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Mennonite pastors encourage indigenous Nepali group

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Five days after the five-member GO! team from Eastern Mennonite Missions arrived in Nepal, January 27, the king suspended democratic rule and declared himself supreme monarch. But the work of God’s kingdom continued as more than 100 pastors, from the Anabaptist group with which EMM relates, gathered for a pastors’ conference.

The GO! team leader*, a pastor from Harrisburg (Pa.) who had been invited to teach at the conference, said, “I threw away my notes, and felt led to begin with Psalm 133 – How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity….’God led us in a mighty way, and much differently than what we had planned.” As he began to preach, a Nepali friend whispered, “Can you read the banner at the front of the church?” He couldn’t because he didn't know the language, but God had supernaturally led the GO! team to focus on the same scripture that had been placed on the banner. The need for unity was the theme from the beginning, but it took confession, repentance, and reconciliation before the unity began to flow. “You’re saying much-needed things that we could not have said,” a Nepali leader confided.

To express the newfound unity, the GO! team leader said he felt led to suggest an old-fashioned Mennonite foot-washing service to conclude the conference. “Washing feet is definitely not a part of Nepali culture,” he said. “But they embraced it as a beautiful symbol of servant leadership. It was a powerful time of coming together.” Another pastor on the GO! team said, “I know that my spiritual fuel tank was running somewhat on empty when I arrived due to all the stresses of trying to work three weeks in advance… This experience has put fuel in my tank for a long time. God is moving, and he delights in using unorthodox ways and unorthodox people to advance his kingdom.”

GO! sending and resourcing provides short-term opportunities for mission learning and service by connecting individuals or groups with appropriate mission opportunities. For more information, visit “get involved” at www.emm.org, or contact Sherrie Ober at 717 898-2251.

– Jewel Showalter