June 8, 2001 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - We are asking our Bible-believing friends to join us on the 15th day of each month for the rest of the year for the country of Nepal. It is located between India and China and is the home of Mt. Everest, the world's highest mountain. There are roughly 22 million people in Nepal, and the predominant religion is Hinduism. There is also a strong element of Buddhism which was brought into the country through the influx of Tibetan refugees after the fall of Tibet to communist China in the 1950s. Nepal is alleged to be the birthplace of Buddha. The land is permeated with idolatry. There are 3,000 temples in the capital city alone.

This land was resistant to the gospel throughout history, but in the past ten years the government has been allowing churches to meet and work in relative freedom. As a result, Christianity has increased greatly in Nepal. But even though there is more liberty today to preach the gospel in Nepal than ever before, the government has consistently made it very difficult--even impossible-- for missionaries to stay in Nepal long-term.

Until the end of the 1980s, the king of Nepal held complete power and ruled over the world's only Hindu kingdom. Evangelism was strictly illegal, and many Christians were imprisoned for their faith. In 1990, rioting and demonstrations resulted in an overthrow of the government. The king stepped down to become little more than a figurehead, and a parliamentary democracy was established. Since then, the various coalition governments have been extremely weak and seemingly powerless to improve Nepal's precarious economic status, but the change has brought more freedom for the gospel.

There is massive turmoil and disquiet in Nepal these days and the future is uncertain to the extreme. The king and queen of Nepal were murdered on Friday evening, June 1, together with their youngest son and seven other members of the royal family and friends. Though information has been sketchy, we are being told that their oldest son, Dipendra, murdered them and then turned the gun on himself. After lingering on life support for a couple of days, the son was pronounced dead and the late king's brother, Gyanendra, was coronated king. (The late King Birendra was educated in England and the United States.)

Even before the horrible June 1 massacre of the king and his family, the country was in a state of chaos. Three forces were and are vying for power: the Maoists (communist guerillas have been wreaking havoc on the countryside), the corrupt and "democratic" parties in Parliament, and the monarchy. Now, after the murders, the people are shocked, bewildered, angry, and afraid.

This year had already been a tough year for Nepal. There had been strikes by every group imaginable, electric shortages, gas shortages, water shortages, killings by the Maoists, school shut-downs by the Maoists, and countless other problems that interrupted life and ministry. Now the unthinkable has happened: the king is dead. To release their sorrow and frustration, people have exhorted to rioting, and the streets of the capital city are full of tragedies.

We share the deep sorrow of the Nepali people, and we long for them to know Christ, who alone is hope and truth. Nepal is a Hindu land, and the Hindu idols are helpless to offer comfort or guidance to the Nepalis at this time.

In spite of the dark clouds that hang over this land, we believe it is God's day for Nepal. Join us in beseeching the Lord to open wide the doors to this country and the hearts of the people to Jesus Christ.

In particular, we are seeking the face of God for four things:

1) The safety of the Christians during this difficult time of national uncertainty.
2) That God might show His mercy to Nepal and provide them with good leaders who will open the country so that the gospel can be preached across its length and breadth.
3) To open the hearts of the people to the love and salvation of Jesus Christ.
4) To raise up sacrificial missionaries and evangelists for the task, missionaries who are sound in doctrine and committed to the Word of God, who can establish Christ-honoring indigenous churches.

We are asking our friends to remember Nepal on the 15th day of the month for the rest of this year.

Please pass this message along to other Bible-believing friends who might be interested in joining us in praying for a very needy part of the world.