Nepal (MNN) ― Nepal's political and peace processes remains stalled, resulting in instability, anemic authority, and ineffective accountability.
Elections in 2008 led to great optimism about change in the re-write of the constitution. However, continued friction between the president and the Maoist-led government has continued the four-year-old impasse.
Politics aside, there are many questions rising to the surface and with that, growing disillusionment. That means the door is open for the Gospel. Mawii Pudaite with Bibles For the World explains the context of outreach in Nepal. "Of its nearly 30 million people, less than 3% are Christians. Majority of them worship over 20 million different Hindu gods."
In the beginning of 2012, BFTW's focus was to provide the Gospel to people who were searching for meaning and hope. At that time, they announced plans to print and distribute 500,000 copies of the Gospel of John in Nepali.
Pudaite says God provided the funds for that project. But it doesn't stop there. Now, "We are offering a free copy of the Nepali New Testament upon request to everyone who has received and read the Gospel of John. It costs $2.25 to print and mail a copy of the Nepali New Testament."
Already, churches are requesting New Testaments to meet a growing demand. Pudaite explains, "Dr. Mangal, pastor of the largest church in Nepal, told us that he has 25,000 requests for Nepali New Testaments that his church has not been able to fulfill, and he asked if we could include them."
However, that's just one church request. Pudaite notes, "You can see that our first 50,000 New Testaments will be exhausted in no time. Hearts are hungry for the Truth, peace, and hope. We must give them God's Word while the door is open." The urgency has been reaching hearts around the world because God is providing, Puidaite adds. "We have received more than 50% of the total amount needed. The balance we need is $53,000 as of today."
Even as the scramble to meet the demand for New Testaments gains momentum, there are other churches asking for the Gospel of John. Another church worker whom we'll call "Bhim Darnal" wrote BFTW to request 1000 copies of the Gospel of John in Nepali.
"[Sic] all of the churches belong to us will definitely involve in distribution. That should be distributed mostly among remote areas where people cannot find the Christian literature easily. I am hopefully waiting for Rev. John L. Pudaite's information. I have already informed about these things to our ministers. Once in a month we have meeting, and we discuss and share each one of us ministry and pray. We attempt great things for God and aspect great things from Him. Thank you. May God bless you."
Pudaite says they're coming alongside, providing not only the Scripture portions but also helping as his team plans a strategy to reach out to the unreached areas.
Despite the lack of forward motion in some arenas in Nepal, there are other parts of Nepal that will soon be at the forefront of change. "As we sow the seed of God's Word," Pudaite asks for financial help as well as prayer "for the harvest; we believe that there will be bountiful harvest of souls."
