INF and Ram Ghat Church; in Mission (IV)

Mark Arnett adds: 

By the early 70's many Nepali believers were being touched by God. Allen Vincent led and NCF leaders' conference in Kathmandu in 1975 and from that tine the theology and practice of being filled with the Holy Spirit became the expectation and experience of many churches. For Ramghat a further significant milestone came in 1977 when Arthur Wallis visited and anointed three elders for the leadership: Deependra Gautam (as senior elder), Paul Kalthoff and Stephanus Gurung. This was part of a deliberate theology to return to the early church pattern of church leadership, with elders and deacons.

One unintended consequence of the close ties between the Mission and the Church was the forming of relationship with the international church. One such link was established Ramghat and Peter Light and a group of churches in the south of England.  This link has continued through the years to the enriching of both communities.

Paul and Roswitha recall:

Before we came to Nepal we had read many books to prepare for out work as missionaries. At that time it was to think: Missionaries should support the indigenous church in many ways, but should not interfere and integrate. This was a reaction and continents. We believed and believed and lived that, until one leprosy patient, who was a devoted member of the church came and said: ' I don’t believe that God has send you mainly for the work in the hospital, he has called you for the church as well. That changed our thinking totally, and from then on we have experienced a very close partnership with the church and friendship with member on it.

There was for instance, the new idea of starting house fellowship group in Ramghat. None was expedience on that. About 15 brothers, Paul included, met weekly in our house and they grew together while studying the Bile and sharing their lives with each other. A leadership training without having planned it!

There was a time when I and Roswitha, was responsible for co-ordination of Language and Orientation Training. One session was always entitled: 'Do's and Don’t's for Missionaries". I decided to ask Dependra and Buddi-Maya to tell the new missionaries what they expect from them. They talked talked about various things, and one thing I never forgot. Buddi-Maya sid: 'When you new missionaries come to us, it doesn't take long before you ask us: 'what can we do?" This hurts us! We were very surprised and asked: 'why'? Her answer: "You come and are concentrated on your service, on the things you can do… But you don’t see us. Why don’t you come and seek fellowship with us that we come to know and love each other and in this process, it will become clear what your gifts are and what you can do!"  Cont.........see part V