On Expedition +

THE CHARGES IN “DANG” (DANG, THAT’S A REAL PLACE IN NEPAL)

Police searched the Christians’ hotel rooms and confiscated Bibles as “evidence” of carrying out fraudulent conversions. They also confiscated U.S. dollars from the American Christian woman Cinquanta’s room as evidence of “allurement to convert.”

The unfounded accusations were that Dilli preached in a place where he never actually was, that he passed out Bibles, and forcibly converted people. Cinquanta responded,

“The allegations are completely false. We were not distributing any Bibles or dollars. How is it a crime for a Christian to carry his Bible, and how is it a crime for an American to carry dollars when visiting a foreign country?”

PATTERN OF PERSECUTION

Christian leaders in Nepal expressed their shock at the detentions. Pastor Sagar Baizu, spokesperson of the Federation of National Christians in Nepal said:

“When detained, these Christians were not preaching or roaming on the streets or even distributing anything. They were detained from their hotel rooms in early morning hours. I am really disappointed, this is pure harassment. They are portraying us [Christians] as ‘bad.’”

An increase of persecution of Christians in Nepal began after militant Hindus passed a new criminal code, which took effect in August 2018, making it illegal to “proselytize.” Nepal was ranked 32nd on Open Doors’ 2019 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

It should be noted that the superintendent of police who led the detentions was also behind the arrests of seven men and one woman in Charikot, Dolakha District on false charges in June 2016. The eight Christians were acquitted on Dec. 6, 2016.

IMPACT ON OUR (GTN DIVINE EXPEDITION) TRAINING

Before boarding our flight to Nepal, we were informed that our Phase 1 training had been cancelled due to the fear that similar reprisals might occur during our training. Praying hard, we decided to continue with our trip, trusting God to protect and use us for His glory.

The cancellation of our Phase 1 training was a critical blow to our overall strategy, as it would set back the Nepalis chance to train along side us and develop as trainers. Dilli’s vision is that we raise up 20 Nepali Master Trainers who would reproduce the Divine Expedition all over Nepal.

ANSWERS TO PRAYER

Upon our arrival in Nepal, we made a flurry of phone calls and had an amazing answer to prayer the next morning. Ten Nepali pastors joined us for breakfast to process rescheduling a new Phase 1 and put us back on track.

Miraculously, we began Phase 1 the next morning in a new location. Ten Nepalis we have been training presented virtually all of Phase 1 and seven Nepalis helped us present Phase 2 in the days that followed. Thereafter we were able to complete Phases 3 and 4, moving us toward our goal for Nepalis to reproduce the Divine Expedition in Nepal and across neighboring borders.

Another answer to prayer is that eight days after his (their) arrest Dilli and his fellow pastors were released, pending a court case hearing in July.

There was much rejoicing on part of the Nepali Christian community (as well as us). One amazing outcome of this situation is that the entire Christian church in Nepal has been unified.

Dilli believes (as do we) that he and his fellow pastors will be exonerated, the Gospel will continue to spread, and God will be glorified.