NEPAL (BP)—Christians outside Nepal, through prayer, can come alongside the Asian country’s followers of Christ as they bear witness for their faith in the world’s only Hindu state.
Among the prayer requests voiced by workers familiar with the Gospel challenge in Nepal:
— Pray for Sarala — a young woman who became a Christian against the wishes of her family, her husband and in-laws. Shortly after, her husband died in a traffic accident, leaving her to raise three small children. In Nepal, a widow, especially a young one with children to raise, often runs off with another man. But because Sarala is a believer, she did not do that and has managed to hold her little family together, feeding them and sending them to school. Because of her exemplary behavior, her in-laws decided they have a good daughter-in-law after all. They are not yet believers, but she is praying that her parents, in-laws and all her family will choose to follow Jesus Christ. Join Sarala in this prayer.
— Pray that the people of Nepal would look for stability in Christ during the nation’s unstable times and not in political promises.
— Pray that international Christians and their Nepali Christian partners would recognize persons of peace in whose hearts God already is working.
— Cross-cultural workers in Nepal wrote recently, “Many times, we forget the freedom we have been given by the New Covenant [in Christ]. We recently took some volunteers to see a Hindu temple high up in the hills. … People were waiting with their sacrifices (cows, goats, chickens, food and flowers) to enter the temple. These people were worshiping and offering sacrifices to false gods. Our sacrifice has been given, blood shed, and sins forgiven! How desperately the lost of Nepal need to know Jesus Christ! Cry out to the Lord that the people will know the truth of the New Covenant!”
— Five years ago, a Tamang man was the only believer in his Nepali village, but in recent months, more than 120 people have come to Christ. One of the largest populations of Maoists in Nepal is in this area, yet this group of Christians meets under a tree in public. Praise God that His Word is taking root in some hard areas, even in the midst of civil war.
— Pray that a desire for peace would lead Nepalis to respond to the Gospel of the Prince of Peace.
— Pray for a young Tibetan refugee living in Nepal who has met some international Christians. This young man left his family in Tibet and walked and rode buses to reach Nepal. He has had foreigners as close friends before, but he is discovering that these Christian friends are different. Pray that he will come to understand the difference that Christ makes in their lives and that he will realize that God created him and wants to be his Lord and Savior.
— Pray for personal safety for international Christians and their Nepali Christian partners.
— The hearts of Nepalis are growing weary from continuing civil conflict, protests and shortages of consumer goods like water and electricity. King David encountered the same emotions from his people and wrote, “Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’ Let the light of your face shine upon us, Oh Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalms 4:6-8 NIV). Ask God to let this hope and joy become a reality for more and more Nepalis as they turn to Christ.
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Find more prayer requests for Nepal by visiting www.imb.org/compassionnet. Then search by “countries” and scroll down to the “Nepal” tab. Additional prayer requests are available at www.prayerfornepal.org. If you would like more information on how to pray for the peoples of South Asia — India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Pakistan — write to [email protected]. Additional information can be obtained by visiting www.go2SouthAsia.org, writing to [email protected] or calling 804-219-1308.
