We are on a friendship trip celebrating 40 years of friendship and involvement in the work of God in Nepal. On a mission to India a Bible College teacher gave me the name and address, of a former student of the college that came from Nepal, and urged me to visit him. After prayer I felt led by the Spirit of God to change my program in India to make room for a visit to Kathmandu, Nepal. I met with Gopaljee Adhikari in October 1971 and now we are celebrating 40 years of friendship and advance of the Kingdom of God in Nepal.

This morning we met with the Lord’s Assembly in Itahari. We were the first to contribute to the church in this town. When we were visiting this place first time there was no church in the town. Our brother Gopaljee had a burden for the town and we made the first financial contribution to the work. I was moved in my heart when I met with the church this morning. I have met pastor Reuben and his family who pioneered the church several times in Kathmandu, but I have never been with the church before. About 125 people were worshiping together this morning. I thank God that I have had a small part in this work. This place has been in my prayers for years, and today I could see with my own eyes the answer to prayer and hard work of our faithful friends. Change is indeed coming to Nepal. A place with no church, now have several churches!

From Itahari we were taken to village we had visited 19 years ago. At that time we came by car from Kathmandu on terrible roads for 11 hours. After that tiring journey we had to walk for another 2 hours to reach this village. Today we could go by car all the way to the village. Big changes had taken place in the entire area. The wooden church building had been replaced by a nice concrete building with sound system and everything else needed.

Barnabas who pastured the church on our first visit had moved on to another place, but came to see us. His son Matthew interpreted my preaching this evening. I only had a very simple message of change, but I was told that this was what they needed to hear as there was a tension between the older and younger generation. But change is definitely coming. The young people even had the Bible in their cell phone.

There is a fresh move of the Spirit taking place among the young people especially, but it will eventually refresh the entire community of God’s people in this nation. I see signs of a new move of the Spirit everywhere, but I also see old and empty forms still stifling the fresh expression of the Spirit.

Om my first visit to Nepal I was told that there was only 500 born again believers in the entire nation. Today I am told that the number of believers are about one million! Nepal is no longer a Hindu Kingdom, but a secular state. Change is taking place. But there is more to come.