Kathmandu Bible-Presbyterian Church, Nepal

A Report by Elder John Leong of Tabernacle BPC

 

Psalm 127:1, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

On 15 October 2011, by the grace of God, we witnessed the inauguration of Kathmandu Bible-Presbyterian Church (BPC) in Nepal. This is the first BPC in Nepal which the Lord has raised for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to earnestly contend for the faith. Indeed it is the Lord who has built His Church and who has enabled a BPC witness to be established in Nepal.

The Land of Nepal

Nepal is in South Asia and is a 5-hour flight away from Singapore. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by China, and to the south, east, and west by India. It has an area of 147,181 square km and a population of approximately 30 million. Nepal has a rich geography. The mountainous north has 8 of the world’s 10 tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal with a population of about 3.5 million. Hinduism is practised by a large majority of the people, more than in any other nation. Only about 0.5% of the population are Christians (mostly charismatic and ecumenical). Indeed in the land of Nepal, the harvest is plenteous (Matt 9:37).

How Did Kathmandu BPC Start?

The story is one of God’s providence and leading. I had a burden and thought of a short mission trip to Nepal. So, in the early part of this year, I emailed Dr Jeffrey Khoo to enquire if he knew of any mission work in Nepal. About that time, God led Rev Shachen Pradhan, an FEBC graduate, to visit Dr Jeffrey Khoo to enquire about some Nepalese interested to enroll in FEBC. Rev Shachen is the pastor of the Nepalese Fellowship Church in Singapore and also ministers to the Nepalese Christians in Malaysia. In God’s good timing, I was given the contact number of Rev Shachen by Dr Jeffrey Khoo.

I called Rev Shachen and met him for the first time over lunch. We had a good sharing of our burden for Nepal and the desire for a BPC to be established in Nepal. The truth of God must be preached and taught to the Nepalese people. We are blessed in Singapore to be well grounded in the truth of God’s Word through teaching in the BPCs and in FEBC We must share this blessing of God’s Word in Nepal.

Rev Shachen spoke of another FEBC graduate, Rajan Shrestha, currently living in Nepal whom we can approach to be the preacher of the BPC in Nepal. We ended the lunch in prayer, committing to God our plan and praying for His leading. We know that God must also confirm the same desire and burden in the heart of Rajan for a BPC in Nepal.

Rev Shachen made a trip to Nepal in April this year to discuss with Rajan the possibility of starting a BPC in Nepal. Thank God that Rajan had the same burden for a BPC in Nepal and was willing to leave his hometown to move to Kathmandu to serve the Lord as the preacher of the BPC. His wife and 2 teenage children were also willing to follow him to settle in a new home and school.

With God’s leading and provision, Rajan and family moved to Kathmandu in June. They rented a floor in a building with a few rooms at a village area in the outskirts of Kathmandu city for the family to stay in and also for the Church worship service. Rev Shachen contacted the Nepalese Christians from Singapore and Malaysia who have returned to Nepal to join this new Church. Thank God that from July onwards, a few of them started gathering together with Rajan for worship. The Kathmandu BPC was born. Church on 3rd floor of this building

In Nepal, the weekend is on Friday and Saturday. The worship service is held on a Saturday morning. To make the Church more accessible to the members, Preacher Rajan moved to a place closer to the city area of Kathmandu. This new place is smaller but the rent is higher. The new Church premises is on the 3rd floor with a room for Rajan and family, a worship hall for about 25 people and a kitchen cum dining hall. It is a humble beginning for the new BPC.

Bible Seminar for Kathmandu BPC

Rev Shachen and I decided that we should make a trip together in October to officially inaugurate the Kathmandu BPC as well as to dedicate Rajan as the Preacher of the Church before the congregation. I wanted to spend the time teaching the Word of God to the new Church members since I would be in Nepal for a week from 10 to 16 October. We planned for a Bible seminar for 4 days from 11 to 14 October (Tue-Fri) and I would teach from 1 pm to 4 pm and Rev Shachen would be the interpreter.

Besides the current Church members which now number slightly more than 10, Preacher Rajan also invited his former Church members to attend this Bible seminar and to witness the inauguration of the Kathmandu BPC. Rev Shachen also invited the Nepalese Christians whom he knew in Singapore and Malaysia to attend. We trust God to move in hearts to come to learn His Word.

