Terrible Flooding in Nepal Mountains Calls for Help

*AI image generated in Adobe FireFly

 

Our ministry partners in Nepal, God Loves Orphans and Widows (GLOW) report that the terrible flooding unleashed in Nepal has resulted in immediate action on their part. Hope Builders is sending funds immediately to aid them in their efforts. Pictures will follow as soon as they are available.

Our partners are primarily involved in aiding those who have been made orphans and widows by this disaster, especially wives and children of the laborers who were working in the hydro power tunnels. There are many still trapped inside some of these tunnels. The chances of finding them alive is minimal but rescuers were still trying to find them when we received this report.

Nepalis observed a National Day of Mourning for the victims of the flash flood. While flags were flown at half mast, commemorations were scaled back as rescue teams continue to search for survivors. At least 1,300 people are known to have died and nearly 5000 are missing. The flash flood, believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse, swept through villages in a Himalayan valley along the border between Nepal and Tibet.

Young children are the most vulnerable group in this disaster’s aftermath. Many have lost one or both parents along with their homes and schools and all they owned. Our ministry partners are vastly experienced in helping their Nepali countrymen deal with disasters while sharing with them the Hope of the Gospel and the love of Jesus.

Gifts can be sent to us at Hope Builders International to aid those in despair.

With thankfulness for your kindness,

Lance & Christie Thollander

Hope Builders International

P.O. Box 91359, Austin, TX 78709

www.hope-builders.org

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Compassion For Orphans

Newsletter – January, 2026 

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners, 

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We wish you all a Happy New Year. We praise God for the busy year of ministry we had since the end of 2024 until today.  

Christmas is celebrated wonderfully around the world at this time of the year spreading the joy of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In India, unfortunately, there were many places where the celebrations were disrupted and churches vandalized. People who were singing carols in churches and streets were beaten by Hindu radicals. Some people entered churches and snatched the microphone from the hands of pastors and wanted the believers to recite Hindu praises and songs. In many places Christmas celebrations were prohibited. Every year the persecution increases more and more. The desire to share the gospel becomes more challenging than in past years.  

 This Christmas we prayed a lot about conducting an openly Christian program. There are many Hindu activists around our place but God helped us arrange a Christmas meeting. We hired big speakers and over 200 people heard the gospel. We arranged a Christmas meal for all children and the young and old people of the villages. We were able to celebrate by sharing new clothing, food and essentials starting with our children’s home and also reached out to 6 tribal villages. It was a joy for them to learn the carol songs and see the nativity drama done by all the children. We purchased new clothes for all the boys and girls in our home. We also purchased toys for them. This is not only a time of celebration but a great opportunity to share the Gospel of the birth of Christ our Lord so that the children accept the Lord as their Savior. I believe that these children will remember this Christmas throughout their lifetime.  As the Scriptures say, Let the children come to me do not hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Matthew 10:14. 

All this ministry is being done through your prayers and support. We thank each and every one of you for your generous Christmas contribution.

Please continue to lift us in your prayers. My son David and his wife are a great support in the ministry, counselling the young and preaching in Sunday worship services. My daughter-in-law helps me with the children’s devotions and Sunday school and teaching. My daughter and mother also help in the ministry. We have other fellow members supporting us physically in the ministry work. Please pray for them as well.

Your prayers and support are the hands for our Ministry. Here are our needs:  

  • Monthly sponsorship for one child is $35 
  • Monthly sponsorship for a pastor is $150 
  • Monthly sponsorship for a widow is $50 
  • Please pray also for our building construction needs.

For gifts, you can make your checks payable to

 Hope Builders International.  

PO Box 91359, Austin, TX 78709  

We love you all and are praying for you 

Your mission partners in India 

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What Does Persecution Look Like In India

Christians around the nation of India find themselves increasingly under threat. This hostility is often driven by an ongoing belief among some that Indians ought to be of a singular belief systtem — and any faith outside
of that system is not welcome in India.

This mindset has led to violent attacks across the country and impunity for the people who perpetrate this violence, especially in places where the authorities are also not empathetic toward Christians.

More and more states are also implementing anti-conversion laws, creating
an environment where any Christian who shares their faith can be accused of a crime, intimidated, harassed and even met with violence. Additionally, this hasn’t stopped mass “homecoming” campaigns whereby certain nationalists put tremendous pressure on Christian converts, telling them to return to their previous faith.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?

