Nepal

The Kingdom of Nepal has the distinction of being the world's only Hindu nation. It is also known for having the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, along with seven more of the world's top ten peaks.

A landlocked Asian country in the Himalayan mountain range, Nepal is sandwiched between Tibet (China) and India. Its area of 56,811 square miles makes it slightly larger than the state of Iowa. Nepal has a population of 2.5 million, most of whom profess Hinduism (90%), though a few follow Buddhism (5%), Islam (3%) and Christianity (2%). The official language is Nepali, with Newari, Tamang, Rai, Limbu and Sherpa also spoken.

With isolated valleys and steep mountains, Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world. Forest cover has been reduced from 60 percent in the early 1950s to 30 percent today, due mainly to the rapid increase in Nepal's population. The majority of Nepalese depend on farming and cultivation as their main source of income.

While known in past years as a peace-loving country, Nepal has lately faced unstable times both economically and politically. Tourism, the second largest industry, has greatly suffered due to internal conflicts.

The northern and western regions are the most unreached with the Gospel. Many churches are situated in areas where there are no roads, public transportation or electricity. It is hard work for missionaries to travel from one village to another. In addition to the challenge of mountainous terrain, Gospel workers routinely encounter resistance from anti-Christian fundamentalists.

The people of Nepal are generally open to the Gospel, but the present upheaval has not left the Church in this nation untouched. Believers have faced threats, ridicule, beatings and even imprisonment. Despite these obstacles, missionaries continue to take the Gospel to those in Nepal who have never heard.