New Training Center in Nepal

In February 2007 my son Shane and I held a leaders meeting in Nepalgunj, Nepal. We were encouraged with the growth of the work and challenged with fresh vision for the future. I will spend October - December 2007 in Nepal helping to move this work to the next level.

Over the past two years, we have worked with Pastor K.B. Basel and Pastor David Knox to help establish 54 churches in this region. I want to help K.B. expand his Nepalgunj church and build a training center in Nepal in the fall of 2007 based on the model of success of what K.B. has established. Pastor K.B. has a church of around 350 in Nepalgunj but their building is completely full and I can see that he has the capacity to grow to 1,000 adults over the next two years.

$50,000 Property Purchased

Accompanying us on the trip was Pastor Rick Bezet and members of his congregation from Little Rock, Arkansas. Pastor Rick committed $50,000 to help us purchase a 250' X 250' piece of property that joins the ministry compound in Nepalgunj. Since the February trip, Pastor Rick held true to his word and with the funds he sent we have purchased the adjoining property. I want to add to his commitment and build on that new property.

I have $20,000 & need $55,000 more to build

We can build for $15 a square foot in southern Nepal. That's $3 a square foot more that north India since we have to import the steel and cement from India. Still, it's a pretty good price. We also need to construct a wall around the property which will give us freedom to hold meetings without hindrance. I want to build a 5,000 square foot building, which will give us space for growth over the next two years. The size of the property gives us room for the future and in addition to building a larger church building, my long range plans are to build a training center and expand the present school.

Tremendous revival is taking place among the Tharu people in south central Nepal. The Tharu people were completely unreached as little as five years ago but we now have 54 churches in the villages surrounding Nepalgunj. We set a goal to double the number of churches to over 100 this year and it's well within our ability. Some of these villages churches are fairly large, upwards of 250 adult members.

Most of our pastors are young, some only teenagers. It's been quite an interesting challenge for K.B. since roughly 90% of the older people are illiterate. The younger people are much more likely to be educated and because of this we're finding better success by training these young men to pastor. There are challenges of course but these young leaders are doing a tremendous job and many of them are experiencing miracles of healing in their ministries. The persecution and political hindrances of the Maoists rebels have subsided and there is greater opportunity for the Gospel in West Nepal than there ever has been in the history of the nation.

Thank you for all you have done to help us fulfill the Master's command to Go and make disciples of all the nations. Matthew 28:19 NLT.

Rick