Praying in Nepal
Many voices, one heart
On a cool morning in Nepalgunj, Nepal, a rooftop building hums with voices.
Old, young and everywhere in between, the air is filled with the sound of Nepalis calling out to the God who has promised to listen. To stand in the midst of this pryaing community is to be coccooned by the sound of faith in action. I understand completely without understanding a word.
Worship in this Nepali congregation feels both strange and comfortingly familiar.
We're gathered beneath a tarp on the roof of Pastor Ramesh Raj Regmi's home, which also houses the office of the Church's social services arm, Milap, on the bottom floor. There are plants and vegetables growing in pots around the perimeter; in the distance, the sound of traffic and the odd cow, dog or chicken.
Plastic chairs seat most of the congregation but one prized back 'pew' is a swinging garden seat, complete with canopy. Men and women stand in a semi circle around a pulpit; guitars and a drum are employed in the service of tunes that are familiar as well as new.
"This is the day that the Lord has made" gets a nice run at one point :)
While the service unfolds in an easily recognisable way, the one thing that stands out is the session of corporate prayer. One leader begins from the front, but he is soon joined by others speaking their own prayers, aloud, at the same time.
The effect is like being swept up in a symphony - I imagine if you understand the language you're attune to the direction of others' prayers without any particular voice being singled out.
I'm immediately appreciative of the impact. Having the courage to pray aloud in a service always struck me as difficult for many; this form of corportate prayer with many voices raised all at once mean no one stands out by everyone catches the impetus, ebb and flow of the prayer: one heart speaking together.
And for this group, there is plenty to pray about! They're a community devoted to preaching and teaching as well as development work in the community and they feel keenly the call to be the hands and feet of God among their neighbours.
As a minority religion in Nepal, Christians are cautiously respected but in the minds of some may also represent a foreign presence. Yet the Church continues to answer the call to witness, serve, share and love in their communities amongst people of all backgrounds.
Please pray...
Pray for local churches in Nepal, many of whom are developing their own initiatives to help care in practical ways for their communities. Their witness is powerful, especially in regard to inclusion. Caste discrimination can continue to isolate people in many places, and the grace of equality is attractive.
Pray especially for the Smyrna Missionary Church and Pastor Regmi, his congregation and their dedicated work in the community through Milap.