By Ferrell Foster
KATHMANDU, Nepal (BWA) — Baptists in Nepal celebrated their 25th anniversary as a national group April 11. They packed a rented hall for the celebration with people standing in a courtyard outside and listening through the windows.
Denton Lotz, BWA General Secretary emeritus, assisted in the 1993 formation of the Nepal Baptist Church Council, and he returned for the April 11 celebration.
“What a joy to see God’s leading among young Baptists, eager to share the Good News of Christ,” Lotz writes. “The Nepal Baptists now have 219 churches and 248 fellowships, for a total of 467 meeting places! They have 20,000 baptized believers. …
“Nepal Baptists are not a Western missionary-led union; they are led completely by local pastors and indigenous leaders. They are enthusiastic about the power of the gospel and the joy Christ brings to their lives.”
About 700 attended the 20th anniversary celebration. They celebrate in the midst of challenges.
“Although the new constitution declares Nepal to be a secular state,” Lotz writes, “… Christian evangelism is prohibited, and many people fear another era of persecution could come. …”
“Pray for our brothers and sisters in Nepal as they stand firm in their faith in Christ and rejoice in how God has led them these past 25 years.
“Pray that the next 25 years will be even more glorious and that our new BWA general secretary, Elijah Brown, who sent video greetings, will help Nepal Baptists celebrate their 50th anniversary.”
(Prayer request: BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown asks prayers for Nepal General Secretary Vijay Thapa, who recently sustained a broken leg in an auto accident.)
Baptist World Alliance® sub