How Did the Gospel Get to Nepal?
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Invest in NepalOut of a population of 29 million, an estimated 683,000 people in Nepal claim to be Christians. As we consider the Church today, we can gain insight by looking back in history to see how and when the gospel was first brought to Nepalis. So, how did Nepal get to this point?
HOW WAS THE GOSPEL BROUGHT TO NEPAL?
Tucked in the Himalayas between India and China, Nepal remained closed to Christianity until 1951. Before then, rulers enforced strict isolation and banned Christian proselytizing. A few missionaries tried to enter, but were expelled.
Since missionaries faced difficulties entering and staying in Nepal, they began to share the gospel with Nepali people living along the borders, especially in northern India. In fact, many of the first Nepali Christians actually came to faith outside of Nepal.
After the fall of the Rana regime in 1951, Nepal began to slowly open to the outside world. Missionaries were allowed to enter the country, but only for social services like establishing schools and hospitals, not evangelism.
The gospel spread within the country primarily through Nepali Christians themselves, not foreign missionaries. Early converts returned to Nepal and shared their faith, and house churches formed. Despite laws against conversion, the Church grew steadily.
WHAT DOES THE CHURCH LOOK LIKE TODAY?
From just a handful of believers in the 1950s, Christianity in Nepal has grown significantly to hundreds of thousands of believers. But that’s still only about 2% of the population.
Nepal is still overwhelmingly shaped by other religions—especially Hinduism. About 81% of Nepalis identify as Hindu, making it the dominant faith and giving Nepal one of the highest percentages of Hindus in the world. Hinduism remains the majority identity for roughly four out of five people in Nepal. Because of this, to be Nepali is closely tied with practicing Hinduism.
The large presence of Hinduism has resulted in opposition against Christianity. There is a rise in Hindu nationalism and strict anti-conversion laws. This means that evangelism often happens quietly through personal relationships, and some churches meet secretly in homes. Believers can face imprisonment for sharing their faith. Nepali Christians often also face social rejection and discrimination. Converts can face family rejection or community pressure to return to Hinduism.
Yet the church in Nepal continues to grow, and the gospel spreads through the courage and resilience of believers despite religious persecution.
HOW CAN YOU PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN NEPAL?
Nepali Christians need boldness and protection as they work to spread the gospel. As Hindu nationalism continues to rise, many Nepali believers risk imprisonment, punishment, or rejection for sharing their faith. Pray for God to protect believers, strengthen their courage, and give them endurance to remain faithful in every circumstance.
Pray for Nepali Christians to have deep love for the gospel and compassion for their neighbors. Ask God to give them wisdom, creativity, and courage to share Christ with grace, even when it is costly.
Pray for Radical’s partnership with a regional seminary to result in a new generation of leaders being raised to build up the church in Nepal. Pray for pastors and church leaders to be grounded in Scripture and equipped for discipleship and ministry. Ask God to grow a church in Nepal that loves and stays true to his Word and leads others to know and follow him.
And praise him for the fruit that has already been produced in a country with only a few gospel seeds.
