NEPAL UPRISING

Recent violence here in the United States is a sobering reminder to those of us living in a spiritually free nation that many people around the world live with daily threats to their faith, family, lives, and livelihoods. Political upheaval, deep-seated corruption, systemic poverty and bold persecution is normal in more than a dozen nations where Go To Nations has missionaries and teams. Revelation 12:12 tells us that ‘…the devil...is filled with fury (rages) because his time is short.’

While, in the natural, we prefer to avoid events or even nations where violence is a part of everyday life, spiritually, these are the very nations we want to run toward as the Lord graces us to do so. Paul didn’t hold crusades in Ephesus— he simply began leading scores of shopkeepers, homeowners, and businesspeople to Christ in the marketplace. Years later, Ephesus became a hub of the New Testament Church.

Jesus told us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” When Go To Nations missionaries lead the lost to Christ in nations where chaos and crisis are common, and begin the discipleship process, a greater measure of God’s peace and the righteous rule of His Kingdom settles into homes, families, and futures—bringing lasting, generational change.

The current situation in Nepal...

You may have seen in the news that Nepal has had a political upraising, or you could say a political cleansing. Over the weekend the government banned most forms of social media, cutting off most Nepalis' communication with each other and the rest of the world. This was the final straw for many who have been fed up with government control and corruption.

On Monday, Gen Z rallied for peaceful protests in the capital against corruption. The protests pushed boundaries and the police took counter-measures including shooting live bullets which killed at least 19 young people. This infuriated the nation even more and on Tuesday the protests turned to nationwide riots. Most government buildings were burned, including politician’s personal residences and businesses which have connections with government officials. There were fires and smoke seen everywhere. Leaders were chased out of their homes and many fled. As a result the prime minister and many others resigned and the army took control of the nation. 

Wednesday, the scene was very different. The smell of smoke still rested in the air as piles of ashes cooled. Police stations lay empty and blackened. The young people were back in the streets, this time to sweep up the mess. Soldiers were stationed along the intersections, standing lazily as a few cars and bikes passed by. The city, quiet. 

I’m not sure what will happen after this as most of the government is gone. The army is currently in control of the nation and there are many possibilities of how things might go moving forward. This is an area needing prayer.

One thing I can say I have seen and learned through this is that the youth care about their country. The violence and destruction (which the youth claim was incited from political activists outside of the original youth protestors) is obviously not the way to get justice. However, after being in Nepal for 6 years and seeing so many youth who only want to flee their country, seeing them fight for it and then lovingly clean it up, has been moving. Many years of hopelessness and oppression has led to this moment. We are praying and believing that this is the start of a new era for this nation. 

How to Pray:

• for restoration of peace and order
• for God to bring justice for this nation 
• healing for families who lost someone and for those who are in the hospital with injuries
• for a new, righteous, honest, just government to be established in Nepal
• that Satan would not seek an opportunity through this situation
• for there to be an ongoing transformation for Nepal, for the economy and jobs