling our missionaries, ‘you are starting our schools and helping our people, no problem, you continue your work,” says Yohannan. Another positive effect of the situation has been the reduction of persecution from the government police, who are currently concentrating on the Maoists. “Before this, everywhere, every month, we had our workers getting in trouble with the government police. But since the Maoist problems began, they’re not more going after the Christian workers, because they’re concentrating now on the Maoists. It’s amazing how God uses all this stuff to get the Gospel out.”
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Despite the troubles that are present in Nepal, the missions in Nepal are not only striving, but developing greatly. “God has been working there. Literally thousands of people have come to know the Lord. And by the grace of God, we have somewhere around 200 churches planted there,” commented Yohannan. GFA is currently seeking ways to provide Bibles for the new believers as their numbers increase and as there is a greater need for more resources.