Thank God for bringing His people to Church to listen to His Word. We have about 25 who attended the Bible seminar each day. Among them were more than 10 believers who travelled more than 500 km to attend the Bible seminar. Some travelled as long as 18 hours just to attend the seminar. One Nepalese man working in India took about 2 days to reach the Church and he brought along his unsaved wife and small child. Rev Shachen knew him when he worked in Singapore. He shared with me how God had saved him and transformed his life when he worked in Mustafa in Singapore as a cook and was a drunkard. During the Bible seminar, the Lord graciously touched the heart of his wife and she was converted to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I taught the doctrines of the Person and Salvation Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible and the Church of Jesus Christ during the 4 days. Each day’s lesson was from 1 pm to 4 pm with a short break in between. Thank God for attentive hearts even though the people have to sit on the floor to listen. A Church member even brought a few unbelievers to attend the Bible seminar. At the end of the 4 days, everyone has to take a test. The people enjoyed the class and benefited much from the Word of God.

Inauguration Worship Service

Invitations were sent to friends from near and far to attend the inauguration worship service of Kathmandu BPC. About 50 people came for the inauguration worship service. The worship service was chaired by Rev Shachen and I was the Speaker. I spoke on Joshua 1:1-9 on the topic “Be strong and of a good courage”. This was to challenge Preacher Rajan and the new Church to look to God for strength and growth despite the fears and discouragement they would face in the days ahead. The Church must be strong to teach faithfully and be obedient to the Word of God.

Rajan was officially installed as the Preacher of the Church with both Rev Shachen and I laying hands on him. Thank God that Preacher Rajan is serious and willing to be used by the Lord in the Church. In the inauguration worship service, we also witnessed 3 adult baptisms and 1 infant baptism. One of them was Rajan’s son and the other was a youth from the Church. The Lord is good to encourage the young Church with these who publicly confessed Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Since it is not often that Rev Shachen can travel to Nepal, we decided to conduct the Lord’s Supper.

The service ended at about 1 pm and we had a sumptuous lunch together that some brethren had prepared. There was great rejoicing and thanksgiving to God for His blessing and goodness to the new Kathmandu BPC.

Sunday Worship Service

Since there were a number of believers who stayed in the Church and were only departing for their home city on Sunday afternoon or Monday, we decided to hold an extra worship service on Sunday morning. Some Church members also came to join us. About 20 were at the worship service seated on the floor.

Preacher Rajan was the chairman and Rev Shachen preached from the Word. Although it was conducted in Nepalese, it was still a blessed time of worship for me. After the worship service, I departed for the airport as my flight to Singapore was at 1 pm. I was full of praise and thanksgiving to God for the new BPC in Nepal. God also mercifully helped me as I nearly missed my flight due to a very bad traffic jam on my way to the airport. I had to jump out of a cab to run across a road junction as the traffic could not move at all and then took another cab to the airport. When I reached the airport, it was 30 minutes before departure and the check-in counter had closed. The Lord delivered me as a kind staff finally allowed me to board the plane. God is very good to His children.

What Next for Kathmandu BPC?

It is important that we remember to pray for Preacher Rajan and his family. He needs the grace and strength of the Lord to lead the Church forward. He needs God’s wisdom to faithfully preach His Word. Do pray and encourage Preacher Rajan constantly.

In the interim period, the Church will be under the care of a committee consisting of Rev Shachen, Preacher Rajan, Brother Ko Ling Kang and myself. We hope to be a blessing to the Church and serve the Lord in Kathmandu BPC faithfully and zealously. God willing, Rev Shachen will visit the Church every 3 to 4 months. I desire to make a visit at least once a year and conduct the Bible seminar when I am there.

A vision we have is to buy a piece of land and build a Church for the Lord. We hope to start a building fund, and God willing, in 2 to 3 years, we can have our Church building. We trust and pray to the Lord to lead us in this area.

In the meantime, God wants us to be faithful to Him. Jesus is coming soon! We must work while it is day, for when the night comes, no man can work (John 9:4). Kathmandu BPC must reach out to the residents and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Pray for God to use the Church for His glory and the extension of His Kingdom