FARMS in Nepal

Three New FARMS Programs in Nepal

During his visit, Joe had the privilege of attending a yearly Bible conference for a people group of southern Nepal. This people group have historically been very resistant to the gospel and are considered an unreached people group. In the past few years several hundred have come to Jesus even amidst great persecution. Joe spoke in this conference and shared from the life of Jacob. A real spirit of repentance was evident in the meeting. After the meetings Joe trained the Friends South Committee. The potential for the program helping the church grow was very evident.

Working through missionaries in Kathmandu, Joe trained two committees that represent about twelve tribal groups. The potential for these new programs is tremendous, reaching far beyond the capital of Kathmandu.

There is a young and growing church within Nepal, and it needs to mature. In 1990 the Nepali government opened the doors for freedom of religion, so long as no one converts another person from their ancestral beliefs. Despite this restriction, this small opening has been enough for the Nepalese to hear the gospel and respond. Today they are responding and the church is growing.
Christians have a responsibility to help the developing church reach maturity. Will we provide for all of their needs? Will we unnecessarily create dependency upon the wealthy western church? Or, will we train the believers and leaders through encouragement, training them to apply scriptural truths to their own lives so their growth can be natural and progressive?

Many times the western church gives generously, enormously, and enthusiastically to the developing church. Injections of large sums of money, repeated funding, give-a-way programs, and well-meaning training sessions does help to establish a visible church. But do these efforts bear lasting spiritual fruit? What depth of Christianity results from this type of giving?

The mature church has a responsibility to remember the poor, and to lend to them in ways that help develop dignity and self-sufficiency. In the Old Testament God instructed the Israelites to lend to the poor, rather than to out-rightly give to them (Deut. 15: 7, 8). This practice allowed the poor person to use their own creative skills with the loan they received. It also provided them with a means to maintain their personal dignity as they succeeded in their financial endeavors, eventually overcoming poverty and contributing to their community.

In the New Testament Christians were encouraged to share their resources with others, and to remember the brethren who suffered in poverty (Gal. 2:10 and 6:10). However, the poor were also encouraged to learn skills and to work with their hands, avoiding dependency upon anyone else (1 Thess. 4:11). This practice preserved the dignity of the poor as they overcame poverty. The church of the 21st Century must restore this practice of aiding their brothers and sisters in Christ. FARMS International is restoring this practice by establishing volunteer loan committees to provide interest-free loans to impoverished Christian families. The result is a church and community that benefit from the generosity of their members.

Pray with FARMS for the growth and maturity of the Nepali church. Pray that these new loan committees will provide the necessary leadership and decision-making skills for the success of these new programs. Pray that the first loan recipients will succeed in their projects and provide an example for others to follow.