It was a challenging and hectic third quarter, but God is good. In the three months, I taught two modules to our Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Theology (MTh) students and one module at the Kathmandu Institute of Theology. Teaching three modules was a fulfilling experience.
It’s a privilege to be a voice for the voiceless. Milan was so moved by the plight of flood victims in Nepal that he decided to do something.
Written by Terence Lee
Ascending Everest is many mountaineers’ dream. For some it is the apex of their journey, to stand at the roof of the world and, for one moment, look down and survey the rest of humanity. Needless to say it is a bucket list item for many people. For Gopal, however, it’s his day job.
Gopal Tamil is a trekking guide. One of many who, weekly, would make the walk to base camp and beyond, whilst carrying someone else’s ascent equipment. To him, Everest stands not so much as a challenge, but rather as livelihood.
When he’s not busy walking and guiding people up mountains, he has a day job as a training coordinator in Butwal, Nepal equipping a new generation of Christian leaders. Each year, the training centre runs two, three-month long residential training programmes where up to 15 people can attend at a time. They would come to the centre, stay there for three months, and in that time learn the basics of grass roots leadership, practical ministry techniques and the foundation of theology.
The need to train and equip pastors and church leaders is growing in tandem with the rapid church growth in Nepal, particularly in villages and other places outside the cities.
But grassroots pastors and leaders in Nepal usually lack theological education and formal academic training, putting them at a disadvantage to enrol in seminaries or bible schools. The Lord gave me the burden to reach those leaders in their local places.
In Nepal, leadership positions are dominated by men. Even churches outside of the main cities are not spared this trend. Given this scenario, we thank God for sustaining us to train and equip women from various denominations throughout the country.
The participants travelled for two days and some walked for 12 hours to catch the bus to come to the training centre. Many participants are the wives of church leaders, but had never set foot into a bible training centre. It was their first opportunity to be trained and equipped for mission work.