December 8, 2018

Merry Christmas & Precious Memories

Sitting by the desk and pondering over certain points of my sermon for tomorrow, memories flooded my mind from the past.  In my starting days as a minister of the gospel, I had to prepare my sermons for the believers who were going through severe state persecution in Nepal.  After some years, the Lord brought relief from that persecution but life was not easy.  Purpose of preaching then was to bring hope in the hearts of people; incidentally, the first church we pioneered named it Hope.

Many years later, I found myself preaching to Nepalese migrant workers in Korea.  There I had to give them hope and identity as a people of God.  If not, a migrant worker begins to define one’s life in terms of servitude and slavery.

Again after a decade, I found myself preaching to a diverse group of expatriates residing in Korea for various purposes.  International students, professors, teachers, scientists, company employees and executives made that group an amazing breed to minister to.  I as a country boy from a remote part of Nepal had to ramp-up my feeble mind to match the demand of the hour.  By God’s amazing grace, during those six years, we were able to minister to so many wonderful friends from across the world.

Now at present, I find myself ministering in a North Indian context where Christianity has been severely diluted.  Though the gospel had come here over two hundred years earlier, its impact in society is nearly non-existent.  Syncretic approach has nullified the power of the gospel and the uniqueness of Christ is defaced.  Corrupt mission practices have left Christians not as assets but liabilities for the kingdom of God.  In a time and place like this, I miss my earlier assignment from the Lord.

As I think about my earlier assignment from the Lord, I am thinking of those brothers and sisters that I have left behind and or have gone around the world.  Wherever you may be, I want you to know that there are times I still remember you in my prayers.  Sadly I do not have contact with most; only a handful of you remain in my social media circle.

As the year comes to an end and Christmas is around the corner, it is my prayer that the Lord will be your Emmanuel as he has been your Ebenezer!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2019!

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