Little Church Big Vision

I’ve just returned from my fourth trip to Nepal. It’s pretty crazy for me to think that I have been able to go to Nepal four times in the past two years.  This time two years ago I never would have guessed this would have been my path.  The journey that God takes us on is full of surprises!

This trip to Nepal was a short trip but definitely a fruitful one.  The bulk of my time in Pokhara was devoted to introducing and training new youth workers in relational ministry.  We have had the privilege to partner with Young Life in Nepal every time we are there.  Thankfully, because of my extensive Young Life background it is easy for me to jump in and teach.  Hom Tamang, director of Young Life Nepal, has grand vision for his country.  There are 75 districts in Nepal and Hom has dreams of Young Life being in every one.  For the past few years he has been focused on building Young Life strong in one district.  At this training there were five new districts represented!  Way to go Hom!  We are so excited to be walking with Hom in this journey!

18 months ago a few of the leaders from Young Life in Nepal felt led to start a small church plant in Pokhara called Binay Church.  The idea was that Binay Church would be geared towards reaching the youth population in the city.  They began their little fellowship with ten people.  Over the past year and a half their little fellowship has grown to over thirty-five people, all of which are new believers!  This little church has reached a point where they need to bring on pastors in full time positions.  On this trip we were able to help Binay Church form a partnership to aid in supporting these pastors as their fellowship grows.  The elders of the Binay Church joined a Church network called Crossway Chapel Network.  The Crossway Chapel Network will help provide financial resources and pastoral training but the Binay church will continue to operate as an independently governed church.  It is exciting to have seen the birth of this little church, it’s growth over the past year and a half and to see it get the resources it needs to continue to grow.  Now Binay church has it’s sights set on planting new fellowships in the near by communities.

We heard a great story last week as a testimony to the Binay churches heart for the community.  A few of the churches elders felt

called to ride their motorcycles to a remote village outside of the main city.  They rode through the village simply praying that God would move in just one family.  No one in this village had every heard of Jesus Christ.  Maybe a month after they had gone on their prayer ride someone from the village walked down into town looking for help for his daughter and the found themselves at the doorsteps of the Binay church.  The elders of the Binay church made their way back to the village to offer their prayers and support. After weeks of prayer, fasting and investment in this little village this man’s daughter came to know Christ.  By the time we heard this story three months had gone by and there are now 12 believers in this little village.  It is so amazing to see how a few youth workers had a vision to start a church, how it grew to 35 members, and how that little fellowship sent out prayer warriors to an unreached village.

The final aspect of this trip was to finish laying the groundwork for a trekking company that we have been working on for the past 9 months.  Communicating through email and phone half a world a way is never easy and having a face-to-face conversation made a world of a difference.  I feel like we got a lot accomplished during our time there and we are closer than ever to getting this thing off the ground.  Our hope is that this company will provide the needed jobs to keep these young youth workers on the front lines of ministry without having to move out of the country to find employment.  So if you have ever wanted to visit the base camp of one of the highest mountains in the world get ready to lace up your boots because we will be able to provide a great opportunity!

Here are a few photos: