Linking lives

The number of Christian migrants in Nepal, and the Nepali Diaspora, has increased by at least 33 per cent in the past 15 years. In the aftermath of the Nepal Civil War, not only was the country transformed, but the Nepali Church also changed considerably in its missiology. The new Nepal Church now needed to find a way to effectively support this increase of Christian migrants, both practically and spiritually.

The most recent initiative has seen BMS partners, the International Nepal Fellowship (INF), in co-operation with the Nepalese Migrant Unity Network (NeMUN), developing a network of Christian contacts in Nepal and the Diaspora to link migrants with Christian fellowship and sources of encouragement.

The Migrant Link Initiative

With the vast number of Christian migrants coming in and going out of Nepal, it became evident to INF and NeMUN that there was a significant communication gap between the workers and the Nepali church. There was also a great need to ensure that migrants were being encouraged to grow in their Christian lives and faith.

A £1,500 grant from BMS’ Mission Innovation Fund is helping to support INF and NeMUN to set up the project known as the ‘Migrant Link Initiative’ – a project that is working to establish relationships not only between Nepali churches and migrant workers, but also with various secular societies and government organisations.

Christian migrant growth

The main reason this project came into being is because the population of Nepal has more than tripled in the past 60 years with the number of Christians rising to nearly one million.

Subsequently, nearly one third of these people work outside the borders of Nepal – often doing difficult, dirty and dangerous jobs, and where they are typically exploited by foreign companies. Not only this, but their Christian faith suffers as they struggle to find community and fellowship in these difficult surroundings.

A similar growth has also occurred outside the country as a large number of Nepalese people, living in south east Asia and the Gulf, have become Christians. These people are now returning to Nepal to either find work, or reconnect with their family, but often with an inadequate understanding of the present situation of the Church in Nepal.

Vital connections

There are two primary links that have been created in the Migrant Link Intiative. The first is the link between Nepali churches. These relationships are vital because pastors and leaders are slowly becoming more informed of Diaspora issues and now have the ability to access help on behalf of their migrant members.

The second important link is the one between the migrant workers in Nepal, as well as the Diaspora, and government organisations such as Nepali Ambassadors.

Relationship with these organisations help to develop effective advocacy on behalf of the migrants in terms of social, economic, legal and medical problems. With the high rate of worker exploitation in the Diaspora, these relationships are vital when it comes to helping migrants settle in foreign countries.

Effectiveness

The Migrant Link Initiative aims to address the practical and spiritual needs of migrants. It also gives Nepali churches the opportunity to share the good news of Christ and support migrant workers in their Christian faith.

“International people movements is one of the great phenomena of the latter 20th and early 21st century, and with communication it becomes more possible to link disparate communities,” says Steve Sanderson, BMS Manager for Mission Projects. “I am glad that INF is coming up with innovative ways to capture the emerging patterns of the international Nepali Church.”

9/2/2012