National Churches Fellowship of Nepal

Leadership

Manoj Kumar Pradhananga was brought up in a Hindu family and participated in idol worship as a young child. But when his mother received Christ after the witness of two traveling evangelists, Manoj’s heart was opened to the Gospel. But the decision to follow Jesus was full of risk. At the time, Nepal prohibited conversion and threatened six years in jail for those who openly converted. “For me, to be a Christian meant a total commitment to God even to the extent of physical death,” Manoj said. In 1989, Manoj was called into ministry and served for several years as an evangelist. Today he serves as the Training Director for NCFN. He is married to Anjila and has two daughters and one son.

Ministry Vision & Strategy

National Churches Fellowship of Nepal (NCFN) was started in 1960 to unite the scattered believers of Nepal for fellowship, prayer, and encouragement. The ministry also seeks to strengthen the churches by providing pastors and lay leaders with training in Bible, theology, and ministry skill. NCFN is now the largest coalition of indigenous churches in the country with 1,000 churches.

From Alcoholic Gambler to Christ Follower

Though a chairman in his village in Far West Nepal, Goverdhan was an alcoholic and a gambler. In 2006, Goverdhan heard the Gospel for the first time through the wtiness of a NCFN pastor. He accepted Christ and the difference in his life was immediately evident. The people in his village were amazed by his transformation. Over time, he felt called to ministry and was invited to join the Tikapur Training Institute. “During this training, my life began to change,” he said. “I felt the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in me. I am convinced that God is calling me to minster to my community.” Since completing the training, Goverdhan has been sharing with his community what the Lord has done in his life. He has led three families to the Lord and is active in his church.

Context

Nepal, once known for being the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, was declared a secular country in 2008, thus becoming a Federal Democratic Republic and dethroning a 240-year-old monarchy.

Investment Opportunities

>TIKAPUR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TRAINING: $390 per trainee

Tikapur Leadership Training, NCFN

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To help meet the need for trained leaders, NCFN started the Tikapur Training Institute in Far West Nepal in 2007. This interdenominational training school is in its fourth year and involves all the major church groups in Nepal.

The four-month residential training program takes place twice yearly in Tikapur. The training focuses on practical and intensive training for pastors and church leaders, both men and women, in order to ground them in biblical teaching, equip them for skillful ministry, and encourage them toward a servant leadership lifestyle and ministry. The students participate in outreach every Sunday and go on week-long evangelism trips into remote areas.Trainees are taught to plant visionary, mission-minded churches that emphasize evangelism of neighboring tribal groups. The ministry’s goal is to see at least two trained leaders placed in every church of western and mid-western Nepal. Forty leaders will take part this year.

>WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SEMINARS: $93 per trainee

Women's Leadership Seminars, NCFN

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A recent nation-wide survey showed that nearly 60% of Nepalese church members are women. Yet only a few of these women are actively involved in the ministries of their churches. Active roles for women in the Church have been limited by the often male-dominated norms of society, lack of encouragement from leadership in the Church, and inadequate training and equipping of women for such roles.

What is more, women are often the custodians of the faith in South Asia, whether that faith be in Ganesh, Allah, or the Lord Jesus Christ. They hold the key to passing along the faith to the entire household and definitely to the next generation.

In 2006, NCFN launched a one-month women’s leadership training program. Since that time, 161 women have been trained from 42 districts throughout the country. In hopes of continuously upgrading the training and ministry skill of these women, NCFN launched their Advanced Women’s Leadership Training program as a refresher course for these women. This year, 40 women will take part.

>FAMILY SEMINARS: $55 per couple

Family Seminars, NCFN

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In the Nepalese Christian community, most wives believe that ministry is their husband’s business. At the same time, many husbands do not think that their wives are partners in their ministry. Most of the time husbands are out in the field without properly communicating to their wives. Husbands have many opportunities for spiritual growth and training, but wives are often excluded from these same opportunities. Nepalese culture also inhibits wives and husbands from communicating their feelings, struggles, and affection for each other. These issues often create tension between spouses. To address these issues, NCFN plans to hold three-day family seminars in five regions of the country. The vision of this training is to bring awareness of a biblical view of marriage and family, to strengthen the ties between family members, and to encourage households to serve the Lord together. In all, 100 couples will be invited to participate in this life-changing seminar.

>MENTORLINK TRAINING: $88 per trainee

MentorLink Training, NCFN

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A high priority for Partners International is the development of first and second-level indigenous ministry partner leaders. Partners International is working with MentorLink International, a like-minded organization that equips men and women to increasingly grow into leaders with Christ-like character as well as to engage in mentoring and long-term leadership development. We are leveraging their expertise for the benefit of our ministry partner leaders in Nepal. A four-day conference will treat the topics of humility, forgiveness, mentoring, and servanthood, and allow special time for personal reflection and prayer. One participant said, “To have disarming, vulnerable, and highly respected elder Asian leaders model personal vulnerability, and then equip others to do the same for their own lives as well as for those whom they mentor—this was a strategic and deeply meaningful contribution.” Forty Nepalese leaders will participate.