The main burden of this Church, Mount Zion, and its sister congregations is to outreach the remnants of the God the Holy One of Israel which are unsaved and lost people around the Himalayas. There are so many tribes and dialectic groups in around this area of Himalayan belt. Nepali language is the constitutional and national language as a lingua franca for a common communication. By now, we have a complete Holy Bible into Nepali language. This ministry is totally based upon the inspired and inerrant Scripture and its faith, independent ministry, indigenious nature, New Testament worship in apostolic faith and manner in the purities of the Word of God and scriptural guidelines. And, we have regular prayer and preaching of gospel for the mankind of the world. We pray without ceasing. We belive that the prayer is the most eminent part of the body of Christ. We preach the gospel in various ways such as home to home contact, personal contact, passing out the tract, gathering in a public place, sharing personal testimonies every time and every where without any fear of persecution. OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH: We believe ....THE SCRIPTURES-- The Bible is inspired word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim 3.16; I Thess. 2.13; 2 Pet. 1.21). God who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (Heb. 1:1-2).****************** THIS WHOLE HOME PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND REVISION. THIS PART IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION/PLEASE BOOK MARK AND VISIT AGAIN SOON ********* ************************************* NEPAL: Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, the kingdom of Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best walking trails on earth. It's a poor country, but it is rich in scenic splendour and cultural treasures. The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination and it's a difficult place to dislodge from your memory once you return. This is why so many travellers are drawn back to Nepal, armed the second time round with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire for improved leg-definition. HISTORY OF NEPALESE CHRISTIANITY: The earliest Christian contact with the land of Nepal took place in 1662 A.D., when the Italian Capuchin priests passed through Nepal en route to Tibet. After the return of these visitors to Europe, they encouraged the people to go to India, Nepal, and Tibet to evangelize them. So, in 1703, the Capuchin fathers were assigned by the Roman Catholic Church to evangelize in North India, Nepal, and Tibet. They made their base at Patna in India and several came to work in the Kathmandu Valley, the city-states of Newars, from 1707 to 1769. However, when the Gorkha king Prithvinarayan Shah conquered Nepal, he expelled the priests and the group of Newar Christians, accusing them of being agents of European colonial power. From then until 1951, a firm Nepalese policy excluded all foreigners and Christians. Such policy was made on two main considerations: Independence from foreign power must be maintained, and the Hindu kingdom must be kept undefiled and the Hindu structure of society kept intact. Hence, foreign religions must be excluded. So the nation of Nepal was completely closed for almost two hundred years for any Christian missions. But the missionary work continued among the Nepalese who were living outside of Nepal. For two hundred years many missionary agencies and individuals thus stood praying and knocking at the door of Nepal. Before the door of Nepal was finally opened for foreigners to enter, the missionary work started in the Indian borders. In Rupaidiah, India, mission work started as early as 1921 and the Nepalese going to India and coming back to Nepal were preached to and evangelized right on the border. Nautanwa was another important center in the border area to evangelize Nepalese people. From this place thousands of Nepalese passed each year between India and Nepal. Through the work of these border-based missionaries, within a short period of time a few people became Christians and dedicated their lives to the Lord. After sixteen years of continuous work on the Nautanwa border, they formed a band that is known as the Nepali Evangelistic Band. At the beginning they concentrated their work among the Nepalese in India. Another important achievement was the translation of the Bible into the Nepali language by the Serampore Trio. The first Nepali New Testament was published in 1821, and is the first printed book in Nepali literature. The full best version of the Holy Bible in Nepali was published in 1980s. The Bible Society for Nepal was lacking linguistic contribution in a very common and correct way. The contribution by ... ... ... and associates worked hard to bring into publication. Many of those people were arrested and finally expelled from the country. This situation continued until 1951. Though democracy was declared and foreign investments were sought, the new