Nepalese Ministry

Malaysia has become a place where workers from other countries come to work because they can earn more here than in their native countries.  A large portion of these migrant workers come from Nepal.  They are under contract to work for three years before going back home (possibly to come back again for more work depending on their circumstances).  Many of these people work at restaurants here in Malaysia.  Those that do usually have room and board paid for (live upstairs at the restaurant or somewhere close and eat at the restaurant) so they can send almost all of their earnings back to their families in Nepal.  Nepal is not an English speaking country (the British never conquered Nepal. In fact, the Nepalese defeated the British soundly and made a treaty with them afterwards).  Because they do not speak English, they have a hard time here in Malaysia where most people can speak English (plus Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Tamil, and many other languages).  However, because these workers do not make a lot of money, they usually would not pay to take courses in English.  Here is the opening that the Church found to minister to the Nepalese.

Luther House Chapel (the church at which I am an intern) is joined with a few other churches to engage in ministry through helping the Nepalese migrant workers here in Malaysia.  This program began in the early 2000s by offering free classes in English, computers, and guitar for the Nepalese migrant workers.  After about a year, they began having a worship service after the classes that were open to the Nepalese to attend.  This ministry has grown over the years and now has two different sites where classes and worship are offered.

The Nepalese religion is primarily Hinduism.  The culture is such that it is difficult for people to convert to Christianity in Nepal because of the social and family related conflict that emerges.  Therefore, it is difficult for people to go to Nepal to preach the Gospel and be heard.  The ministry here is important because it reaches out to the Nepalese that are here needing education.  It also allows for the proclamation of the Gospel without the social constraints found in Nepal and an opportunity for these new Christians to go back to Nepal to spread the good news of Jesus Christ as a native of Nepal.

Please keep this ministry in prayer.  Thanks!

-Zach