Nepal

Christians in Nepal tried to worship Saturday, June 13, after police detained a Hindu militant for alleged involvement in a bomb blast that killed three people and injured over a dozen others at a Roman Catholic Church, and the prime minister pledged to end political strife in this impoverished mountainous nation.

There was concern Thursday, May 12, about demonstrations by Hindu militants in Nepal after reports that authorities released a Christian Indian couple detained for allegedly evangelizing among Hindu orphans.

A married couple who run two children’s homes in Nepal were imprisoned on April 27, charged with forced conversion, according to a ministry report from EquipNepal.

We just received exciting news that GFA native missionary Besh has been freed from the Maoist group that abducted him in mid-August. Another missionary had been sent to search for him, but in the meantime Besh was safely returned, physically unharmed. This is nothing short of a miracle when we consider that Maoists in this district typically kill those they abduct.

As of Wednesday, August 25, GFA (Gospel For Asia) native missionary Besh is still being held by Maoist insurgents after being abducted about 12 days ago.

As reported in the March 12 issue of Missions Insider three Christian workers were arrested in western Nepal in late February on suspicion of engaging in illegal religious activity simply because Bibles and Christian literature were found in their bags. Now Christian Aid has learned that five more Christians who went to visit the jailed brothers were similarly arrested.

A gospel worker and two local believers were arrested and jailed on proselytism charges in western Nepal last month. Details of the arrest were made known to Christian Aid just this week.

A missionary leader in Nepal reports that he and his missionaries are being threatened by Maoist rebels.