Christian persecution is finally getting due coverage in both faith-based and secular media. And part of the reason is the increasing awareness of the World Watch List from Open Doors USA, which lists the worst countries for persecution. Alarmingly, the South Asian nation of Nepal was not even included on previous lists, but this year is at No. 25—halfway up the list of 50.
Nepal is one of the nations where The Tide® produces and airs Gospel Christian programming for listeners in their own language.
“Since October 2004, The Tide ministry has been producing and airing a weekly radio program in the Nepali language called ‘Prasasta Jivan’ which means ‘Abundant Life’ in English,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “This program has the potential to reach over 19 million Nepali speaking people with the message that Jesus came to give them abundant life. Then in 2013, The Tide ministry added programming in the Tharu language to help make disciples and plant churches among the Tharu people of Nepal. Most of this tribal people group practices an ethnic religion influenced by Hindusim, and less than one-half of a percent of Tharu people are Christian. We are blessed to minister to these remarkable people and continue to pray that God’s truth will make an impact on their hearts.”
According to The Christian Post, Nepali Christians face hardships because the country is practically run by Hindu forces, which contributes to injustice, the negligence of people’s needs, corruption and human rights abuses affecting minority religious groups.
For example, about 18 months ago, a group of Christians handing out tracts in Nepal was put into jail for nine months; they have since been released but the case is ongoing, the Christian Post reports. Then six months ago, a woman who was taking care of needy children was pressured by the government to travel to Kathmandu, where she was arrested, charged with converting others to Christianity and jailed for three months.
These are just some of the challenges facing Christians in Nepal—the same Christians being reached by The Tide ministry’s Gospel radio programming.
Says Shanti, one listener in Nepal, “I have been listening to your ‘Prasasta Jivan’ radio program with great enthusiasm. I am really blessed by your radio messages and share them with my friends as well. I wish for the continuity of this program which imparts joy, peace and assurance of abundant life.”
Read about more that we’re doing in Nepal.