The church in Nepal is growing rapidly, bringing a pressing need for equipped leaders to guide and support local congregations. To meet this need, a five-week Lay Leader Training was recently completed, graduating 18 dedicated students who traveled from various parts of the country. Because organizing local training is often too difficult for individual churches, this centralized program provides a vital resource.
As Director Bekharaj notes, “God has been working in Nepal and churches have been multiplying. So since churches have been multiplying, we also need trained leaders in the church because this leader is going to be tomorrow’s pastors.”
A Foundation for Ministry
The rigorous five-week program was designed to prepare these young leaders for a variety of roles within their local congregations.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Students studied essential topics such as Christian doctrine, discipleship, leadership, family dynamics, personal spiritual growth, prayer, and sermon preparation.
- Daily Discipline: The students maintained a dedicated schedule that started at 5:00 a.m. with personal devotions and ended at 10:00 p.m. after an evening of study and reading assignments.
- Community and Fellowship: In between classes, they engaged in communal chores, group worship, and afternoon games like volleyball and ping pong.
Bekharaj emphasized that the students were treated as a family and respected as leaders, fostering a loving environment where they could openly share and learn together as friends.
Stories of Transformation
The spiritual transformation over the five weeks was profound for many attendees. Take the story of Basanti, the wife of a church planter, who initially had no desire to attend the training or participate in ministry. Over the course of the program, her heart was completely transformed as she realized God’s purpose for her life and marriage, leaving her weeping with a renewed desire to return home and support her husband’s work.
Returning to Serve
Ministry in remote areas of Nepal is challenging. Pastors often face loneliness, financial struggles, and spiritual attacks. The newly trained lay leaders are now stepping up to relieve some of that burden. They are returning to their villages equipped to recognize false teachings, step into roles as worship and youth leaders, and strengthen their communities.
Director Bekharaj summed up the heart of the program: “Our hope is when they go back, especially they can help their congregation, they can help pastors, and they can also lead the home groups, fellowship, and they can teach word of God to them and they can bless the people.”