The churches of Christ Salute you. Romans 16: 16

                  The King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah

                   Obsolete Historical last Shah Dynasty

The most of its history, the borders of Nepal were closed to the outside world before 1950s. The Capuchians Missionaries travelled overland from Rome and established a presence in Kathmandu for about fifty years in the early 18th century. Then for almost two hundred years, there was no organized Christian presence in Nepal. As Nepal opened its doors, mission organizations representing Indian and western Christians which had worked across the borders of Nepal began to enter Nepal. They were invited by the government of Nepal to build a hospital in Tansen and started clinics in the Kathmandu valley. In response to this invitation, the united mission to Nepal was formed in 1954. This is a unique co-operation of Christians from around the world to serve the people of Nepal.

Nepalese society where everything is sacred and nothing is secular. Every person in the society is enter-dependent with others in the community. Newar community is highly structured glued together. There is no place for the deviator in the society. There are no possibilities of accommodation for a person who left their religious belief to become a Christian within their societal community.   A few in the Kathmandu valley, who were converted to Christianity, never mind the method or motive, were considered as being dead. These converted people were boycotted and harassed.   The extent to which the out casting took place depends on the zeal of the society and the pressured of the religious leaders in country.

It was sufficiently applied to that the convert had to go out and find a new way to make a living in another place.  Obviously this was not easy.  The governor in Kathmandu maltreated the missionaries and tortured Christian's converts.  

The Newar Christians about sixty were forced to leave their home and the country.  Thus they left Nepal their home country with tears in their eyes and went to the small town of Bettiah in India. There they settled and formed Newar Christian community. This place is three days walk from Nepal border and a day journey by bus from Kathmandu Valley.

Nepal was and is orthodox Hindu state, the last stronghold of Hinduism in the subcontinent. It will help us to understand what true converting is. These people were orthodox Hindus and also first Nepali generation Christians. They were people who had once worshipped deities in temples and shrines, who had made sacrifices and observed cast systems rigorously.  Now they became peculiar people who gathered with others at home to worship the living God of heaven. There were very few Christians in a country. They knew and love each other deeply and had no cast system and differences. It was known as a happy community.

In the course of time, the Rana Regime (1846-1951) crumbled beneath the blue sea.  It took a stretch of 105 years of inhuman rule. The country was upheaval and people of Nepal were yearning for democracy. The King Tribhuwan Bir Bikram Shah became the father of democracy in 1950.  Since then Nepalese are striving to exercise the spirit of democracy by trial and error method until the present day. 

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal since ages.  The old palace of Newar Kings lies in the Hanuman Dhokha (Monkey Gate) in the heart of Kathmandu valley. There is also a tallest temple of Hindu god in this royal palace.  This temple is known as Taleju Bhagwan. It is inside the Hanuman Dhokha. This Taleju temple belongs to Newar Kings and of Shah Dynasty. There are three gods made of gold, silver and bronze chained them with a strong cord of gold, silver and bronze respectively and keeps them in a deep pit for their safety. They are taken out every year on the Occasion of Dasain Festival.

In those days, the missionaries from USA and Europe and from India were working in Mission Hospitals in Nepal.  Among them the Shanta Bhawan Mission Hospital was renown  and loved by common people. Through these missionaries, the work of God was rapidly spreading in the country. There are small churches in Kathmandu valley.  Mr and Mrs C.G George from Kerala came to Kathmandu and established the church at Putali Sadak now known as Ram Shah Path. It is called Mar Thoma church. There was also a Christian book store called Shanti Book Store at Kamalachhi in Kathmandu valley near Rani Pokhari.

During this turmoil dispensation, Mr Krishna Gopal (nick name Jyapuchha) was born at Hyumate Tole in 1949.  This Hyumate Tole is just a stone throw from Hanuman Dhokha Palace.. His parents were worshipping these deities at home and temples in the Kathmandu Valley.  So it was natural for Krishna Gopal to be a religious minded person since he was brought up in that orthodox family. Naturally it was his habit of worshipping idol gods and observing many religious rituals including being himself a god to be worshipped by his sisters. In his ignorance of the truth of God, he did not resist of being worshipped by sisters, because it was their family ritual and tradition which is still prevailing in Nepal.

