Serving In The Church for The Glory of The Lord

By Pastor Shalva* and Jandi*, Country Directors

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” Genesis 12:1-3

There are always many encouraging, exciting and surprising parts in the ministry because God Almighty is working through us for His glory beyond our expectations.

In brief, thousands of people are hearing the Gospel and hundreds of them have committed their lives to follow Christ Jesus. We have been encouraged that with little resources in the remote villages, people are serving the Lord in hardships and persecutions from their neighbor without any complaint. We are very much excited by seeing the zeal for the Gospel in the lives of newcomers to Christ. They have been leading hundreds of their friends, relatives, co-workers and neighboring people to Christ. We see God’s provision through Harvest Bridge, prayer partners, and unseen generous faithful people of God in the time of acute crises in the country. We now see the progress in savings group ministry beyond our expectations. We have seen people delivered from satanic bondage, sick people healed, some people delivered from depression, and God has been doing wonders with signs.

 “We have seen people delivered from satanic bondage, sick people healed, some people delivered from depression, and God has been doing wonders with signs.”

Nepal is always having political instability; people have lost their hope in the government, and government is unable to provide employment to the citizens of the country.

Nepal is always in the political peril of China and India, not able to balance her relation with the neighboring countries’ interests. We are always hit by unexpected natural calamities such as earthquake, flood, landslide, and wildfire. The number of avalanches in the Himalayas is increasing, washing away some villages in the hills. Nepal government is doing nothing.

In September, the Gen Z movement was so dangerous, which was headline news all over the world. This kind of revolution happened for the first time in the history of Nepal. Gen Z’s agenda was to stop corruption, have good governance, have equal policy to everyone, actively apply the constitution, and for the constitution to protect the minorities and give the religious freedom. You know, all these agendas were included in Gen Z’s protest, but nothing we got from it. The [protestors] burned the parliament building and central government administrative building. They also burned almost all major political leaders’ houses. Then, we lost about 100 young people—the government shot 75 dead on the street, and 25 people died in the hospital.

Now we ask, what was the need of that kind of destruction? We need good governance. We need development. We need good roads. But we got nothing, only the election, which we would have had later. So all these things are making people frustrated.

About 65,000 young people every month are leaving the country in search of unskilled jobs in foreign countries.

There are a lot of injustices and mistreatment in the foreign lands for the Nepalese people. I (Shalva) asked them, “You are mistreated there. Some of you are coming home in a box. More than 2,100 died building the World Cup facilities in Qatar. So doesn’t it make you cry to stay in another land?” That was my question to some of the migrant workers, and they have only one answer. They say, “Whatever may be the difficulties, at least we can earn money. I will be so poor back in my country.” They have to take care of their family—children, wife, elderly parents. They are forced to work over there. They have no other option. So they are bearing the mistreatment. They just bear it. We are losing high caliber members from the church in this way. Churches are becoming empty. Some are going to India, some to the Gulf countries, some to other places.

So, for those Christians who want to go abroad, we cannot stop them, but we are doing one thing. We are developing them as migrant mission workers, MMW. They go to another country, they work there. At the same time, they will do the evangelism with their fellow workers. So for that, we have developed a one-month discipleship curriculum and we are helping them on how to abide in Christ while abroad. “You don’t have family there. You don’t have your pastor there. You don’t have your fellow believers over there. How do you abide in Christ?” We encourage them that, “Somehow you are there in that country. You cannot go as a missionary to that country. You are going as a labourer. You are also a Christian. So make use of the time. Whatever may be the nation, be careful of the law of the country. Respect the law, but share your testimony. How God changed your life. It will help you stay connected with the Lord, and it will satisfy you. You are standing for the Lord, and the Lord will protect you.” This way we are encouraging them. And when they are abroad, we ask them to share their problems. We will pray. We’ll continue to pray here in the church, and we’ll circulate that prayer throughout the country.