Christ followers who come from other backgrounds are the most vulnerable to persecution across India, particularly communities who have faced historical oppression or discrimination such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Additionally, church leaders and their families can be particular targets in places that are heavily influenced by violent extremists.

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Ordaining couples to meet the need of the emerging Church

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
– Matthew 9:38

North Kerala is a very unreached area in terms of the gospel and our team of pastors and leaders are working there tirelessly to bring the good news to a vast number of people. Informal training seminars, prayer schools and conferences help to keep the vision upfront.

The recent conference was a great blessing as over 150 missionaries gathered together for three days of teaching, training, fellowshiping and imparting.

Several couples were ordained and released into the mission fields. This was in answer to a lot of prayer for new workers. The general meetings in the night were a source of great encouragement to the people. We are now praying that we can support these new families to start working in pioneer locations and we invite your sacrificial and prayerful giving towards this great cause.

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India Slammed by Covid

Dear Friends,

India is now taking the brunt of the Covid pandemic’s force as thousands are dying every day in the current spike in cases there. The government reports that over 3000 new deaths are being reported every day, a number that our ministry contacts say is greatly underreported. Leaders that we know well have seen Covid hit their own families and close friends. Many predict that India will soon become the world’s leader in Covid fatalities.

Pastors and their wives hit hard by virus

In a phone conversation with the ministry leader on Monday, we learned that nine of their pastors and two of their wives have passed away in just the last few days. These are men and women in their 40’s and 50’s who leave families and loved ones without any means of support. According to the leader, some of them were at the training we held in October of 2019 at their Navapur Bible School. Several of those in the attached photo are now with Jesus. These were vibrant believers who had already given much for the Kingdom of God.

Since most of the pastors serve in remote village areas of India, they do not have access to hospital care or the needed medical supplies that would help them fight off the Covid virus. And with the churches already shut down because of the virus, pastors were already hard pressed to make ends meet. Of course, India with its vast population of almost 1.4 billion is facing shortages of needed medical equipment all over the country as well as an insufficient supply of vaccines to take care of its projected needs. All of this is working together to create a disaster of epic proportions.

Our ministry partners are seeking to raise $2000 each for the families have died to try and help them get through this tragedy. With an anti-Christian government pressuring them from one side and the full force of Covid now sweeping upon them from another, believers in India need our prayers and support more than ever.

To help us in this effort, please visit our contribution page or send your gift to Hope Builders International, PO Box 91359, Austin, TX 78709.

Looking with you to Jesus on their behalf,

Lance & Christie Thollander

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A Back to School in Nepal Update

News from God Loves Orphans and Widows

Warm greetings to you from Nepal and the GLOW family,

We all are doing well and pray that you are also in good health. The COVID19 pandemic lockdown has caused a lot of problems in our country.  The lockdown has left many without jobs and made daily living and even survival for many difficult. We are near the beginning of the school calendar here in Nepal. The financial situation of the families of the children we had been supporting with school supplies and educational materials is even worse due to the lockdown. Due to that the children are in greater need of the school supplies and stationery support than ever. We are planning to distribute educational materials and school supplies to 80 to 100 students varying from grade one to twelve.

The parents of the students receiving the supplies work as daily laborers either on construction sites or in other types of manual work. Most of them have been out of work since the Covid19 lockdown started. Your support will allow students to continue their studies despite their families financial situation. Here is a story about one of our supported students:

I am studying in grade seven. Here is a picture of me receiving supplies last year from GLOW. I have gotten school support from GLOW for several years. My parents work in construction as daily laborers. Their income is barely enough for us to survive, let alone sending us to school. This annual package of school supplies support has helped me continue and perform well at school. Thank you for all your help to me and the other students. We want to make a difference in our country.

The cost breakdown for the students we want to help is as follows:

  •  Students in junior school:  $50/student Total of 50 students: $2500
  •  Students in middle school: $80/student Total of 30 students: $2400
  •  Students in high school: $100/student Total of 20 students: $2000

We urge you to partner with us in providing this much needed material support. Here is a picture of our team presenting school supplies.   

With love in Christ,

The Glow Staff 

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