governmental attitude towards Christianity was similar to the previous government. The revolution of 1951 opened the door of this nation. Foreign agencies were welcomed to assist in the national development. Therefore, in 1951 Christian missions were permitted to enter the land under certain conditions. The conditions were: They were to serve the people in such useful ways as should further the cause of nation-building; They were to follow the rules of the department to which they were connected; they were to travel, and Live only as their visas allowed; but they were not to propagate their religion or convert the people. Catholic Jesuit missions entered Nepal in 1951 and boarding schools were opened. Other mission agencies also started to come to Nepal. The largest mission organization is the United Mission to Nepal (UMN) which was formed in 1954. It is a co-operative effort of many missionary societies, spanning all continents, many denominations and interdenominational mission bodies. The mission has concentrated on various programs and projects, which contribute to the development of the nation as a whole. The emphasis of UMN has been on health, education, vocational training and agriculture development. There are other mission agencies including International Nepal Fellowship, Evangelical Alliance Mission, and Seventh Day Adventist Mission that are mainly concentrating on medical services. Donald E. Hoke, The Church in Asia(Chicago: Moody Press, 1975), p. 464. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 4/2 (2001. Along with this brief history of mission agencies, it is appropriate to discuss the growth of the church itself in Nepal. After 1951, small congregations were established in various parts of Nepal. Some of the earliest congregations were established in Pokhra, Nepalganj, and Kathmandu. In the fifties and sixties only a handful of Christians were found in Nepal. During the seventies the churches started to grow in various parts of Nepal. Christians were not allowed to preach and conversion to Christianity was prohibited. The Nepalese law stated that conversion to Christianity meant one-year imprisonment for the convert, three-year imprisonment for the preacher, and six-year imprisonment for the one who baptizes. After the 1960s till the 90s such laws were in effect and many Christians were imprisoned because of their faith. The church experienced severe persecution during the 80s. In 1990, there was an agitation against the existing rule, wherein the king was absolute monarch. Then the king declared democracy and the multiparty system was restored. The king was willing to remain a constitutional monarch. The church experienced some freedom after 1990, but the attitude of the government toward Christians remains the same. In some places there are still arrests. Christians have been imprisoned. The government does not acknowledge a Christian presence, and does not register Christian churches and organizations. In spite of all these pressures, the church in Nepal is growing. There are small and large congregations all over the country. The church faces a great challenge to witness to the people and also to disciple its converts and develop quality leadership. Developing ministerial courtesy among the new churches and denominations is another challenge the Nepali church faces. There is a genuine concern among some of the leadership that in order to establish God's kingdom in Nepal we need to work together. Our united effort will convey a better message than our single effort. This does not mean we need to be uniform in everything we do. We need to have the unity of the Spirit. Our main motive should be to establish the kingdom of God. The Beginning As stated earlier, the history of Christianity in Nepal is very recent. The gospel only came to the nation in 1951. But prior to that, Christian missionaries were active in some of the Nepal-India borders. Rupaidiah, a border town with Nepalganj about 600 kilometers away from Kathmandu the capital city of Nepal, was one of the earliest missions centers. Some of the American missionaries were working in and around Rupaidiah. They also had a children's home, which exists today. There was a church in Nanpara, a few kilometers away from Rupaidiah. Barnabas Rai with his wife came to Rupaidiah from Darjeeling in 1936 and stayed and worked with the missionaries there. He was assigned to preach the gospel among the Nepalese who were going to India and coming back to Nepal. In this humble beginning, God rewarded the work of these pioneers. Several people became Christians. Barnabas Rai emphasized the Christian exper
