No One in Nepal?

Do you believe that together we get to impact young people for Christ in a real way by training Christian youth leaders around the globe? 

Jomesh Tamang - Nepal

 I am listing below a recent blog-post by Jomesh Tamang from Nepal. Jomesh, just finished hosting a team of three GYMN (Global Youth Ministry Network) trainers from the Philippines into Nepal, where together they trained 75 youth leaders. These leaders on average impact at least 20 other youth. This training alone will impact over 1500 young people. Wow! Jomesh is a coordinator of trainings as a volunteer currently and we would love to have Jomesh on staff when additional funds are available. Since Nepal neighbors India and China (the two most populous countries in the world) we see this as very strategic. 

Youth leader worships at recent GYMN trainings

Jomesh states the following about the situation in Nepal: 

“Nepal used to be the only Hindu kingdom in the world. But then two years back the Maoist-led government declared this country as a secular state which allowed every individual to practice their faith openly. 

The church growth in Nepal is as rapid as in other Asian countries. God is moving so mightily in this little country to build and make His Kingdom lifestyle to each and every individual, raising and reviving His Church where there are lots of belief systems and people have many confusion about the spirit world and frustrated by their own belief systems. God is raising pastors, leaders, evangelists, bible teachers, speakers, women leaders, children ministers, youth leaders and worship leaders in this country to draw His dear children into His kingdom. 

Level 1 and Level 2 Trained Christian Youth Leaders

 God allowed me to speak in many big youth conferences in the year 2006 and I asked the same question to the youth leaders who attended those conferences throughout the country “How is the youth ministry in your church?” Almost everybody replied. “I am a youth leader in the church not because I am trained and know how to lead youth but because there was no one…” 

Those answers really caught my heart and I knew since then that most of the churches have no idea about youth ministry— this has been my passion since then to train youth leaders of the local churches to see their youth ministry become more effective in discipling young people in God’s way and their leaders to understand the value of youth ministry and trained youth leaders in the Church. 

We praise God that He is raising God fearing young people in this country but then there is so much to do and to see Christian young people leading the change in the communities with Kingdom value so that the Kingdom taste will be tested by everyone in this little beautiful country. This is why there is a need for training youth leaders and the youth ministry in Nepal. 

Be praying and be a part of what God is doing in this nation.”

(Chris’ notes – thank you for enabling us to serve Nepal through our staff and volunteers. Your support and prayers made an impact and we need your continued support and/or additional donations to continue to follow-up and train more leaders in Nepal and neighboring countries http://gymnintl.wordpress.com/support-us/) 

Jomesh Tamang
Youth Ministry Coordinator

Fear and Faith?

Just this past week I received a phone call from a Pakistani pastor friend who lives in Chicago. My pastor friend was specifically asking for prayer for Pakistan. At GYMN we have been serving the body of Christ in Pakistan for 3 years with seminars mainly in Lahore, Pakistan. Recent news articles speak of how the bombings and war in this country has left 200,000 people in refugee camps (some are friends of my friend in Chicago) and over 2 million have been uprooted (had to move elsewhere).

We hear about a war on terror from the USA media and we here about bombings in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Pakistan. All of this has a different meaning to me now that I have personally met, walked with, prayed with and served with leaders from the same cities that are facing bomb blasts regularly. I cannot imagine the feelings they must have of fear and faith mixed all in one. To garner some insight into what is really happening allow me to share some quotes:

“Punjab provincial police chief (Lahore area) Tariq Saleem Dogar denounced the seminary attack (Islamic school for Muslims)  as un-Islamic. ‘It could not be an act of a Muslim to carry out an attack in a mosque.’ ” This referring to an Al-Qaida owned attack on a mosque in Lahore.

“More than 60 people have died in the wave of attacks across Pakistan since May 27th.” This is only what has been reported.

“They [Al-Qaida in Pakistan] do not have anything to do with Islam. They are just exploiting our religion to mislead our youth.” quote by local Pakistani.

Help us continue to serve young people like this young girl here in Pakistan (we could not show photos of those we work with for their own protection).

