It is hard, and probably impossible, to convey through a computer screen the meanings and emotions of how great Pastor Tara is, his life story, and about this month in Nepal. Nevertheless, I will do my best, because it is so rare to come across a man like this in life, that his life is worth sharing to the world.
I sat down with Pastor Tara, Manisha-our awesome friend and translator, and asked him to share his life story, with me, and for you.
Meet: Pastor Tara
Tara grew up in a home with a father, grandfather, and legacy of idol worshipers. His forefathers not only practiced idol worship but were community leaders in this, witch doctors. Tara did no different. He joined in. He welcomed into his life Hinduism and the worship that comes along with it. But 22 years ago, something began to happen.
His mom got sick. She began having lung problems. Tara became very
concerned for his mom. Witch doctors were the solution. She was offered
to idols, gods, to whomever, however, in order to get her healed.
“Formulas tried to heal her, but they couldn’t” said Tara.
concerned for his mom. Witch doctors were the solution. She was offered
to idols, gods, to whomever, however, in order to get her healed.
“Formulas tried to heal her, but they couldn’t” said Tara.
Their village was then visited by Christian missionaries from
Kathmandu, Nepal. They came to her home, laid hands on her, prayed for
her in the name of Jesus, and she started to get better that week.
Tara’s eyes were opened. But he was trapped. He lived a life consumed
with alcohol, drugs, anger, abuse, and darkness in his heart and in his
actions. When the missionaries prayed over his mom he remembers saying,
“If He heals her, then I’ll believe.”
Kathmandu, Nepal. They came to her home, laid hands on her, prayed for
her in the name of Jesus, and she started to get better that week.
Tara’s eyes were opened. But he was trapped. He lived a life consumed
with alcohol, drugs, anger, abuse, and darkness in his heart and in his
actions. When the missionaries prayed over his mom he remembers saying,
“If He heals her, then I’ll believe.”
She was getting better. Tara started to believed in Jesus. The
missionaries spoke truth into Tara’s life and said to leave the life of
idols, drugs, rage, and alcohol. Tara grabbed a hold of these truths,
and started to purge his life of his evil ways. As he did this he said,
“My mom would get better, the more faith I would have. But then I would
go back to smoking, drinking, etc. and she would get worse again. I
became angry. But I then realized that I new my faith needed to be real
for her to be healed.”
missionaries spoke truth into Tara’s life and said to leave the life of
idols, drugs, rage, and alcohol. Tara grabbed a hold of these truths,
and started to purge his life of his evil ways. As he did this he said,
“My mom would get better, the more faith I would have. But then I would
go back to smoking, drinking, etc. and she would get worse again. I
became angry. But I then realized that I new my faith needed to be real
for her to be healed.”
That night he had a vision, a dream. God came to him and said, “I can’t live in you with that impurity.”
Tara was awakened. Tara was shocked. Tara was spoken to. Tara was met by the touch of God.
He emptied his life of his ways, his desires, his invitation of
impurity and idolatry, and turned to God whole heartedly. He turned his
heart and life over to God. And his life was never the same again. Oh ya, his mom was healed, by the name of Jesus, none other.
impurity and idolatry, and turned to God whole heartedly. He turned his
heart and life over to God. And his life was never the same again. Oh ya, his mom was healed, by the name of Jesus, none other.
Tara quickly felt a tug to tell people about Jesus, to share Him.
His sleep for many nights following this time was interrupted by
the voice of God in His life. Tara explains, “Every night I had dreams
of God telling me ‘You need to go, tell the gospel, establish village
churches.'” Tara explained that he would have these recurring visions
and that they got bigger and bigger inside of him and he could not
‘rest’ until he answered the call.
the voice of God in His life. Tara explains, “Every night I had dreams
of God telling me ‘You need to go, tell the gospel, establish village
churches.'” Tara explained that he would have these recurring visions
and that they got bigger and bigger inside of him and he could not
‘rest’ until he answered the call.
