THE METHODIST CHURCH IN NEPAL is making good progress. By God’s grace every church has reported an increase in church attendance and the number of people baptised.
By the end of this year, four new preaching points will be set up to strengthen the existing six churches.
The national pastors and workers are now more confident and motivated after having received weekly Bible Study lessons from “ET” and Bishop Dr Robert Solomon’s teaching on Methodism in the formative years as well as the series of intensive training and coaching from the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) team in the last three years.
All the churches have registered an increase in the number of youth members taking part in activities planned for them.
In Mahimit Church in the Katarvitta district, it was reported that through the Student Sponsorship Scheme (SSS) programme, all 16 students and their families are now attending church services regularly. The MMS is grateful to the many supporters for contributing towards the SSS scheme.
Of significance is the phenomenal growth in Phulbari Church, which started with four members. Within two years, there are now 70 members.
We must give thanks to God and members of Barker Road Methodist Church and Living Waters Methodist Church for their social and outreach activities in Phulbari district and for sending their medical and dental teams.
It was also exciting to witness God’s grace in the purchase of a four-storey bungalow house to be a permanent home for Sophia’s Home for girls. It is hoped that after the renovations the house can accommodate up to 50 girls.
We thank God for the completion of the two-storey building project for the Caleb Bible Institute. It has dormitories for men and women, lecture rooms, a library and a dinning hall. e institute aims to produce better qualified pastors and preachers for East Nepal.
These two projects were made possible through the generous contributions from churches and individual Methodists.
Col (Retd) Quek Koh Eng is an Area Director of the Methodist Missions Society.