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by Chad Trafton
Perched on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, Nepal is perhaps best known for Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
But this nation, roughly the size of Arkansas, is also known for something else. Landlocked between China and India, Nepal has been regarded for centuries as the “Hindu Kingdom.” And for good reason. With a population of nearly 29 million, more than 80 percent of Nepal’s inhabitants are Hindu.1
Conversely, less than 3 percent of those living in Nepal are Christians.2 In fact, prior to 1960, Christians couldn’t legally live in Nepal, and it would be another thirty years before they would receive any true measure of religious freedom. Reforms in 1990 proved to be a big step forward, although it was still officially illegal for Christians to evangelize and convert others.
Persecution has been severe, with Christians being arrested, imprisoned and even murdered for preaching to Hindus. But God is bringing change. Throughout the last half century, Nepalese Christians have shown a remarkable willingness to suffer for their faith, and the church has actually flourished under pressure, growing from 50,000 to more than 500,000 since 1985.3 And as Nepal has inched closer to becoming a true democracy, people are beginning to see things come to pass they only dreamed about twenty years ago.
One such thing occurred this past January 13 when Dave and Joyce held a public open-air festival in Kathmandu. This unprecedented event was a first for everyone involved. This was the first time Joyce Meyer Ministries had ever attempted to hold an open meeting in Nepal…and one of the first opportunities the Nepalese had to attend such a large-scale Christian event.
On this Sunday afternoon, there was a sense that history was being made as a truly energetic crowd of more than 13,000 came to hear Joyce speak.
“It was absolutely incredible. Very few people have gone to Nepal to hold large meetings, so the people were very excited,” says David L. Meyer, CEO of Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions. “At one time, Nepal claimed to be the only true Hindu nation, but on this Sunday, Jesus was proclaimed and many were saved!”
Earlier that day Joyce had the chance to minister to nearly 1,500 of the nation’s pastors and leaders at a special leaders’ seminar. Like the public festival, it was a great success.
Turnout for these events can largely be attributed to our TV exposure throughout many parts of Nepal. Joyce’s program has aired in Nepalese for years, building a significant audience in an unlikely location.
In recent years the Lord has opened several crucial doors for us in Nepal. Through the support of our friends and partners, we have been able to widely distribute two of Joyce’s books translated into Nepalese. In addition, we fully support an orphanage—caring for twenty-five children—and support various feeding programs throughout the country. In light of the past, our current involvement in this nation can only be seen as a monumental stride.
It’s a new day in Nepal. Politically, it’s a nation that seems to be waking up from history. In 2006 an interim parliament declared Nepal a secular state. Pushing toward democracy, their parliament is currently planning to draft a new constitution, and 2008 could be the year they see their monarchy abolished for good.
Spiritually, the persistence of a few has begun to pay off. Currently, a Christian church can be found in every single one of Nepal’s seventy-five districts—nothing less than exponential progress.
Here, amongst a staunch and influential caste system including the Chhetri and Brahman-Hill…in the middle of the Hindu Kingdom…a crack of light is piercing the darkness.
John 1:5 says, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (NLT). To many, the efforts of a remnant of Christians in Nepal may seem insignificant. After all, they only comprise less than 3 percent of the population. And our groundbreaking efforts in this nation? They may seem unimportant as well. But we know something they don’t…
The message of Jesus Christ is alive and full of power. It has the ability to change people, change governments and change nations. When the Light of Christ shines, great things begin to happen.
And when it shines in the darkness, that is where it shines the brightest.
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(1) www.cia.gov (2) www.operationworld.gov (3) Ibid.
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