In those days, there were not many schools and schooling among the Newar community was unheard. It was a grace of God to be able to enroll his name at Durbar High School.  It was founded for the royal families but later it was opened to all. It was one of the best schools in Kathmandu Valley.  There were no public transportation and people had to walk on foot. Kathmandu Valley was fairly cold and clean at that time.

Returning from School, he found a fallen tract in Nepali language. It was about the living God and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was surprised to know that there is a living God.  He was glad to get this piece of paper and took to his teacher who happened to be a Christian. He is also a Newar. He took him to Putali Sadak Church and introduced with  Reverend C.G.George from Kerala.  He is working for the Mar Thoma Church whose head quarter is in Kerala. It was wonderful to know a bunch of young people who used to get together to study Bible and worship on Saturdays. These people are Newars. It gave him a pleasant environment which helped him to involve deeply in the Bible study and later he was baptized in 1965. There were two churches in Kathmandu, one in Patan and one in Bhadgaon.  Many years after, Kamal Pokhari church came into existence. There was no denominational spirit because no one knew about it except  the Churchian Pastors. They used to get together often. They used to go to mission hospitals to reach the gospel to the workers. These mission hospitals were known as Shanta Bhawan Hospital and Leprosy Hospital in Anandban. Now Shanta Bhawan Hospital is known as Patan Hospital. These hospitals bear a forefront of Christianity in Nepal.  Slowly by love and hard work and prayer of the devoted people helped to spread the Gospel in Nepal even though preaching and converting into Christianity is illegal. Consequently many churches were established throughout Nepal. People were attracted by the love and devotion and sympathetic hearts of Christian people. Joyfully a company of Christians started out to reach beyond hills and mountains to preach and teach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although they faced many difficulties, they managed to take the Gospel to the lost. What a wonderful feet of those men and women who took the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the lost souls. What a blessing to our children! The word of God was sounded in Nepal every where and still sounding calling sinners to come home. What an invitation!

Shortly after baptism in 1968, Krishna Gopal along with other two women missionaries from USA went to Mount Everest region to distribute the books of gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They gave a gift of New Testament to the Buddhist Monastery at Syamboche. They also distributed more than a thousand booklets to the local Shyarpas along with pictures of Jesus. Those people took booklet and photos with a great reverence as they were habituated to worship the images. Krishna Gopal did not know that it was wrong to worship the image of Jesus. It was still idolatry. 

Shortly after returning from Namche Bazzar, he left for western district with loads of books of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He distributed books as he passed by. People gladly took them. It took three days to reach Gorkha Bazzar where he was arrested on the charge of preaching foreign religion that is Christianity and sent for three years of imprisonment in 1968. At that time there were already many Christians who were spending their days in the prison because they wanted to go to heaven.  What a ridiculous idea, our authorities do not like to see people go to heaven. He was glad that he could even preach and teach the word of God to the prisoners which he did through the help of Christians in Gorkha Mission Hospital. He was able to get the gospels and teach them. He was loved even by the prison guards. He was well taken care of by the Nepali Christian brothers and sisters. He was freed on 1971 on the occasion of the birth day of His Majesty the King Mahendra  Bir Bikram Shah. After freed from prison, he went to stay with Ramghat Church in Pokhara and from there he went to Gorkha again and stayed there for a week. Then he left Gorkha for Kathmandu. At this time he had studied very well the word of God and came to know that there is something wrong which he had learned from people. He found differences in the Biblical teaching and men's teaching but could not be confirmed since it was taught by the well educated western and American people. He discussed about it with Howard Barclay who was one of the Chief Officer in the United Mission to Nepal. He was a Baptist. He helped much to Krishna Gopal in all. So Howard Barclay started the church at Sanepa without music and told to worship there where he continued for a while. Nepali Christians did not know about the western Christianity until the Visualized Bible study Series were seen.

Brother Donald R. Pfalser came to Kathmandu to work with USAID. He with his family was living at Tindahara Pathshala who assisted a group of Nepali Christians by introducing with Brother J.C. Choate and Sunny David. These brethren expanded the Word of God clearly to these Christian men. Then they began to meet at Samakhusi in Kathmandu. Brother Dan Pfalser helped these brethren to pay the rent. Mr Krishna Gopal was teaching Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ and requested them to be baptized for the remission of sins. That made him shocked and forced him to rethink about his baptism which was administered by so called Churchian Pastor and reverend which was just contrary of the commandment given by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Then he was baptized correctly according to the commandment of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ in 1972 A.D. 

