INF and Ram Ghat Church, in Maturity (V)

Ellen Finllay concludes: 

The '90s was a period when Ram Ghat Church became increasingly independent from INF. This was due to a mature leadership evolving and more full time workers being employed by the church.

INF continued to supportive of the leadership but not in an 'up front' way. Prayer for leadership and occasional discussions with one leader or another in and informal way kept INF in touch with what was going on. The church leadership also organized a meal ad meeting for INF members in Ramghat church to discuss together ways of going forward. 

Due to HMG restriction, INF members were discouraged from preaching in the church. INF members in Ramghat continued to involve in music groups, women's ministry.  Youth's group and Sunday school. One major input was adult literacy classes which started in Ramghat and then moved to other churches.

The 90' saw the expansion of the church as a building and also in numbers. INF members tended to lag behind on the vision for church expansion but it has so far proved to be the right way forward for this particular church.

A home for the elderly was established and some INF members had input into the care of the residents a shop was opened to support the home and initially INF members hd some input.

Ways of working together in the future by Tom Hale and Mark Arnett

How can expatriated Christians be involved in strengthen the church in Nepal? The first way is prayer. This surly is the most important of all . INF supplies information for prayer every month to a worldwide network of intercessors and prayer supporters. 

A second way is through teaching and training. Some expatriates had organized leadership seminars in the churches. Others have developed THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION BY EXTENSION material to build up both the pastoral and the lay leadership of the church, not only in Pokhars but across the whole country.

The third way is through scholarships. Scholarships do not create dependency; they create opportunity. Contributing to such scholarship program- THEOTRACK and PROTRAC, which are administered by a group of Pokhara church leaders –is a suitable way for the international Christian community t help the church in Nepal.

A Fourth way is by assisting church-run programmed for the poor. There are innovative ways this can be done: encouraging churches to run literacy programs since literacy is the first stepping stone to economic well-being. Helping churches devise income-generating schemes is another. Since many of the poorest of the poor are in hopeless circumstances because of debt. Ex-parties can often help with practical kills, training and ideas.

A fifth way in which the international Christian community can help the Nepali church is by enhancing its connection to Nepali-speaking churches beyond Nepal's borders. The original vision of Pat O'Hanion and Hilda Steele back in the 1930' and '40s was to reach the entire Nepali- Speaking world, not just Nepal. Their original name, NEB, actually stood for 'Nepali (not Nepal) Evangelistic Band'. The Band was made up both Nepalies and non-Nepalies, working together on an equal footing t reach all Nepali-Speaking peoples.

As we look back with thanks. And look forward in faith. We uplift the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3: now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine. According to His power, that is at work within us. To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.