Could it be that the real battle, though it is seen in the physical, is really spiritual and eternal? I think so. Could it also be that we (myself included) can become desensitized by the regular bombings “over there”. I am asking God to help me remember that there are brothers and sisters in Christ, people I have met, that live in harms way. These people are as real as the person you and I will sit by at church this weekend. We get to care for, pray for and find financial support for people that are literally risking their life to reach others. We get to be a part of that kind of committed family-a family that is facing suffering. In fact, Voice of the Martyr’s recorded, “On Feb. 22, the Taliban attacked six churches, burned several Christian homes and four Bibles and injured children in Karachi, Pakistan.” I have also heard from personal sources of other churches being bombed in recent weeks very close to where we have conducted trainings (interesting that the church bombings do not show up in our news in the USA).

Pakistan refugee camp where over 200,000 people are displaced (some of them are Christians).

Despite the bombings and persecution of believers, we at GYMN have been making a regular impact. Since 2006 we have had 190 participants in our trainings and have several certified Pakistani trainers now. Here is what is being said about your investment in Pakistan (leaders names left out for protection):

“We need this kind of training. There are many young people who need Jesus and direction for their lives.”

“We can arrange seminars in our churches and also other churches throughout Pakistan.”

“GYMN’s material is very appropriate and systematic that is very easy to understand. I have read the material of the first course and I found that I have never read such material before. I have been doing Youth Ministry in my area since last several years, so this material will help me to do this ministry work with more effective way.”

Wow! We get to be a part of this real and necessary movement of God! Is He moving you to pray for and support these dear brothers and sisters in Christ? Then simply follow this link :  http://gymnintl.wordpress.com/support-us/

Bombs and Prayer

Tibet is an area within China that has a border with Nepal.

You may have heard of the region of the world called Tibet. It is the land of the Dalai Lama, one of the most influential Buddhist leaders in the world. Tibet is officially a part of China currently, but they are struggling for independence. I recently received an email from this part of Asia, from one of our key leaders in Nepal, Jomesh Tomang.

“This morning 20 young people from our church have left for Tibet boarder to do prayer and mission trip. They will be mainly praying for Tibet that God would open a closed door for the gospel work there.” Now to understand the background of why this mission is so important and unusual, you have to understand that Nepal is not in any way considered a Christian nation. Nepal has even recently had bombings  of churches in their own country. A Hindu extremist group called the Nepal Defense Fund is threatening Christians to stop meeting or they will bomb their homes.

With this threat on their own nation, you would wonder if people would not be living in fear. Well not these courageous youth being led by GYMN trainer and host for Nepal, Jomesh.These young people are going out to serve and to pray for their neighbors in Tibet. For more details on Jomesh’s youth ministry see his blog post at http://gymnasia.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/slices-of-ministry-youth-work-in-nepal/.

We get to walk along side young people with this passionate level for Christ and for sharing the Gospel!Thank you for praying for Jomesh, the youth of Nepal and those who have yet to follow Christ in Tibet. Your support in funding and prayers is deeply appreciated! http://gymnintl.wordpress.com/support-us/ 

Asia’s Needs and Their Impact Through Youth Leaders

Did you know that 2 out of every 3 people live in Asia and that 70% of these people have not heard the clear mesage of Jesus Christ?

Global Youth Ministry Network has an incredible team of national/local youth leaders who are passionate about reaching, discipling and creating leaders who are multiplying to reach their own.

“I’m happy that I have joined this seminar [Global Youth Ministry Network]
because it helps me make our youth ministry become  bigger
and to reach out to young [people] who are in bondage to sin.”
- Lou P. Becaldo, Youth Leader – Cebu, Philippines

On April 20th, Chris Davis and Matt Pounds (GYMN International staff) will travel to the Philippines for several strategic events for Asia. We will be with key leaders from at least 5 different countries: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and the Philippines – all locations where we train youth leaders. We will also add to this group close to 100 top level Filipino youth workers and hosts who have taken our training ministry to almost every corner of the Philippines. With this group we will be celebrating over 10 years of ministry in the Philippines for Asia and looking ahead to see what roles we all will play in the future. Follow our journey here through May 2nd and beyond as we span the globe.

Please take a few minutes to watch this incredible video to see the needs in Asia and consider your response to Go, Send or Disobey.

(feel free to support this mission to Asia and our global impact,
for more details on how you can make a real difference click the support us link to the right)