Mr Krishna Gopal along with two other brothers was working together for the Lord when Brother Ray McMillan, the principal of Alpha Bible College in Shillong, came to Kathmandu to teach the word of God. He did such a nice teaching that made them ready to go to Alpha Bible College in Shillong to study the word of God. Krishna Gopal with another brother decided to enrol in the Alpha Bible College. At that time, Krishna Gopal was working with Dr. Austin and Magritte Hale who were members of Wycliffe Bible Translators group known as SIL in Nepal. He was working on Bible Translation in Nepal-Bhasa. They supported him while he was in ABC for two years. He was glad to get acquaintance with Canadian David W. Hallette  and others Indian teachers.

It was the grace of God for Krishna Gopal to be able to finish his Master Degree in English B.Ed in English and Science. He then started his career as an assistant lecturer under Prithvi Narayan Campus for almost five years. In the time of loneliness and discourage, the invitation came from unknown person to attend Vijay Wada lectureship. That made him glad and journeyed with a friend to South-India. There he came to know the real work and love of Brother Charles F. Scott who had sent the recorded tape and was played it to the audience.  It was great!!!

Brother Charles F. Scott who assisted to hire the building at Thapathali for the church meeting.  Mr. Krishna Gopal left his teaching job to work for the Lord. Slowly they were growing in numbers and more were added to them. Brother Ramanand Joshi was taking care of the house and the garden.  It was the grace of God to be able to spread the Glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout our contry. Brother Charles F. Scott was a father to them in the Gospel work, who recommended them to Brother Jack L. Ray of Lehman Avenue Church of Christ in 1985. Without the love and prayer of the Lehman Avenue Church of Christ, the Churches in Nepal would remain dwarf. Brother Jack L. Ray visited us who encouraged us greatly in the Lord and also made possible to work with Michael E. Brooks. Since then brother Michael E. Brooks has been visiting two times a year. He is working extensively in Nepal for the growth and maturity of the Christians in Nepal. We love him and his wife Brenda Brooks for their love and hard work for the Lord.

Brother Charles F. Scott and Ann Scott were visiting us at Thapathali, when we had a great persecution and even imprisoned a bunch of Christians.  We were not even free to confess our beliefs in God without being punished.  Even though Krishna Gopal was sentenced for six years and three months imprisonment on the charge of converting Ramananda Joshi into Christianity, yet he was released along with other prisoners by the decree of the late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah when the democracy came into existence in 1990 A.D. and still prevailing.

Because of the weaknesses of our elected democratic government and of their lucrative political and self-centred mindedness gave a peculiar birth of the Maoist in about 1996 A.D. They were nurtured and fostered in the jungle un-noticed. Our elected government drove them away thinking them as a mosquito which can be killed at any time became ultimately a big problem which made them impossible to conduct elections. Consequently the elected government surrendered the power to King of Nepal who dissolved the parliament and formed special government under the Kingship as per their demand which was still prevailing in Nepal. Our King was trying to restore the peace in Nepal in spite of opposition from the political parties which created more problem and hardship in Nepal. Thus Nepal is undergoing with a great upheaval and turmoil uncertain to resolve the problem with loss of many lives. People are suffering a lot beyond human words can explain. The people of Nepal are living with tears in their eyes. There is no bright light seen in the sky. They need lots of love and comforts and prayer. May God our Father see us

In spite of much obstructions and opposition from both sides, the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is being spread across the mountains and valleys. The Maoist does not accept Christianity, because of the peaceful messages, even though they do not opposed vehemently. The Christians are living examples of peace and prosperity as their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ taught them saying: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."  The man and the nation which will not take the way of God are heading for disaster--even in material things. The man and the nation which refuse the dream of God will find their own dreams shattered also.  We need badly meek yet strong political leaders to lead the people of Nepal.

