“A pastor and missionary’s job is to be able to see what God is
doing among us and give it a voice and use all cultural tools to
speak/show and reveal how God is active among us,
what He has been up to and help us to see and
interpret the world around us with the [help] of the Holy Spirit.”
~Arbin Pokharel
Last week we heard from Jocelyn with South Texas Alliance for Orphans. She shared about the orphan/foster crisis right here in San Antonio and what being a neighbor looks like and the many ways we can help as a Church. This week we were so blessed to hear from Arbin and Bimala Pokharel, all the way from Nepal. Bimala spoke about the work they are doing through Higher Ground which exists “To empower and transform the lives of individuals at risk through awareness, counseling, scholarships, skill training and business training.” It is serving as a bridge between the church and the community. You can follow Higher Ground and what they are doing in Nepal by clicking this link. Arbin shared that he and his wife (and two children) have been serving as missionaries in Nepal for 18 years. They served in India two years before that. Nepal is a very small country that is landlocked by India and China.
What a joy to hear a report of what God is doing, just as Paul and Barnabas shared to the church in Antioch in Acts 14:27 “ Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.”
The Church in Nepal is only 70 years old and was just one church with a few hundred believers. Now there are about 3 million Christians in Nepal. Arbin and Bimala had gone back to Nepal, their country, as missionaries to plant a church and it has become a resource church. It’s called Cross-Way Church and the heart behind it is that it “is a well of grace, from where we’ll draw and serve, so that Christ-Centered Churches will be planted in the 77 districts of Nepal.”
Arbin used the various verses from Acts 14 and shared three key principles.
Hardships are synonymous with church planting. (Acts 14:18,19-20). People face terrible ”consequences” for sharing the Gospel and yet they trust in God and His faithfulness and walk in obedience to the call.
Secondly, Arbin shared that elders and pastors are keys to the success of a church. (Acts 14:23). “The character of a leader shapes and defines an institution.” Arbin carries a heart for Pastoral Formation. He noted that there are three parts to this: Spiritual Disciplines, Academics, and Continued Mentoring within the Church setting. This is the greatest need for Nepal churches, to have pastors and leaders and elders that will help them grow deeper.
The last point Arbin shared was that Sabbath celebration is God’s goal for mission. (Acts 14:27). “I call this the Sabbath Purpose. God’s purpose and desire for the Creation is the Sabbath. It is a time and space where God desires to come and dwell among us and re-iterate (every week) “I am your God, and we respond back to Him “You are our God.” One way that the church in Nepal is creating this space is by having an Annual Meeting for all the churches and it is a time of renewal. Like weekly gathering is a time of renewal as well.
Arbin gave a final encouragement to ”Let us not forget reaching the “unreached Gentiles” all of us are called to reach with gifts and talents God has given us.”
We appreciate Arbin and Bimala sharing their heart. We will take this week to read Scripture about God’s heart concerning missions and also take some time to pray specifically for all God is doing in and through them in Nepal.
Monday:
Matthew 28:18-19
18) “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Pray for:
Clear Vision and Stamina to do all God has put on their
hearts-Galatians 6:9/Habakkuk 2:2 and
Wisdom in each and every decision- James 1:5
Tuesday:
Acts 1:8
8) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Pray for:
Strength & Perseverance-Isaiah 40:31 and
Boldness in their witness-Ephisians 6:19
Wednesday:
Romans 10:13-14
13) “ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14) But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”
Pray for:
God’s Guidance-Colossians 1:9-10 and
God’s Favor/Ease of Communication/Divine Opportunity-Exodus 33:13/Colossians 4:3-4
Thursday:
John 20:20-22
20) “As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Pray for:
Protection-Spirit, Soul, Body-Ruth 2:12 and
Financial Support/Provision-Philippians 4:19
Friday:
Acts 13:47
47) “For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”
Pray for:
Health-Physical/Spiritual/Mental-3 John 1:2 and
Times of Rest and Refreshment-Colossians 1:11-12
Saturday:
Mark 16:15
15 “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”
Pray for:
God’s Word to Spread/Open Hearts-2 Thessalonians 3:1/Jeremiah 24:7
The Pokharel’s Marriages and Children-Philippians 1:9