The outreach missions of this church are extended to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Burma, and Northeast India Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur). Our missions to Tibet are working more seriously and strictly behind the iron curtain. Because, Tibet was intervenned, overtaken and swallowed by the Communist China in 1951. Please pray for the safety of our mission workers (labourers) in Tibet and many areas around here like it is written in the Scripture: The harvest truly is plentous, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that He will send labourers into His harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). We have several collected testimonies of coversion from various kinds of religious backgrounds will be mailed to you if you send your email to us. **** Several information about our struggles about the church work, history of gospel door into Nepal and himalayan lands and some special testimonies of of our leaders and converst of this church (NAMES UNPUBLISHED TO SAVE FROM POSSIBLE DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS) can be mailed to you right away by email. Please be in Touch. ****************************************************************************************************************************************** BRIEF TESTIMONY OF ONE OF OUR LEADERS: I was born and brought up in Nepal into hinduism's highest caste as a Brahmin. My father and forefathers were Hindu High Priests in the Royal Palace of Nepal the only Hindu kingdom in the world. though I first worshipped Krishna and studied the Gita and labored diligently in the Hinduism, I felt strangely empty of truthy. I saw quickly that the Hindu religion with its emphasis on Karma and the endless cycle of reincarnation was not an answer to eternal life. I searched to find the one true God. My quest took me from Hinduism to Buddhism, Lamaism, Islamism, Jainism, Judaism, and all kind of religious faiths, finally to Jesus Christ. I have studied palmistry, astrology, soothsaying, hypnotism, enchanting, snake charming, necromancing, and all of the various offerings of idolatry, but found them all deadly and wanting. Finally after studying in Nepal and India, I found a Bible and began to study about Jesus Christ in 1980. I discovered the truth of Jesus that I am not righteous just because I was born a Brahmin. In In fact, I was sinner. Then I discovered jesus is loving and forgiver of sins and His reward is eternal life. I found Jesus in my heart when I knelt down and prayed confessing my sins and by asking His mercy and power of blood to clean my sins away. thus, I accepted Jesus as my personal savior. Then, I knew i didn't choose Him but he chose and ordained me to teach his truth. After my discovery of Jesus and his truth, I was disowned by my parents and family members. On July 27, 1989, I was visiting to the hospital where my father was declared to die any minute due to lung cancer. I got a chance to speak about Jesus to him. He heard the message so well. He was groning in his heart. Then, he believed the Word of God "Arise, take your bed, and go home." Then, he left the hospital trusting in the Lord completely. He never died of cancer. He is still alive. Then, by a continuous praying, love, faith, and by studying the truth, my mother, brothers, sister, and many of the neighboring relatives also believed gospel. TI had to go through many trials and persecutions. I lost one of my precious children in a swimming pool but I have not lost my faith. I had to go through a severely ruptured appendix which was rotting me to the core of my life, but God spared me for His reasons and glory. THIS WHOLE HOME PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETE REVISION. OLD LOT OF INFORMATION ARE OBSOLETE NOW. ************** *******The Church at the Top of the World Nepal's Christians see unprecedented growth in this Hindu kingdom. Hundreds of people dressed in their best churchgoing clothes crowd together outside a large hall in the capital city of Katmandu. Saluting each other with folded hands and saying "Jai Masih" (the Nepali expression for "Praise the Lord"), they take off their shoes, making their way inside to squat on a carpeted floor just before 10:30 a.m. Except for a handful of expatriates, the Nepali Isai Mandali (Gyaneshwor) Church is filled with first-generation Nepali Christians who have braved social and religious constraints to follow Jesus Christ. Every inch of space is taken and those who are late reluctantly sit outside. At the first strains of a Nepali song, all 2,000 hands, young and old, lift in praise to God. This amazing sight brings tears to my eyes. Ten years ago an open church meeting of this nature would have been impossible. The days when government agents infiltrated churches as spies, and Christians were persecuted or imprisoned, are also long gone. Three decades ago, two Nepali Christians, Robert Karthak and Laxmi Prasad Neupane, climbed the Himalayan Mountains, crossed rivers, and walked 15 miles a day to visit inaccessible villages across this nation of 23.2 million people. Each time they stumbled across a village, they stopped to sing a few songs, share their testimony, and hand out gospel tracts to those who could read. They journeyed for 45 days, sleeping under the stars and wearing out five pairs of shoes, ever aware that they could be arrested by the police and