The church in Nepal is growing rapidly, bringing a pressing need for equipped leaders to guide and support local congregations. To meet this growing hunger for the Gospel, local leaders recently launched a new session of the Pastor Training School, welcoming fourteen passionate participants. These dedicated individuals are deeply committed to completing this intensive program and planting churches in their respective districts. Across Nepal, Christians currently make up an estimated 3-5% of the population. Yet, as seen in ongoing ministries like recent Lay Leader Trainings and annual Pastors Conferences, God is moving powerfully through local believers to expand His reach.

These students come from various rural districts across the country. Historically, most churches in Nepal have clustered in specific hubs, leaving many marginalized communities without a single fellowship. Recognizing this great need, our Nepal leadership team strategically targets and trains pastors in regions with the fewest churches, where Christians make up less than 1% of the local population. These fourteen students are passionate about building the Kingdom of God in these highly unreached areas.

Many of these students belong to historically oppressed castes within their communities, and their decision to follow Christ comes at a great cost. They routinely face persecution from radical religious groups and are often bullied, threatened, and opposed. Just as we highlighted in a recent update about this year’s Pastors Conference, ministry leaders in Nepal frequently endure arduous physical and spiritual journeys to share the Gospel. Despite this opposition, they remain steadfast. “We are so excited to have them in our training center,” shares Nepal Director Bekharaj. “They are passionate for God’s work. They have a heart for people and a love for God.”

To prepare them for the challenges ahead, the training is rigorous and spiritually formative. The curriculum begins with a comprehensive “Walk Through the Bible” course, giving students a foundational understanding of major biblical events and God’s overarching plan of salvation. As the program progresses, local instructors guide them through Bible study methods, church planting, missions, evangelism, pastoral care and counseling, youth ministry, biblical marriage, and leadership.

The goal is not simply to provide academic knowledge, but to empower these faithful servants for a lifetime of effective ministry on the front lines. During their time at the training center, local mentors invest heavily in them spiritually, biblically, and practically. Bekharaj asks for intercession on their behalf: “Please continue to pray for these faithful brothers and sisters as they prepare to be sent out. Pray that God will protect them, strengthen their faith, give them wisdom and courage, and use them mightily for the expansion of His Kingdom.”

Despite enduring intense opposition, these students stand firm in their commitment to serve. We firmly believe that God will use their courageous faith to bring the light of the Gospel to their families and countless unreached areas. “We believe that the seeds being planted today through this training will one day bear fruit in many communities across Nepal.”