HARE RAM THE AO CHURCH PLANTER 

Christians are thought to account for around 4 per cent of the population in Nepal and Nepal has been reported to be 25th on the 2018 Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian. A law criminalizing religious conversions and the hurting of religious feelings came into force in Nepal on 17th August 2018.

It has been reported that conviction carries a custodial sentence of up to five years and a fine not exceeding fifty thousand rupees. Foreigners who are caught under this law face deportation within seven days after completing the prison sentence. Many Christian in Nepal who are already the minority, fear this law and its implications.

Despite restrictions for spreading the faith in Nepal, there is now a unique opportunity for the growth of the Gospel. People, especially those in the remote areas of this Himalayan Kingdom have not heard the Gospel. There is a generation of young men and women who are passionate about going to these remote areas to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord. They are stepping out quietly and boldly infiltrating the mountain areas and countryside carrying the shield of faith and the sword which is the Word of God.

One such person is Foot Soldier Hare Ram who was trained in 2014 at our Partner’s Missionary Training School for 3 months. The Lord took him out of a staunch Hindu family to serve Him in a village near the foothills of Janakpur in Central Nepal and this village is a stronghold of Hinduism. After his training, he was sent out to begin his work for the Lord in Janakpur to do church planting. He is grateful to the Asian Outreach donors who have been supporting his church planting ministry.

He faced many challenges and hardship and suffered persecution at the hands of Hindu extremist. But he remained steadfast in his mission to share the Gospel with as many people as he could reach. God saw his passion and love for His people and used him to reach, touch and transform lives through the Gospel. So many souls have joined in his church. Now he has got about 60 believers in the church which is a very great achievement in such hard place.

What is exciting is that through God’s grace the Christians in the village came together and raised funds to purchase a piece of land and build their own church which they are very proud of. Before they used to worship at the home of one of the church members. The Lord has blessed them and now their church is slowly being completed. They still need to complete the toilets, kitchen and walls around the compound. 

Hare Ram receives some support but he also supplements his income by farming and he works very hard. We solicit your prayers for this man of God who despite being unwell, never misses an opportunity to go and share the Gospel. He suffers from heart problems and thyroid condition and yet the Lord has used him very effectively to reach out to the whole village. He quotes 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

As the Christian community grew, this village has now become a safe place from persecution. God’s favour is upon Hare Ram and the Hindu there do not bother him or the other Christians now. Though there have been incidents of believers and pastors being arrested in connection of preaching and sharing in the public in nearby villagers. The government and the community see the Bible as threat to them and when police find a Bible in the bag of believers, they are accused of attempting to convert Hindus which is a criminal offence.

He shares about the recent miracle that happened to two of his church believers. Brothers, Anil and Dilip, were asleep in their home on the floor when they were bitten by a poisonous scorpion. They were in extreme pain and unable to go to a doctor which is in the next village. The family woke up their Christian friends to come and pray with them over the boys. They kept praying for them until 1am in the morning and by the grace of God, the poisons in their body did not kill them. The next day the news spread around the whole village and people began praising and thanking God for this miracle. Even the Hindus were in awe of the Christian God.

 

Prayer Points

1. Pray for the continued growth of Hare Ram’s ministry and favour of God upon his life.

2. Pray for complete healing over his body that he will not be plagued by any sickness that will

    hamper his work for the Lord.

3. Pray for God’s provision to complete the church building.