jailed on charges of breaking the law and proselytizing. It was not until many years had passed that Karthak and Neupane began to meet new Christians from some of the villages they had visited. "No one remembered us," says Neupane, an upper-caste Brahmin Hindu convert and director of the Inter national Bible Society in Nepal. "We did our work secretly as we could be arrested at any time, and prayed that God would pour out his Spirit. We are now seeing the fruit of the seeds which we sowed many years ago. God's Word never returns void." "I was often called in by the police, and had to move several times as we were not allowed to have worship services," says Karthak, senior pastor of Gyaneshwor Church in Katmandu. "We could not declare ourselves as Christians openly, so we started in a small way as the constitution prevented us from preaching." LOW-KEY CHRISTIAN PRESENCE From 15,000 in 1970 to an estimated 400,000 Christians today, Nepal has one of the fastest-growing Christian populations among the 3.6 billion people throughout Asia's 51 countries, according to scholars in Christian missions. "It is very encouraging to note that in about 45 years two percent of the population became followers of Christ," says Thirtha Thapa, president of the National Christian Society. Nepal has always considered itself in a unique but precarious situation. Land locked, Nepal is situated between the world's two most populated countries, India and China. With a per capita income of $210 annually, it is one of the ten poorest countries in the world and has virtually no middle class. The majority of Nepalis are Hindus and Buddhists. In many areas, the two religions blend into folk rituals, festivals, and worship. Katmandu rests in the shadows of the Himalayas and is densely populated; its streets are narrow and crowded. Life here is unhurried and most people are easygoing and leisure-loving. Tourists and trekkers come to Kat mandu to visit the innumerable shrines and temples that dot the landscape. Although there are thousands of Christians in Katmandu, their presence is barely discernible. The sole traditional churchlike structure in Katmandu is Catholic and lies secluded off a main road set among houses. After meeting informally for five decades in the Jesuit-run St. Xavier's School, the Catholics registered as a nonreligious, nongovernment organization in 1993, calling it the Nepal Catholic Society. This gave them the right to buy property for the community. The Catholic organization bought a piece of property from another Christian who ran an orphanage and Bible school. Work on the Assumption Church complex started in 1993 and a cathedral was completed four years later in 1997. Other believers meet in homes and rented halls, but there are no signboards to announce the Christian presence. For example, Gyaneshwor Church is identified by a small sign at the gate, while Christian offices and bookshops are not identified at all. Christian groups are not allowed to register with the government as openly Christian. QUEST FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM The pursuit of religious freedom, outside of Hinduism or Buddhism, has had a painful history in Nepal. Hindu and Buddhist traditions formed a historic bulwark against the growth of Christianity. Eighteenth-century Jesuit missionaries were the first to enter Nepal as they found varying routes through the Himalayas to Tibet. They established a small mission, and a community of 57 Christian converts lived in the Nepal valley until they were banished from the kingdom. Ever since King Prithvi Narayan Shah expelled Catholic Capuchin priests in 1760, the policy of the Nepali government had been to prevent Christians from entering the country and to mistreat those who managed to do so. For centuries, Nepal was unusually isolated. But as natural disasters or epidemics hit the land, many Nepalis crossed the border into India in pursuit of a better life. Some were drawn into India's Christian enclaves, beginning a vibrant ethnic Nepali church within India. William Carey, the legendary British missionary who spent a lifetime in India, was the first to recognize the need for a Nepali Bible. He started translating the New Testament in 1812 in Serampore, India, completing the New Testament in 1821. The translation of the entire Bible into Nepali took a long time to complete. Finally, in 1980s we got the Bible completed in common language. Until Nepalis published Bibles within the country, they imported Bibles from India but those were often seized by customs officials.
Take control of the web page by creating a user account now and using the CHURCH ID and PASSWORD assigned to you at the time the website was created to associate your web page with your new user account. If you have an existing user account, sign in and add the site to your account dashboard.
If you don't have the ID/Password combination for this page, please type the code '' below to have it sent to the e-mail address on file.
Page Seen: 2,195 times