This month, we invite you to learn how 58 local pastors and ministry leaders in Nepal are putting faith into action, reaching remote communities and walking alongside those in crisis with compassion and the love of God. Through your partnership, this grassroots work continues to grow.

Nepal’s challenges for ministry are numerous, including high levels of poverty, tense relationships with China and India, and growing levels of religious nationalism.

The increasing impacts of climate change are felt throughout the country as natural disasters increase in strength causing devastating flooding and landslides. This fall Nepal has also experienced the dramatic overthrow of the country’s prime minister and much of his cabinet. You can hear directly from Shalva* and Jandi*, the country leaders for Harvest Bridge in Nepal, with their perspectives on the political upheaval by visiting the Stories page on our website.

In spite of these challenges, the leaders in Nepal are responding to the needs of their communities with compassion and creativity. Women’s health clinics are providing vital care for those who often suffer in silence due to shame, stigma, and financial barriers.

Many women in Nepal face serious health challenges, such as a prolapsed uterus, which, without treatment, can be debilitating or even life-threatening. With your support, these medical clinics offer women’s health education and timely medical care, including life-changing surgeries. 22 women received surgery just last year.

Through a recent partnership with Days for Girls, the clinics will also be able to offer menstrual health kits. Women are being empowered to seek treatment for health concerns earlier, which prevents long-term suffering, and improves the overall well-being of their families. In the villages where clinics have taken place, there has even been a reduction in infant mortality. In every act of care, these clinics reflect the love of Christ, offering compassion and hope alongside physical healing.

“I love women and God loves everyone. The [women] come there with pain, but they have a big smile when they get a little treatment, some medicines, or some surgery. They are single women, single mothers, abandoned by the family and [are] widows. At every medical camp, at least one woman is saved from cancer. Every time, at least one woman is saved. In the beginning of the medical camp, I can say, ‘We love you, and Jesus loves everyone. That’s why we come to your village to do some kind of ministry. We want to serve you in Jesus’ name.’ It’s a living testimony.” —Jandi

Just as the medical clinics meet urgent physical needs, church based savings groups empower families with long-term stability.

Savings groups help people living in poverty support one another and save small amounts of their income to provide for a more sustainable future. Harvest Bridge leaders currently facilitate 75 savings groups, with more expected to launch by the end of this year. You can listen to Jandi share more about savings groups on our podcast here. 

“One saving group member lady, her husband died. She’s a saving group member, and that saving group is talking [about] how they can support her. Most of the saving group members went to visit her. Somebody took some sugar, somebody bought some food. She was feeling so happy. Also they are thinking they want to support [her] with some little amount. They are thinking to collect some rupees, and give it to her. It’s their personal money that they are thinking to support that friend. It’s really good. People are supporting each other, and it’s really amazing.” —Jandi

While savings groups help families gain economic stability, ministry at the Nepal-Tibet border demands a different kind of resourcefulness. Local missionaries there serve with creativity and courage in an area with harsh terrain and extremely restricted access. Ministry in this area is dangerous, with high levels of persecution due to Chinese rule in Tibet.

“Our missionaries are living on the Nepal-Tibet border. They are doing small businesses on the border, like selling some vegetables. The Tibetan people come to the Nepal border to buy their daily necessities, because they are a little bit cheaper in comparison to Tibet. The missionaries are getting to know these people, making friendships. Of course there is persecution in Tibet. If you are Christian, then they will almost kill you. You will lose everything.” —Shalva

You can listen to Shalva share more about the challenges of ministry on the Nepal Tibet border on our podcast. 

Thank you for being part of this work of justice and love

Because of your support, local leaders in Nepal and on the Nepal-Tibet border are meeting the needs of their communities with extraordinary compassion and ingenuity. From offering dignified health care to women, to building economic resilience through savings groups, to forming relationships across religious and cultural boundaries at the Nepal-Tibet border, this is faith in action. Please continue to pray for the continued vision for the leaders who are faithfully showing up for their neighbors. Together, we are co-creating a more just and hopeful world, led by those who know their communities best.

To support this work or learn more about the ministry of Harvest Bridge, you can visit our website HarvestBridge.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky. You can also listen to our podcast to hear directly from these leaders, and others throughout South Asia and Myanmar.