My Grander Vision for Kathmandu, Nepal | Winning the City

“To be a pastor in Nepal is quite challenging work,” says Samuel Karthak, a pastor in Kathmandu, Nepal. “We used to be a Hindu kingdom, and in 2006 Nepal became a republic, giving us a president, and now religious freedom. Still, 80 percent of people of Nepal are Hindu and a large number are Buddhists. Christians are a very small number. Nepal is now in the process of drafting a constitution, and a group there wants Nepal to return to being a Hindu kingdom. There are a lot of things happening including protests.”

Leaders like Samuel, passionate about spreading the Gospel in his city and his country, are grateful the Global Leadership Summit that has been able to equip him and his church for a grander vision. “It has been such a great opportunity to gather the leaders together in one place, and to be a part of a vision that God has placed on our country.” After a three year journey of trying to launch the GLS in Nepal they held their first event last year in English, just before the large earth quake that hit their country. Since last year, they have expanded to three sites this year, adding the Nepali language.

A Prayer for Nepal

“In 2000, someone actually prophesized that there was going to be a big earthquake in Nepal,” explains Samuel. “We thought he was talking about a spiritual earthquake. Later after four or five years, the government started to tell us they had awareness programs for earthquakes. We had earthquake drills at the church for the safety of our people. The government warned that in an earthquake, 80 percent of our houses could collapse, and if it happened on a weekday, three to four million of our children could die in the schools and colleges where they study. We were expecting a huge disaster. However, when it happened, [April 2015] we saw the hand of the Lord in it. It happened on a Saturday, so all the schools were closed, and families were together. When we heard the government reports, they said that 8,000 people had died, and 450,000 houses collapsed. But it could have been the other way around. So many more people could have died. God has reminded us of our responsibility to reach out to those people who have been kept safe.”

The GLS took place just before the earth quake occurred last year, gathering key leaders and pastors, and equipping them with the leadership tools to face what was to come. In their relief work since, they are being the hands and feet of Jesus to their community. “Pray for us as we reach out to those people. The local people have seen the difference in the relief work done by the Christians because there was the love of God in their work. It has softened the hearts of our people. We see a great harvest because people have seen the love of God, and have experienced it through our testimonies and our doings.”

Samuel’s Grander Vision – Win the City

As Samuel described, being a leader in Nepal is difficult work, but his vision is huge. Encouragement and inspiration are key in keeping him going in his ministry. “I stay encouraged in my relationship with the Lord, which is the main thing. As pastors, we can lead our churches and use other sources, but it’s our relationship with the Father—opening up our ears to hear a word from God—that is the most important thing. That is what has encouraged us to go on in our ministry.”

The GLS has become a place where leaders have been encouraged by what God whispers to them in each session. “God has placed a desire in our hearts to reach out to the un-reached people, and to win the city.  The local church is the hope of the world when it works right. That has really given me a boost to train leaders and bring them together and impart the vision to win the city. God is in control, and he will do it in his time. This is the time for us to prepare ourselves to reach the goal. I think we will be able to reach the city, because God is with us, and he is leading us step by step. This is not just our desire, it is God’s desire. We are working together and we are his co-workers. I believe it will come true.”

Thank you for your support in Nepal

“I would like to thank all the donors and sponsors for the GLS in Nepal. God bless you. Thank you.” Please continue to pray and support leaders like Samuel in Nepal who seek to change lives, impact the Kingdom, and ultimately introduce people to Jesus. You make a difference for hundreds of thousands of leaders through your support and prayer.

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