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Nepal

• Appeal Denied for Pastor

  

  In November 2021, Keshav Raj Acharya, the pastor of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, was convicted of proselytising and, as a result, sentenced to two years in prison. Even though his sentence was reduced to one year upon appeal, Pastor Keshav subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court of Nepal. For more details, read these reports.

• Church Attacked as Part of Growing Trend

  

  Two churches in the same town of Nepal's Lumbini Province were attacked during the first four days of September. Reports describing the incident indicate that damage was done to the facilities of both churches, as well as to a motorbike. In one photograph, two men identified as pastors are shown being assaulted on the street. A sticky black substance was smeared on their faces in an act considered a cultural sign of disrespect and hatred.

• Pastor Keshav Released on Bail

  

  Since March 2020, Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, has faced numerous allegations and charges. Initially charged with spreading false information about COVID-19, the pastor was eventually cleared of all accusations. However, he was later arrested for two cases of "outraging religious feelings." In July 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. (For more information, click here.)

• Pastor Receives One-Year Sentence

  

  Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, has faced ongoing pressure from Nepalese authorities over the past two years. Initially detained in March 2020, he was accused of spreading false information about COVID-19 after uttering a recorded statement that "God is able to heal." Eventually those charges were dropped, but the pastor was arrested twice more for allegedly trying to convert Hindus to Christianity and "outraging religious feelings." In November 2021, he was convicted but granted bail a month later while appealing the ruling (see this page).

• Pastor Released on Bail Pending Appeal

  

  In November 2021, Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, was convicted of proselytising and thus sentenced to two years in prison. He was initially arrested because of a video that had been released without his knowledge in which he claimed that the COVID-19 virus could be healed through prayer. He was later re-arrested for "outraging religious feelings" and "attempting to convert" others to Christianity. (To review a previously posted report on this case, go to this report.)

• Pastor Sentenced to Prison for Evangelism

  

  Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, was initially arrested and detained in March 2020 after a video was released in which he allegedly claimed that the COVID-19 virus could be healed through prayer. The pastor denies ever uploading the video. He was initially released on bail but then re-arrested and charged with "outraging religious feelings" and "attempting to convert." Pastor Keshav was detained in a remote area of the country with restricted access to transportation.

• Pastor Finally Released on Bail

  

  Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya was finally released on bail in late June after spending three months in prison. Sources state that the bail amount was exorbitant, considering the charges against him.

  Pastor Keshav was first arrested on March 23rd, after a video was uploaded to YouTube in which he allegedly stated that God could heal COVID-19 through prayer. Despite denying that he uploaded the video, Pastor Keshav was arrested after being asked to pray for a woman who had contracted the virus. He was then charged with spreading false information and misleading his followers.

• Video Leads to Threats

  

  A video leaked to social media has forced a pastor into hiding. Sukdev Giri, pastor of Trinity Fellowship church has received death threats from Hindu militants. Family and friends have also faced threatening phone calls.

  In March, Pastor Sukdev spoke at the International Christian Media Workers Summit. In his presentation, he shared about his journey to Christ and discussed the various belief systems in Nepal. While the interview was recorded to video, access was restricted due to its sensitive nature. However, one unidentified woman reposted the video to YouTube on August 11th, leading to a flood of hostile comments. The video received over 750,000 views before it was removed.

• Assaulted Pastor Recovering from Trauma

  

  More than a month after Pastor Dhurba Kumar Pariyar was attacked by Maoist rebels, he remains in pain and faces mental trauma. Despite that, he has found strength in the Scriptures, as well as the testimonies of others who have suffered for their faith.

  Pastor Dhurba was riding a motorcycle on his way back from distributing toys and supplies to poor children when he was stopped by two other motorcyclists. After confirming his identity, the pastor was pulled off and dragged towards the jungle. The attackers accused him of preaching a foreign religion and bribing people to convert. While beating him, they threatened his life if he did not hand over any American money that was with him at the scene. The men fled when a vehicle passed by and the headlights fell on them.

• Five Christians Arrested

  

  Five Christians, including two foreign nationals, were arrested on April 23rd on allegations of attempted proselytization. The arrests happened during an early morning raid on a hotel in Ghorahi. The police seized Bibles, computers and other items, including American currency. Before being arrested for preaching Christianity and converting through allurement, the five were scheduled to attend a Christian conference that day.

