There are no chairs in the small red and white church, but the room is packed with believers sitting cross-legged on the floor. It’s Saturday–the only day this congregation has off work. Many of their neighbors are performing acts of devotion to Shani, the Hindu god to whom Saturdays are dedicated. But these families have found mercy from the true God of Justice and have no further need to appease the one who rewards sins with bad karma. Instead they sit respectfully bare-footed, listening to Pastor Matthew in the traditional Nepali way.
Although you can’t find Harvest Bible Chapel Panauti on Google Maps, it and Pastor Padam are part of a growing network of Christian churches in the greater Kathmandu region. After two days of training their pastors in leadership, Matthew traveled nearly an hour away to preach to this small congregation. Standing on a low stage alongside his translator, he encourages these disciples phrase by phrase with truths from God’s word.
Although Hinduism is the predominant religion here, Buddhism is also a sizable minority. Before leaving Panauti, his guides lead him to something new–a Buddhist grotto shrine. Tucked into a shallow cave in the mountains, this holy site gives evidence of yet another religion seeking the favor of heaven today. A buddha sits enclosed in a glass case, adorned with a blue and yellow canopy and surrounded by Nepali religious art. Fresh flowers suggest recent acts of devotion.
Ironically, although their shrine is cut into stone, few understand that it is the humble congregation in the city who have built their lives on the only solid Rock. That’s something these Nepali Christians hope to change.
In the meantime, however, Matthew is headed back westward, this time to the much larger city of Lalipur. Here, another Harvest Bible Chapel is holding a youth rally. But in Nepal, “youth” can encompass singles well into their 40s! It was a large and diverse crowd, therefore, that Matthew witnessed here. In this more urban, modern setting, the rally was equipped not only with chairs, but with a full audio-visual setup. A large crowd raised their hands in worship singing “Jesus, my heart yearns to meet you” in their native tongue.
So many acts of worship today among so many different religions. Yet tomorrow is the first day of the work week and these Christians know that only one God is waiting for them in the places where they labor.
Lord willing, maybe next Saturday will see a new worshipper set down their offerings and walk barefooted inside a little white and red church.
