Seeking Equality and Freedom For All

For decades, Nepalese Christians focused on planting churches and ending religious discrimination. But they now have an unusual chance to play a growing national role.

"Although the declaration of a secular state did not come with sympathy to Christians, we consider this a God-given privilege," said Simon Pandey, general secretary of National Churches Fellowship Nepal.

"We organized an open-air evangelistic meeting in a public place for the first time on July 1," he said. "There were over 10,000 people. It was a big celebration." Previously, it had been impossible for Christians to convene large public gatherings.

Pandey said Christians are still eagerly waiting for the day "when all religions will be treated equally," giving Christians and other minority groups the right to register religious organizations, build churches, and preach freely.

Before 1960, Nepal had officially banned Christians from living inside the country. But reformers changed the legal code. The first Christian group began in 1959 with 29 members. During the next five decades, Christianity grew by 10 to 20 percent annually, especially among Dalits at the bottom of Hindu society, making Nepal one of Asia's most stunning church growth stories.

Leaders admit this young church faces major challenges, because seasoned local leaders are rare. Purushotam Lal Manandhar, president of the National Christian Council of Nepal (NCCN), told CT, "Most of our members are first-generation Christians and have faced opposition and even harassment for their conversion from their dear ones."