Answers to Prayer

1 The opening up of Nepal

2 The thrilling growth of the Church

3 There is a church planted in every one of the 75 districts of Nepal and there are at least some believers in most peoples and caste groups of the country

4 Increased unity after some difficult years during the 1990s

Challenges for Prayer

1 The country needs political stability and continuity of government after the first tempestuous decade of democracy which culminated in the assassination of the Royal Family

2 Religious freedom has increased, but is still only partial

a) Full religious freedom to be both guaranteed in the constitution and upheld by the authorities

b) The thwarting of the designs of the extremists

3 The Church in Nepal has flourished in the midst of pressure as a remarkable indigenous movement

a) Denominationalism

b) Persecution, though less severe than in the 1980s, is still real

c) Partnership between churches and foreign agencies

4 Vision for the future:

a) The two HIM-COE conferences of 1996 and 1998 brought together most Nepali Christian leaders and others serving in the Himalayas

b) The Sowers Ministry is a Nepali-founded mission agency

Geography

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Area 147,181 sq.km. A mountain-ringed Himalayan state between China (Tibet) and India.

Population (2000) 23,930,490 +2.38%AGR

Capital Kathmandu 1,500,000.

Peoples

Indo-Aryan 79%.

Tibeto-Burman 17%.

Munda-Santal 0.3%.

Other 3.7%.

Literacy 40%. Official language Nepali. All languages 124. Languages with Scriptures 6Bi 11NT 9por 12w.i.p.

Economy

An isolated subsistence economy. HDI 0.463; 144^th/174. Public debt 48% of GNP. Income/person $220 (0.7% of USA) with 42% living below the poverty line.

Politics

Nepal was never ruled by colonial powers.

Religion

The world's only Hindu Kingdom.

Churches in Nepal

Missionaries from Nepal

746 in 13 agencies to 4 countries:

Expatriates to Nepal

717 in 90 agencies from 30 countries:

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