Lausanne World Pulse – LAUSANNE REPORTS – Himalayan Global Summit 2009

By Charisma Lepcha
July 2009

New relations and shared visions were established 19-21 March 2009 when the Himalayan people journeyed from different parts of the globe to the Baptist Conference Centre in Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Thailand, for the Himalayan Global Summit 2009. It was a gathering of 250 leaders from the Himalayan Nepali Church and the Nepali Diaspora Church representing fourteen countries.

The opening ceremony hosted a flag procession representing the many nations home to the diasporic Himalayan people. As the flag bearers made their way inside the hall and lined up in front of the stage, excited delegates all prayed in accordance to the theme of the conference: “From the Himalayas…to the ends of the earth,” based in part on Acts 1:8.

Engaging with Nepali and Himalayan Churches Today
The summit was an attempt to go beyond the Himalayan borders in order to understand and engage in the present-day growth of Nepali diaspora churches around the world. Today, hundreds of Nepali churches and fellowships have been started and established by Nepalis who have left their homes seeking better job opportunities in different parts of the world. It is reported that in Malaysia alone there are about sixty churches of the diaspora. However, most of these churches are temporary establishments which may not exist when the current leaders return home, shared Dr. Adon Rongong, chair of the summit. “One of our objectives should be to reach out to the native people of their adoptive countries, train local leaders, and give a permanency to the Church,” he explained.

The opening ceremony hosted a flag procession representing the many nations home to the diasporic Himalayan people.

At home, the Himalayan churches are also experiencing a growing mission vision and sending missionaries to other countries. “It was important to bring the Himalayan Church into the mainstream missionary sending movement,” said Daya R. Pradhan, national coordinator for the summit. It was thus a chance to share the vision and also make known the opportunities and resources between Himalayan churches within and beyond the region. In sharing what God is doing in different parts of the world and the kind of role that needs to be taken by the Himalayan Church, this meeting was a great opportunity to share a common vision to fulfill the Great Commission.

Expanded Mission Vision
The slogan “Himalayan people, missionary people” has also taken a transformed meaning since it came to use in 1998. During its initial use, it was understood as Himalayan people reaching out to Himalayan people in the Himalayas, with focus on Nepal, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Bhutan. At the turn of the millennium, it was understood as Himalayan people reaching out to the Himalayan diaspora in urban India, East Asia, Gulf countries, and other parts of the world. Now, it has a broader meaning as it indicates Himalayan people reaching out to the world despite the cultural and linguistic differences. With emphasis on cross-cultural missions and the need to reach the ends of the earth, the Himalayan people now have a broader mission field.

Dr. Thomas Wang, president of Great Commission Center International and the main speaker at the conference, added a new rendition to the existing slogan: “Asian people, missionary people.”

Charisma K. Lepcha is a freelance writer from Darjeeling, India. She recently completed her masters degree in anthropology from the North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong, India.