Greetings to all in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas filled with joy and warmth!
In Matthew 24:3-14, the disciples inquire about Jesus' return, and he responds by describing the signs they will witness. Observing the numerous crises around us, it becomes evident that these events align with God's prophetic words. Amidst these challenges, I hope that you draw nearer to God.
Through His grace, we can persist in tending to His vineyard, and we are grateful for the blessing of welcoming new believers into our community.
EVANGELICAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING CENTER (ELTC)
When the Lord honored and blessed our church, we experienced growth in terms of numbers, prompting the need for a small training center. As mentioned earlier, on September 9, 2017, the ELTC was inaugurated by Rev. Purna Thapa, the chairman of EC Church, Nepal.
The initial batch comprised prominent leaders such as pastors, elders, and deacons, totaling 28 individuals. The second batch included leaders from the women's fellowship. On-going training involves leaders from ECCN Youth, with a current enrollment of 22 students.
Due to the lack of a suitable space for classrooms and accommodation, we utilize Bethel Church. We consistently pray for a dedicated space to conduct our training. On October 29, 2022, Rev. Ted Rathman, Executive Director of GMC, and Rev. Nathan Kennedy visited us. Huge thanks to Rev. Ted Rathman for leading the groundbreaking ceremony at ELTC. Your presence elevated the moment, and we're grateful for your vital role in shaping ELTC's future. Praise God!
Since then, we have been seeking God's provision, and by His grace, construction commenced on September 17, 2023. The groundwork, including the completion of most pillars at the ground level, has been achieved. We sincerely praise God, recognizing that there is still much work ahead.
Our earnest prayer is to establish a diploma course for our church leaders, aiming to send them to other training centers. Simultaneously, we are currently engaged in training prospective staff, in addition to the construction efforts.
1. Ms. Hannah Kipgen: BA, MDiv, MTh (PhD Candidate, SAIACS)
2. Mr. Ashish Tamang: BTh, MDiv (Ebenezer Bible College, ATA Kerala, India)
3. Ms. Anu Tamang: BTh ( Nepal New Covenant College, ATA)
4. Ms. Sarita Tamang: BTh (Nepal New Covenant College, ATA)
Present Volunteer Teachers:
1. Ps. Rajkumar Rai: BTh, MDiv
2. Mrs. Gyanu Rai: BTh, MDiv
3. Mr. Palum Kipgen (Missionary): BA, MDiv, MTh
4. Ps. Gyanendra Lama: Diploma
OUR NEW FELLOWSHIPS
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, 'I will build my church.' I trust you all can agree with me on this. The most joyful moment is when we lead someone to Christ. I believe this joy extends to those in the mission field and those who pray and support mission work.
What a joy it is to announce the establishment of two new fellowships in EC Church Nepal:
1. Darsan EC Fellowship officially opened at Docoria, Sunbarsi, Morang.
2. Jyoti Fellowship officially opened at Govindapur, West Morang.
4TH ECCN WOMEN'S SOCIETY CONFERENCE
It is often said that behind every successful man, there is a woman. I strongly assert that the blessing upon the EC Church Nepal is attributed to the Women's Society. Due to the establishment of new churches and organizational commitments, we could not conduct conferences or seminars every year.
Consequently, after four years, the Women's Society organized a conference using local resources. They collected and spent around Rs. 2 lakhs rupees on November 22nd and 23rd, 2023, at Bardan EC Church, Laxmimarga.
Theme: "A Wise Woman" - Proverbs 19:14
Speakers:
Mrs. Gyanu Shrestha, BTh, MDiv (Wife of Ps. Rajkumar, Anugraha Church, Nepal)
Ms. Hannah Kipgen, BA, MDiv, MTh.
Several activities took place during the conference, including a Bible Recitation Group Competition with eight teams:
1st Position: Bardan EC Church Durdimba (Rs. 5000 cash prize)
2nd Position: Darsan EC Church Dharan (Rs. 3000 cash prize)
3rd Position: Bethel EC Church Dharan (Rs. 2000 cash prize)
Additionally, all participants received a Rs. 1000 consolation prize each.
The Women's Society also presented special Christmas gifts to all ECCN pastors.
MERCY HOME
God has called us to different works and positions in this vineyard, each with unique burdens. However, every task and role is intended for the glory of God. I am privileged to serve parentless boys at Mercy Home, where we currently have eight boys. Most of these boys joined us at 1 to 2 years old, including Mr. Joel Rai (Kipgen) and Mr. Jackson Tamang (Kipgen).
Both Joel and Jackson were small boys, only 1 and a half years old when they became part of our family. Today, they have completed their Class X HSLC Board exams, with Joel achieving 1st division and Jackson securing 2nd division. Both boys are continuing their education in Class 11.
Joel - Management
Jack Tamang - Humanities
Quality time with family post their exams
ADVENT CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Theme: “The Joy of the World”-Psalm 98: 1-9
Speakers:
1. Rev. Dr. Sarad KC, Principal, Nepal New Covenant College
2. Bishop. Jyoti Rai, Holy Church Association
On December 10th, Bethel EC Church became a festive haven for around 500 people, marking the advent of Christmas. The main purpose was to spread the good news among non-Christians. Speakers shared personal stories, highlighting the unpredictable ways of God. Dr. Sarad KC recounted defying parental expectations of becoming a Hindu priest, now a pastor. Bishop Jyoti, embodying the Christmas spirit, delivered a compelling message on Jesus being the true Saviour for mankind. The sermons weren't just religious teachings; they reflected diverse journeys and the transformative power of faith.
Behind the scenes, ECCN Youth hosted the event with remarkable efforts. This dream project showcased the collective power of a small organization. Despite the size, their dedication turned the celebration into a grand success. It illustrated that, through unity, even the smallest entities can achieve greatness.
HANNAH PRAYER TEAM
We also have the Hannah Prayer Team in most of our churches. This prayer group has organized:
1. Family Fasting Rotation
2. Individual Fasting Prayer Rotation
3. Group Fasting Prayer Rotation
Our prayer needs are as follows:
1. Completion of the building for ELTC
2. Upcoming 3rd Graduation of ELTC & ordination
3. Our plan to upgrade the Diploma course in ELTC
Thank You for reading, friends. I would be delighted to hear from you. Kindly, write us below if you are interested to know more about our mission.
Rev. Th. Janga Kipgen
Director, EC Church Nepal