• Church Grows Despite Anti-Conversion Law

  

  In August 2018, a new anti-conversion law came into effect in Nepal, including new punishments for those convicted (see this report). According to John Puidate of Bibles for the World, this has resulted in persecution as never before.

• Pastor Threatened Amidst New Legislation

  

  Pastor Sagar Baizu had stopped at a café for coffee on July 19th when he was suddenly assaulted by a group of men. After beating him on the head, the assailants fled with a warning: "We will blast your church and all the churches with bombs and shoot you and all your leaders." Cafeteria staff assisted the pastor and police were called to the scene. Thankfully, there appears to be no lasting long-term injuries.

• Church Growth Challenged by New Dangers
  
  Nepali believers are determined
  to remain faithful to the Lord.
  Photo: International Mission Board

  For the past several years, the church in Nepal has been growing at a significant rate. Christians have shown the love of Christ by caring for orphans, fighting human trafficking, and providing necessary job training. Recognizing the benefits, even the communist government requested assistance from the church.

• Release of Christians Imprisoned for Praying

  

  After praying for a mentally ill woman, four Nepali Christians were sentenced in December 2016 to five years in prison for alleged "violence and witchcraft." Thankfully, their sentences were recently overturned and they have all been released. Lali Pun, Bimkali Budha, Ruplal Pariyar and his wife Ganga, were initially found guilty at the District Court in Salyan -- a district in western Nepal -- even though the woman had testified in court that their prayer had ultimately resulted in her healing. A fifth Christian, Rupa Thapa, was found not guilty.

• New Christians Spreading the Gospel

  
  A VOM ministry worker gives
  this Nepali woman a Bible.

  In early 2016, two VOM ministry workers stayed with a local couple, "Durga" and her husband "Dinesh," while serving in a remote Himalayan village. When Durga became ill, the workers prayed and cared for her until she recovered. Both Durga and Dinesh subsequently came to faith in Christ and began listening to an audio Bible. Today, they willingly share the Gospel with others and invite low-caste villagers into their home. Pray for Durga and Dinesh, as well as VOM's in-country workers, who are committed to ministering the Gospel in Nepal.

• Trauma Counselling Workers Acquitted!

  
  Some of the believers recently released.
  Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

  Eight Nepali Christians were acquitted of "proselytizing" charges on December 6th, bringing a close to their ordeal. The believers had been arrested in June of 2015 as part of a crackdown on Christian activities in the fledgling democracy. The believers were reportedly mistreated in jail prior to their release on bail.

  Back on June 9th, police arrested a pastor, two school principals and five school staff members for distributing children's books about Jesus at a Christian school. The books were used as part of a counselling program for children who were traumatized due to the country's two earthquakes which had taken place on April 25th and May 12th of that same year.

  "Teach Nepal," a Kathmandu-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), organized the trauma counselling sessions. During the sessions, each of the traumatized children received a small gift pack which included the 23-page Christian children's book. Under Nepal's new constitution, evangelism is a crime.

  While evangelizing has long been illegal in Nepal, advocacy groups have recently detected increased enforcement and other anti-Christian efforts as officials seek to placate militant Hindus who are incensed that the new constitution did not re-establish a more prominent place for Hinduism.

  Yet the news of the recent acquittal has been received with much thanksgiving and praise among the Christians involved in this case, and the many intercessors who have been praying for them. "Praise the Lord!" a VOM contact gratefully expresses. "We are thankful to all who continuously prayed and helped in many different ways."

• Young Convert Stands Firm Despite Accusations

  
  Leah holds a Nepali Bible.

  "Leah," a 15-year-old girl from a rural village in Nepal, has been told that her Christian faith was the cause of her father's illness. Although Leah's family was initially opposed to her conversion to Christianity, the young believer steadfastly held onto her faith in Christ, walking for about four to five hours to attend church with other believers.

  Thankfully, Leah's family members are now showing an openness to the Gospel as they are attending church with her. Please pray that they will also wholeheartedly commit their lives to the Lord, joining Leah by becoming strong witnesses of the Christian faith.

