They left a life of luxury in South Korea to raise churches in Nepal, “They were in desperate need of the Gospel”

1 de January de 2023

Korean pastor Pang Chang-in and Lee Jeong-hee, a married couple that left a life full of luxury to answer God’s call and go to Nepal to preach Christ.

They left a life of luxury in South Korea to raise churches in Nepal, “They were in desperate need of the Gospel”

These two missionaries, about 20 years ago, gave up the life that many would like to live to move to one of the countries where faith is brutally persecuted and thus be able to offer salvation and forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus; it all started with a call from God.

“God called us to move to Nepal,” Jeong-hee told BBC News about the call her husband Chang-in received when they were both working as bankers in South Korea; both went to Southeast Asia in 2003 when the Hindu monarchy still controlled that country.

“I was shocked to see so many idols being worshipped,” says Pang. “I felt Nepal was in desperate need of the gospel,” Pang recalled, recounting that five years later that monarchy was abolished and the country declared secular after a civil war, giving them a chance to do their job like never before.

For 20 years, the couple worked planting some 70 churches, with the Dhading district, near the capital Kathmandu, their favorite spot.

In almost every mountain valley, churches are being built,” Pang testified, adding that not long ago another church opened for the village of Jharlang.

He also shared that the indigenous community of the Tamang place abandoned their ancient spiritual beliefs of idolatry to follow Jesus, all because of the miracles that the Lord has done within the population, “A miracle occurs and all the people convert,” explained the Korean missionary.

Another part of the couple’s job is running a seminary in Kathmandu, where there are 50 young students from the country hoping to become Christian leaders; the expenses are subsidized by the Korean Christian Church, which include tuition and food.

“My father loathed churchgoers, as he believed we shouldn’t forget our traditions,” said Sapana, 22, who comes from the remote Tamang village of Singang. She is a seminary graduate who was seriously ill but claims she was healed after converting to Christianity. Now, she plans to return to preach to all the youth in her community.

“I will go to new places and spread the message of Jesus to those who have not heard it before,” she added.

The Christian community makes up less than 2% of Nepal’s population – Hindus account for about 80% and Buddhists 9% – but census data reveals its growth.

In 1951 there were no Christians in Nepal and just 458 in 1961. But by 2011, there were nearly 376,000 and the latest census estimates the community is now around 545,000.

Today there are some 7,758 churches across the country while missionaries Pang and Lee are already at risk of being arrested and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel in the nation because their laws were amended to condemn conversion from Hinduism, Buddhism or secularism to Christianity.

“We are always working with the anxiety and nervousness we feel from the anti-conversion law,” Pang’s wife, Lee Jeong-hee confessed.

“But we can’t stop the spread of the gospel because of this fear. We will not stop saving souls.”

“In the cities, the anti-conversion law feels much more real. But in the countryside, there are less eyes watching,” Pang said.

Even with everything that threatens them, this couple of missionaries do not stop believing that God has a very great purpose with Nepal, which is in the 5th position of the countries that most persecutes the Christian faith.

“Our missionary work is not just about us. God is doing the work. We’d like to show how God works through us to create miracles in Nepal,” he said.