The people of Nepal are living in extraordinary times. Two months ago they voted for a republic instead of a king and got their wish.
These are also important and exciting times for the Nepalese church, which has come a long way since its creation in 1952.
Estimates put the number of Christians in Nepal at somewhere between 700,000 and a million out of a total population of 28 million.
Church membership among people in their 20s and 30s is expanding, according to Jennie Collins of Tearfund partner United Mission to Nepal (UMN).
In the Kathmandu Valley alone there are some 200 churches and the country as a whole has 70 Bible colleges.
`Churches are growing quickly particularly in urban areas and among young men,’ said Jennie.
Church challenges
Jennie believes the church is offering hope for a hard-pressed people who are struggling day-to-day with the scarcity and high price of essential goods.
Despite its growth, challenges loom for the church which remains largely isolated from mainstream society.
It is Christian charity groups who are doing the work of transforming communities on a practical level. Groups like UMN, which has been working in the country since 1954 and has 200 staff.
UMN is working with the local church and other Christian organisations in areas such as education, food security, disaster prevention, enterprise development, tackling HIV and services for women and children.
• Please pray for the protection of the church during this period of political change.
• Give thanks for the growth of the Christian community and pray that it will play an increasing role in transforming Nepalese society, materially and spiritually.
• Pray God’s continued blessing on the work of UMN in the poorest northern regions of the country.