Hope Is Rising in Nepal

Bob Gustafson
22 hours ago
5 min read

A mother and child in the mountain village

Some trips encourage you. Others change the way you see the world. Our recent journey to Nepal did both. While four of us traveled from the United States, including my son Dylan, his friend James, and James’s grandfather, Dr. Mike Staudinger, and me, the real story isn’t about our team. The story is about what God is doing through our ministry partners, Paul and Bhawana, and the remarkable network of pastors and leaders they have faithfully invested in for years. Everywhere we went we saw local believers serving children, widows, struggling families, and people, who not long ago had never even heard the name of Jesus.

Our first stop was Kathmandu, where we met with people whose lives have been turned upside down. For years, Paul’s ministry served some of the poorest communities through children’s programs, churches, and schools located within the slums. Those ministries were not only places of worship, they also were home to the leaders serving there.

When the government cleared the slums, those homes were displaced. The churches were gone. The children’s schools were gone. Entire communities were scattered across the city. Yet the ministry didn’t stop.

Today, with your generosity, the leaders have relocated to an apartment. Every week they carry chairs to the rooftop, where they gather for worship, prayer, and also children’s ministry. Children from the surrounding neighborhood have begun filling that rooftop, drawn by the love and hope they find there.

The challenge is that this arrangement is only temporary. The Hindu owner made it clear that he doesn’t want Christian services taking place there. Rather than seeing this as the end of a ministry, Paul sees it as the beginning of something new.

While in Kathmandu, we visited a piece of land that could become a permanent home for this outreach. The property is situated in a neighborhood without a church and would provide a space for worship, children’s ministry, discipleship, and outreach to the urban poor. It would also become home for the families leading the ministry every day.

One of the most exciting developments we witnessed was the progress of the new Chitwan Ministry Center. During our visit, we dedicated the completed sanctuary where worship services will begin in the coming weeks. It will serve as the central gathering place for Paul’s growing network of churches throughout the region.

The next phase of construction is just as exciting! The ground floor will become a ministry hub that includes a vibrant children’s ministry center, a ministry school for training pastors and church planters, and a medical clinic led by Dr. Santa. The children’s center will provide discipleship, meals, clean water, education, and a safe place for children who are vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking. The medical clinic will allow Paul’s team to provide compassionate and free healthcare while sharing the hope of Jesus in the surrounding villages.

One of the things that impressed us was Paul’s commitment to sustainability. Many of the village churches operate small general stores or agricultural projects that help support the pastors and their ministries. Rather than creating dependence, Paul is helping local leaders build ministries that can flourish for generations.

Our final destination took us high into the mountains. After the road ended, we hiked two hours up the mountain to reach one of the most remote churches in Paul’s ministry. Fifteen years ago, no one in this village had ever heard the name of Jesus. Today, approximately 95% of the community follows Christ.

When I visited this village a few years ago, the church met in an aging building that had become unsafe. This year, we worshipped in a beautiful new church. What makes the building remarkable isn’t the construction, it’s who built it. These are some of the poorest people in Nepal. Working alongside Paul’s pastors, they carried materials up the mountain by hand. Laliman, one of Paul’s pastors and a gifted builder, coordinated the project. Together they gave financially, prepared everything in advance, and then, in a single day, the church was raised.

Standing inside that packed church, listening to sincere voices lifted in worship, was one of the most powerful moments of our trip. It was a reminder that God’s kingdom is advancing in places the world rarely notices.

Thank you for praying, giving, and standing with Going Global Inc. Because of your partnership, Paul, Bhawana, and their team are reaching children, strengthening churches, caring for widows, and sharing Jesus throughout Nepal.

Blessings,

Bob Gustafson

Compassion That Opens Hearts

One of the blessings of this trip was serving alongside Dr. Mike during medical outreaches. Working alongside him was Dr. Santa, one of Paul’s key ministry leaders. While Dr. Santa serves as a pastor, he also provides medical care to remote villages where doctors are almost nonexistent. His knowledge of the local communities, language, and available medications made every clinic incredibly effective.

Together, we treated more than 500 patients across several mountain villages. Many had never seen a doctor before. Among them were several people whose lives are changed forever.

One young boy will receive surgery for a serious medical condition.

Another suffered from a severe foot infection that likely would have resulted in the loss of his foot or even leg without treatment.

We also met a widow whose mass in her neck had grown so large that she struggled to breathe and swallow. She is now scheduled to receive surgery.

Then there is a young girl who has lived in silence for four years after a severe ear infection robbed her of her hearing. She has now begun the process of receiving medical evaluations, and we are praying that cochlear implants will allow her to hear again.

During the trip, we were able to invest in Nepal’s growing medical ministry. This includes a free medical clinic and pharmacy, a supply of medications, and a rented facility with observation rooms where patients can receive care.

Going Global Endowment

Supports legacy giving and estate planning through three major funds:

Orphans' and Widows' Fund: Helps meet daily needs, sustain annual support, and expand partner ministries.

Church Planting and Pastors' Fund: Helps send church planters and build churches in remote areas.

Now and Forever Fund: Provides stable support for ministry operations.

Questions: missionssupport@pm.me

Food For Thought

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19

God is so good. He goes before us, walks with us, and prepares the way ahead, inviting us to walk the path He has already made for us.

Prayer Requests

You can be an essential part of our ministry by praying for us. Prayer is a powerful weapon, and we value your prayers. If you would like us to pray for you, please email your prayer requests to us. Here are some specifics to pray for:

We thank you in advance for praying for the following:

Pray for your pastors and families.
Pray for the urban ministry in Nepal.
Pray for the upcoming surgeries from the Nepal trip.
Pray for harvest workers.

Ministry Goal

“And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.” - Luke 24:31

We founded Going Global Inc. in 2007 with this ministry goal. It remains our heart today. Thank you for praying and partnering with us. Together, we can achieve much!

Dennis & Robin Nonnemacher

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