My team got to spend a few days away from Kathmandu amongst the yellow fields and bike rides and sunsets and quietness of Chitwan, Nepal! It was a blessed time of rest and encouragement for both us and the believers in Chitwan.
Our ministry while in Chitwan was home visits. That means that each day we would go to one or two homes to share a sermon and a couple testimonies with a family of believers to encourage them in their faith. I wrote more about this in another blog post, but in short, the believers here are not wanted. They aren’t allowed to share the Gospel. Many are mocked and gossiped about by their neighbors, some are even threatened. Our guide told us that some churches in the area have been burnt down. So by going to their homes we are able to have fellowship with them and remind them of the hope and glory that awaits us; to not lose heart but to continue pursuing Jesus and living out the Great Commission. What a privilege… I call it “Paul’s Ministry”. It felt very “early church-y” and I loved it. Paul was constantly visiting and writing to the Christ-followers who were being persecuted, reminding them of truth. Encouragement is so needed in these places (AND in America, I think home visits should be a regular occurrence in the states!).
I saw so much joy and rejuvenation while doing home visits. It was encouraging for them to have brothers and sisters from across the world come rally around them, and it was possibly even MORE encouraging for us to be amongst people who are so bravely choosing to live for Jesus when it would be much easier and much more tempting not to.
When asking them for their prayer requests almost all of them simply asked for protection and for more of their neighbors and family members to come to know Jesus. They also have confidence in the power of Jesus and always asked for prayers of healing. And y’all- 11 people were healed of sickness!! Our God is POWER! That’s ALL Him and I can’t believe He would let us partner in that.
We are SO blessed to live in a country with religious freedom. May we take advantage of that and, in honor of our brothers and sisters who cannot, share the Gospel everyday! Live boldly for Him- TALK ABOUT HIM! So many people around the world can’t! But us Americans can and that is a tool and privilege to be utilized to the fullest.
I’ll never forget the wisdom, joy, and love for Christ that radiated out of these Christ-followers in Nepal. Please cover them in prayer and ask the Lord to keep sending people to speak truth and encouragement over them. This was a ministry I’ll never forget and I’ll never stop thanking God for.
-Anna