• Christians Freed After False Accusations

  
  The Christians were arrested for distributing Bible literature to children.

  Eight Christians, including two school principals, have been released from custody after being held for several days on accusations of distributing Bible literature to children. Police made the arrests on June 9th based on a 2015 amendment to the Nepalese constitution which states in part that no one shall "convert a person of one religion to another religion."

  Among those arrested were Prakash Pradhan, the principal of Mount Valley boarding school, and Bimal Shahi, the principal of Modern Nepal School. Others were members of Teach Nepal, a Christian organization. At the time of the arrests, the educators had completed an earthquake awareness program in various schools.

  After an appeal was presented to Shakti Bahadur Basnet, the Minister for Home Affairs, by the Federation of National Christian Nepal, those who had been arrested were thankfully released. Additional reports can be found here.

  While we can offer praise to the Lord for the release of these educators from custody, please pray that the Nepalese authorities will allow Christians freedom of expression. Also lift up in prayer the other believers of this country who are suffering persecution and imprisonment for their faith, asking the Lord to reassure them of His unfailing presence and to help them in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). May the unsaved members of their families and communities be greatly impacted by the unwavering witness of these dedicated lives -- compelling many more to seek the truth of Christ's reality for themselves.

• New Constitution Could Make Christianity Illegal

  Pray that evangelism in Nepal will not be restricted as there are many in need spiritually.

  Nepali Christians fear that proposed amendments to the country's new constitution, likely to come into effect this August after seven years of parliamentary discussions, could eventually render all Christian activity illegal. Christians are deeply concerned that the draft, though it affirms the right to profess and practise one's own religion, criminalizes evangelism and conversion.

  Article 31(3) states that "any act to convert another person from one religion to another, or any act or behaviour to undermine or jeopardize the religion of another (will be) punishable by law." Christians are worried that if the latest draft is passed, regular Christian activities, such as holding church services accessible to all or even simply organizing events to aid the disadvantaged, could be interpreted as being evangelistic and, therefore, considered an offense.

  Once the world's only Hindu kingdom, Nepal was declared a secular, democratic republic in May of 2006. However, Hindu nationalists have run a highly successful propaganda campaign convincing Nepalis that "secularism" will lead to mass conversions to the detriment of Nepalese culture. C.B. Gahatraj, a representative of the Federation of National Christian Nepal, believes that the number of Christians in the Himalayan nation is underestimated, adding that people are not being forced to convert. "Hindu groups may have been alarmed by the fact that people who were praying quietly earlier are doing so openly now," he says. "All citizens must be allowed to practise the religion of their choice freely."

  According to the following statement by David Kainee, another concerned Nepali believer, the implementation of the new constitution could be potentially disastrous: "For peace and prosperity, we need to defeat the forces of religious extremism in the country, otherwise Nepal is sure to take the path of communal politics like in the Gulf and Middle Eastern countries where hundreds of people are being killed in religious violence every day. Let's close the chapter of giving a political colour to religion which is polarizing Nepali society, and instead plant the seeds of tolerance and unity."

  More information on the country of Nepal can be found at VOM Canada's website.

  Please join us in prayer for our Nepali brothers and sisters whom this new law could seriously affect. Let our hearts' desire be for the Lord to intervene on their behalf, granting those in authority wisdom as they endeavour to preserve religious liberty for the benefit of all. May He give prominent Christians within the country insight and authority as they seek to influence the debate, advocate for religious freedom, and counter the propaganda of Hindu nationalists. Intercede for all of Nepal's believers -- including evangelists, church workers and their leaders -- that they may have divine wisdom as they navigate the path ahead (Psalm 46:1). Throughout the process, may God continue to build and equip His church in Nepal.

• Pastor Released from Detention

  Chhedar Bhote

  After receiving a 12-year prison sentence, a pastor in a remote part of Nepal was released from detention on July 17th. Pastor Chhedar Bhote Lhomi, 37, who ministered among the Tibetan people and established a church that met regularly, was handed the lengthy prison sentence for eating beef. Although he served in an area of Nepal where this practice is permissible, in other areas of the country local Hindus do not eat beef because cattle and oxen are considered sacred.