Strikes and road blockades in Nepal restricted participation at Nepal Gospel Center’s (NGC) retreat for graduates of their Advanced Discipleship Training program that saw 29 students pass the course. Only nine graduates were able to make it to the retreat.

The political situation prompted the United States Department of State to issue a warning about travelling in Nepal. “Political violence remains a problem in Nepal,” the report said, adding that the Young Communist League “continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence” while other armed splinter groups “remain a significant concern.”

Nepal, nestled in the Himalayas between India, Tibet, and Bhutan, is home to close to 30 million people, and is the only official Hindu state in the world. Eighty percent of the population is Hindu, another 11 percent Buddhist, and eight percent are either Muslim or Kirant. Less than one percent are Christian.

And it is this set of statistics that shows the great need for evangelism in this land of lost people, a need that NGC is working hard to fill.

Recently the ministry held its Basic Discipleship Training. This is open to new believers as well as non-Christians who have completed the Bible correspondence course. They also held a revival meeting for older Christians, “encouraging them to be more active in spreading the Gospel.”

“There are many believers who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ at our planted churches,” noted the spokesman. “Some have been excommunicated from their villages. Please pray for these believers to be strong during this period of trial.”

NGC currently is in need of gifts to enable them to continue their outreach to the Nepali people.

“People are suffering with health problems relating to dysentery and diarrhea… many people are dying of this disease,” he reported. “There is a need for financial resources and health workers to reach the affected area for treatment. So any help will be much appreciated.”

Among the specific needs are umbrellas, raincoats, flashlights, water bottles, and shoes.