Genesis 12:1-4 was our ministry theme scripture for 2025. We were not thinking of the migrant situation when choosing this scripture, but the Holy Spirit led me (Shalva), and it fit our context! From this passage we learn the following: God sometimes calls us to a new journey, to leave familiarity and comfort. God’s plans come before our full understanding. God’s call brings blessing. God’s blessing extends beyond us. And obedience requires action.

We are living and doing ministry in a country where most of the unskilled labor hardly gets $5 per day. And it is worse in the villages.

People come to church, and most of the churches everywhere in our country are economically very weak. So people come into the church, and they need small money for paying their children’s school fee or to do small kind of farming—these kinds of things. But they had no place to go and ask for a loan, you know, and church leaders and pastors were unable to provide for them.

We now have 90+ church saving groups launched. The savings group ministry is contributing to our mission to share the Gospel, and also to our vision to eradicate poverty from the churches. You know, the outsiders, they also are joining in savings groups. That is also a very great thing.

One pastor took me (Shalva) to a very backward village where they sell their girls. The people from the city travel there and they say, “Can you give your daughter in marriage?” They will offer money—300,000 Nepali rupees ($2,065). If [the parents] are not agreeing, then 500,000 rupees ($3,440). Then they sell the girls, 16-year-old girls, to that man. He pretends to marry her, then he takes her to Mumbai or somewhere to sell her. Now, because of the tireless work of the pastor, they no longer do this.

We found that the churches—after vision casting, after introducing savings group ministry, after the implementation, after introducing all the process, after starting the work of the ministry, and then seeing the impact of the savings group ministry, after all the slow practical work—it has become their own ministry. They are owning the ministry. Now they want all other churches to have this training too, and some are contributing funds to that. This is the great success for me (Jandi).

Similarly, the women who participated in our Women’s Health Camp and Counseling learned about their personal and family health and hygiene. Tetari*, a participant, said “thank you for making me a new person who can counsel others after getting new life after surgery.” Women learned about their sexual health. Women and girls also learnt about menstrual health and hygiene, which is the beginning phase of taking care of the uterus. Women who did their surgery of the prolapsed uterus are now living healthy lives and are becoming stronger and working and earning for the family, which has impacted their families and the communities. Now those women are encouraging other women in the community to go for the uterus health check-ups, so that others will not suffer like them in the future.

Our goal is serving in the church for the glory of the Lord, irrespective of caste, color, class, social strata, finances, denomination, etc. Our utmost priority is to lead people to the Lord so that they may enjoy the salvation freely given to us by the Almighty God. We are very much thankful and grateful to Harvest Bridge. Without that help and support, we could not have done extensive discipleship, church planting, uplifting the poorest of poor, and doing ministry of the Lord.

 “Our goal is serving in the church for the glory of the Lord, irrespective of caste, color, class, social strata, finances, denomination, etc.”

Devotional

Many people from Nepal are now living and serving in places they never planned to be, having left home because of poverty or changing circumstances. Their journeys echo God’s call in Genesis 12:1–3 as they step into the unknown with faith that God can use their lives to bless others, even in a new place.

1. Young people are protesting corruption and leaving Nepal because they see no future at home. What does this show about the deep discouragement facing this generation? How can the church respond in ways that offer practical hope?

2. As thousands leave Nepal for work abroad, church leaders are encouraging believers to serve faithfully wherever they go. Whether you are firmly planted in one place or navigating change, how is God calling you to intentionally grow and minister right where you are instead of waiting for better circumstances?

3. Churches who received savings group training are supporting others in receiving the same. Women who received medical treatment and knowledge are sharing it with others. What access or knowledge could you pass on to others?

4. The savings groups are helping believers support widows, pay school fees, start businesses, and even personally contribute to one another’s needs in times of crisis. In what ways can we live as if our resources are not just for personal comfort, but are entrusted to us by God to uplift others?

View the full 2025 Impact Report below.