In December 2024, Pastor Janmajaya Bhattarai, joined by a team of fellow Christians, distributed gifts and clothing to underprivileged students. At the request of local schools, the believers faithfully carried out this outreach program for several years as a Christmas tradition.
However, when the pastor posted information about the event on his Facebook page, some Hindu militants reacted angrily, accusing the church leader of bribing the students in an attempt to convert them to Christianity. As a result, Pastor Janmajaya was arrested on December 24th of that year. Although he was released on bail three weeks later, the charges against him remained.
After more than a year of uncertainty, all charges against Pastor Janmajaya were finally dropped on March 24th. The church leader has since expressed deep relief at being freed from the concern of imprisonment. Church leaders within Nepal are hopeful that this ruling may help set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
Around the same time that Pastor Janmajaya was released, three other believers were detained for sharing their faith. (To review details regarding these arrests, see our previously posted report.) According to the latest information received from local sources, the three recently imprisoned believers remain in custody while their cases are under investigation. Although no formal charges have been laid, their detentions have been repeatedly extended. Other published reports concerning the persecution of Christians in Nepal are available at our country profile.
- While we can praise God that Pastor Janmajaya has been fully cleared of all charges, please pray that the outreaches of this dedicated servant and his ministry team will continue to effectively meet the practical and spiritual needs of the underprivileged members in their community.
- Also prayerfully uphold the three recently arrested believers who are presently being held in custody because of their desire to share the hope of Jesus Christ, asking Him to intervene judicially on their behalf so that all the allegations against them will be dropped.
- As God's servants in this predominantly Hindu nation wisely and boldly share the "Good News" of Jesus' sacrificial love among the Nepali people, may many more lives experience eternal salvation and transformation.
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