Because of the serious lackness of the sincere political leaders in Nepal, who will go between the Maoist and the government for peace, has caused much suffering within and without. The ministeres were misleading our King who was trying to establish peace in the country. There was a serious lack of a mediator between the Maoist and the government. It seems that our King was trying his best to restore the peace in the kingdom of Nepal, even though it was not successful.  Therefore the time has come for true Christians of all over the world to pray fervently for the Kingdom of Nepal and its  government of Nepal and the Maoist and the Political Parties. Let us pray that God our Father may grant them the prudent hearts and meekness of minds, so that they may come together for the betterment of the Nepalese people. Let us join together in the prayer to over throw the demons and Satanic powers from the world. Satan kept the people in the darkness so that they may not see the light. Jesus Christ is the only true light and he is the peace.  Peace does not come thrugh lighting thousands of lights.  Peace comes from God when it is planted into the hearts of men and women. Jesus  is the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Therefore let us sing and praise the Lord of glory until the Kingdom of Satan becomes the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace. Let the people of the world be freed from the bondage of sin so that they might come out of the bondage of Satanic power into the marvelous light  and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. if only people are willing to come to God their Father, He will bless them and bind them their wounds and comfort them in their troubles.  Our God is love and he loves all human beings in spite of who he is.  Read the following words which was spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ while he was in this world: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.'' (John 3:16-21)

Praise the Lord our God for His great mercy for the Nepalese people recently who made the total democracy possible in the Kingdom of Nepal. It came because of the Nepalese sacrificial love for Nepal. During this period, many people lost their lives and many more were seriously injured or wounded. We are grateful to them for bringing the total democracy in Nepal. The lost parliament was restored by the king and now democratic parliament is trying to establish the total democratic nation. Let us pray for Nepal and Nepalese people for the betterment of their lives and prosperity and peace be prevailed in the country.

Praise the Lord our God for bringing the religious freedom in Nepal along with  verdict of  being the Sovereign Power lie with Nepalese People which was announced Today 18th May 2006. From May 18th 2006, Nepalese People became the supreme power in the country. Thank you for your prayer for Nepal and Nepalese people. May God bless us richly and made us prosperous country. Thank God from now on we will not be tortured in the name of religious belief and will not be imprisoned for being a Christian. What a Freedom!!! Nepal is delcared a secular country on May 18th 2006. It is a great Historical Day. Wait a minute!!!

The most Cherished dream of Nepalese people  was fulfilled on the Historical Day on Wednesday, 28th May  2008 at 11:30 PM. On that day the Shah dynasty of Nepal  crumbled down in the blue-sea which was lasted 237 years.There is no more old obsolete and out-dated institution of monarchy in Nepal. The most outstanding and remarkable historic priority was given to the first assembly of the elected general constituent assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic on 28th May 2008. It was decided to implement the Federal Democratic Republican Agenda with an over whelming majority of constituent assembly members, out of 564 members present in the meeting, 560 voted for favour of declaring the Country Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic. It is asserted that the first meeting of the constituent assembly declared that  Nepal is officially converted into a Federal Democratic Republic from Wednesday 28th May, 2008. Now on, Nepal will remain Sovereign, independent and integrated Secular country.  The Nepalese people celebrated  the occasion with gladness. Hundreds of thousands of Nepalese came out on the streets of Kathmandu to rejoice. Particularly, the Nepalese Christians were glad to see the erased monarchial reign under whom they had been persecuted religiously for many many years. They are glad that there will be no more persecution religiously in Nepal.

Since the agenda of Federal Democratic Rupublic has been implemented on May 28, 2008 with all due legitimate process, all the constitutional, legal and administrative provisions that contradicted this historical declaration will be abolished or obliterated.  The first constituent assembly decided to Mark May 28th or Jestha 15th as the Federal Democratic Republican Day.

Let us priase God our Father for fulfilling nepalese's long cherished desire or dream. May God grant peace and co-operation be continue among political parties in Nepal.  May peace of mind prevail in the minds and hearts of nepalese people. May our long cherised Federal Democratic Republic live long, long, ........ Let us live peacefully in Nepal. Let us praise God and glorify His name among nepalese people. May God our Father bless us and keep us safe. May the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ be preached on to all Nepal. May the hearts of Nepalese people be kept wide open to hear the Glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May God bless us all !!! May God bless Nepal!

Thank you for reading this material. God bless you!