In June of 2012 I partnered with Climbing for Christ to raise support, through a climb of Denali, to build a church in the remote mountain village of Rolpa, Nepal.

We needed to raise $2,000 to complete the building.  Thanks to your generosity we raised over $4,000 to support the church plant and its local pastor Megh Gurung.

Climbing for Christ is a Christian organization whose mission is to take the Gospel to those living in mountainous areas of the world where other missionaries cannot or will not go. Climbing for Christ missionary Tej Rokka was born a Nepalese orphan but through God’s sovereignty has now planted more than 20 churches throughout the Himalayas. Under his leadership, local pastor and mountain guide Megh Gurung oversaw construction of the church in the western district of Rolpa.

Pastor Megh reported that upon the dedication of the building to the Lord, “Seven new souls came to the Lord. Praise to God.”

Nepal was once a Hindu kingdom and more than 80 percent of the population is Hindu.  Another 12 percent are Buddhist.  Maoists have risen to political power and have an army still in place from the bloody civil war that lasted from 1996-2006.  All of the above threaten the growing Christian church, but none of the above can stop its growth.  It is estimated that there are between 700,000 and 1 million Christians in Nepal.

I had the opportunity to meet one of these Christians two years ago on a trek to Mount Everest.  Thupten was a practicing Tibetan monk who fled to Nepal to escape religious persecution.  While living in a monastery in a remote region of the Himalayas he encountered a Christian missionary who presented him with the Gospel.  Thupten is now a faithful Christian, using his influence to share the Gospel with his fellow monks and villagers.

By praying and sharing communion with Thupten I realized the power of the Gospel in the hands of God’s faithful servants.  I am encouraged to see that, thanks to your faithfulness, the community in Rolpa now has the chance to have their lives forever changed by the Gospel just like Thupten.  Thank you for your prayers and support!