He did.
“As long as I have strength I will not stop preaching and sharing God’s gospel.”
For the past 22 years Tara became Pastor Tara to his community. I
got to live with Pastor Tara and his family in their village. We climbed the Nepal mountains many days with the team to go visit a village, or small
community, that has been touched by Pastor Tara. You see, Christianity
is not popular here. Christianity is not a normal way of life.
Christianity is not welcomed. The gods of Hinduism, Buhdism, and witch
doctors are the norm. It is so normal, that you can be a child, adult,
or elderly, and never hear or know the name of Jesus and His story. Not
unless something happens. Not unless someone happens. And that someone
was Tara. He became the only Christian to begin spreading the gospel to
his neighbors. Not a neighbor with a white picket fence next door, but a
neighbor 45 minutes away by mountain hiking, who lives under the power
of oppressive, dark, evil spirits and gods. Pastor Tara went.
got to live with Pastor Tara and his family in their village. We climbed the Nepal mountains many days with the team to go visit a village, or small
community, that has been touched by Pastor Tara. You see, Christianity
is not popular here. Christianity is not a normal way of life.
Christianity is not welcomed. The gods of Hinduism, Buhdism, and witch
doctors are the norm. It is so normal, that you can be a child, adult,
or elderly, and never hear or know the name of Jesus and His story. Not
unless something happens. Not unless someone happens. And that someone
was Tara. He became the only Christian to begin spreading the gospel to
his neighbors. Not a neighbor with a white picket fence next door, but a
neighbor 45 minutes away by mountain hiking, who lives under the power
of oppressive, dark, evil spirits and gods. Pastor Tara went.
And he was beaten for it.
He has been tortured.
His family has
been threatened.
been threatened.
He even had to move locations.
But he has not given up.
His motto he says, “God saved me so I must help save others.”
Pastor Tara was our friend, our host, our Pastor, and our example
for a month in Nepal. I walked right alongside him on these Himilaya
hills in this foreign land, as we visited, prayed for, taught, and
fellowshipped with his flock. Not everyone believes, but many do. Pastor
Tara has established 6 small churches, and many more home fellowships
in this Nepali district.
for a month in Nepal. I walked right alongside him on these Himilaya
hills in this foreign land, as we visited, prayed for, taught, and
fellowshipped with his flock. Not everyone believes, but many do. Pastor
Tara has established 6 small churches, and many more home fellowships
in this Nepali district.
There’s no pride here, there’s no anger……..there’s no
competition, there’s no selfishness…….in Pastor Tara there is only
JOY (a great smile), there is only LOVE, there is determination, and there is a man this
world would let go unnoticed by the popular Christian scene. But God
gave me a glimpse into what HE see’s. And He see’s a transformed man
with a mission, and now a transformed district with a vision; A living
vision of the salvation of Jesus the Christ, God the Father, and Holy
Spirit the counselor.
competition, there’s no selfishness…….in Pastor Tara there is only
JOY (a great smile), there is only LOVE, there is determination, and there is a man this
world would let go unnoticed by the popular Christian scene. But God
gave me a glimpse into what HE see’s. And He see’s a transformed man
with a mission, and now a transformed district with a vision; A living
vision of the salvation of Jesus the Christ, God the Father, and Holy
Spirit the counselor.
Thank you Pastor Tara for your life, example, and service. You are…one of a kind.
“HOW BEAUTIFUL ON THE MOUNTAINS ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS…” (Isaiah 52:7)
Your friend,
Noe
In His Church: Pastor Tara, Manisha (Translator/Friend), Me
Me and Pastor Tara
Idols, gods
Climbing to Villages to share the gospel
Pastor Tara’s Family: Neice, Sister (mute), adopted daughter, Mother, Me
To inquire more about Nepal missions and the work of Pastor Tara, go to www.nepaliyouthministries.com
