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Adding to family pressure and real persecution by Hindu extremists against Christians are the attacks in recent years by Maoist rebels. Incidents of guerrillas burning churches and beating believers have been escalating. In November Maoists broke off talks with the government and renewed violence forced authorities to declare a state of emergency. Most doubt that the Communists will succeed in taking over the government. “But if they did,” said one mission leader, “we’re on the hit list to go. They’ve made it clear that they want to get rid of Christians.” The leader, as others interviewed for this story, didn’t want to be named for security reasons.
But even under the present regime, the leader said, the future of missions is uncertain. A number of expatriate workers have been expelled or refused renewal of their visas.
In spite of these factors, many agree that Nepal is as ripe as it has ever been for harvest. One team reports a big increase in literature distribution since the murder of the royal family last June. “We plan to continue to send teams out, though we have to be extra careful in the choice of locations,” a leader said. “No teams are going to known Maoist hot spots.”
But things are fine-for now. “The Maoists are on the run and are being attacked by the army,” the leader said. “[The Maoists] are doing some hit-and-run things in various places, but no large attacks at the moment. The state of emergency is working fine and we are not being restricted in any way.”
The Hindu kingdom has tolerated a huge influx of Tibetan Buddhist refugees since China’s takeover of that country. The Tibetan brand of Buddhism weaves in shamanism, animism and the occult. Tibetans tend to live in their own communities, retaining their own language and culture. Their homes are easily identified by colorful rooftop flags inscribed with prayers. Inside homes and workplaces, photos of the Dalai Lama are regarded as sacred. Kathmandu’s dome-shaped stupas (Buddhist monuments) are among the largest in the world. Both Tibetan and Western worshipers can be found circling them and spinning prayer wheels at all hours. Some devotees crawl on hands and knees, hoping to earn enough merit to achieve a higher rebirth in the next life.
Every year some 1,000 Tibetan children travel across the Himalayas to exile settlements in India and Nepal. Their parents send them in the hope they will find a better life. Some Christian orphanages, hostels and schools have been established for these children. A few small fellowships now exist for Tibetans who have decided to follow Christ, but the vast majority are still unreached.
In the last five years a growing number of Nepali believers have taken an interest in reaching Tibetans inside Tibet. Some already speak some form of the Tibetan language and going over the border poses no problem. Christian agencies have partnered with them by supplying training and materials for distribution.
The Sherpas, one of Nepal’s 50 people groups and famed as high altitude guides and porters, are strong Tibetan Buddhists. Their isolation in the Himalaya region and strong cultural pride makes them highly resistant to the gospel; however, the first Sherpa-language church has been established in the valley of Kathmandu, with a small daughter fellowship in the Everest area. Sherpa believers within Nepal only number between 30 to 40 out of 100,000, with more over the border in Darjeeling and Sikkim, India. The first-ever Sherpa tract was recently released in Nepali script and the Gospel of Mark is in the process of translation.
The highest mountains in the world lie in Nepal. For thousands of trekkers the Himalayas are a favorite holiday destination. But over the last 18 years, some have hiked the foothills to take Christian literature and Bible correspondence course invitations to isolated villages along every main trail.
“Physically and mentally, it stretches you to the limit,” admitted one veteran trekker. “What keeps you going is walking into a village and knowing you might be the first person to present the gospel, (and knowing there is no other way for them to hear.” Hikers have occasional confrontations with extreme Hindus or Buddhists and police have arrested a few. But most meet with a friendly and even eager reception. Bible correspondence course workers have remarked that they could always tell when and where a team had been trekking by responses they got. Many churches have resulted from these courses.
From 22 evangelical churches in 1990, the capital city of Kathmandu now boasts about 150. Most are actively planting daughter fellowships in other areas. But the church’s most pressing need, according to an expatriate teaching in the tiny Nepal Evangelical Bible College and Seminary, is Nepali leadership.
“The political situation is highly unstable in Nepal,” said the expatriate, who also declined to be named. “How much time does a foreign missionary have left to work in this country? What must we do to maximize our time here? The best way is to equip leaders for ministry. Better yet, we need to train Nepali leaders how to equip other Nepali leaders for ministry.
“We are beginning to see Nepalis get excited about reaching their own country for Christ. The next step will be for them to excite others. I look forward to the day that missionaries are no longer needed in Nepal.’
March 8, 2002