Sunday, October 27, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Verse Of The Day
For God so loved the world that he gave his only beggotten son that who so ever believes in Him shall have everlasting life
John 3:16
John 3:16
Bethshalom Church Introduction
Putalisadak Church is the first established Church in Kathmandu Valley and the only one centrally located in the heart of the city. It is now a growing church with more than 700 members, in more than 12 of our regular congregations in Kavre, Dhading, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu districts.
It all began with two young men from Kerala, South India touring this country in 1950 as students from the then Union Biblical Seminary, Yeotmal. Later two more young men joined them and finally in 1952 November, one of them Athyal started to stay in Kathmandu. In April 1953 he together with the others three, John, Kurian and Gorge formed the 'Christ Shanti Sangha' and started to have regular worship services at their residence in fellowship with Col. Narraj Shumsher who has been baptized in Motihari in 1952. They were missionaries from the Marthoma Church of Kerala and the church continued to be affiliated to them till 1979 when the Marthoma Church consented to nullify the affiliation at the discretion of the local church Committee. The services and the support of the Marthoma Church, its visiting Bishops and dignitaries as well as the sacrificial life of ministry of these four pioneers will definitely remain as our God-given heritage.
Though it started as a congregation in the second week of April 1953, they had to go through turbulent periods of change especially in the closed and incriminating Hindu Kingdom of Nepal then. As the land they bought and the church hall they built through the sacrifices of many from Kerala and all around the world could not have any legal entity and registration then, had to face court cases for decades and finally getting everything divided up as shares of the original trustees who had slipped back from the faith betraying the church. The church was named the 'Church of Christ in Nepal' in those days.
The church continued to have its ministry and services all through these years in its own premises with English/Nepali/Malayalam worship services, out reach ministries as well the historic ministry through Shanti Book stall, a bold outlet and contact point in the heart of the city. The leaders who initiated congregations later in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu all were in fellowship with us as they started off. Putalisadak was one of the founding members of the Nepal Christian Fellowship and our Pastors were always available as efficient Bible Teachers from the beginning for the whole Church.
A notable growth in the church started in the late 1980s along with the Evangelistic awakening in Nepal and continued to grow in numbers and commitment during the relative freedom after the peoples' democratic movement in 1990. In late 90s the church expanded with satellite congregations for the convenience of its members and in early 2000 we expanded our ministry into Kavre and Dhading districts.
The church has grown with a leadership team of mature, committed and trained people taking care of various aspects of its ministry and mission presently with more than 12 congregations, 12 full time ministers all supported by internal church income through regular tithe and offerings of its members.
In 2003, we celebrated the Golden Jubilee with various programmes throughout the year. As a token of our commitment for further training of leaders, we facilitated short-term trainings for Pastors through Advanced Course for Ministry and Skill Development for Pastors and our Jubilee training block has the Beth Shalom Faith School of Ministry with a two year residential C Th programme (affiliated to the Faith Theological Seminary, Kerala) for church workers from all over Nepal committed for full time ministry.
We have a scholarship programme for our needy students, a welfare fund for emergency charity contributions and a women's enhancement project- Deborah Training Centre which facilitate skill development and income generating programmes.
We praise the Lord of the Church for His gracious enabling as we continue to serve Him and trust the Holy Spirit to lead us on in His purposes in His might and direction. We lean on the faithful prayers and partnership of many saints around the world.
It all began with two young men from Kerala, South India touring this country in 1950 as students from the then Union Biblical Seminary, Yeotmal. Later two more young men joined them and finally in 1952 November, one of them Athyal started to stay in Kathmandu. In April 1953 he together with the others three, John, Kurian and Gorge formed the 'Christ Shanti Sangha' and started to have regular worship services at their residence in fellowship with Col. Narraj Shumsher who has been baptized in Motihari in 1952. They were missionaries from the Marthoma Church of Kerala and the church continued to be affiliated to them till 1979 when the Marthoma Church consented to nullify the affiliation at the discretion of the local church Committee. The services and the support of the Marthoma Church, its visiting Bishops and dignitaries as well as the sacrificial life of ministry of these four pioneers will definitely remain as our God-given heritage.
Though it started as a congregation in the second week of April 1953, they had to go through turbulent periods of change especially in the closed and incriminating Hindu Kingdom of Nepal then. As the land they bought and the church hall they built through the sacrifices of many from Kerala and all around the world could not have any legal entity and registration then, had to face court cases for decades and finally getting everything divided up as shares of the original trustees who had slipped back from the faith betraying the church. The church was named the 'Church of Christ in Nepal' in those days.
The church continued to have its ministry and services all through these years in its own premises with English/Nepali/Malayalam worship services, out reach ministries as well the historic ministry through Shanti Book stall, a bold outlet and contact point in the heart of the city. The leaders who initiated congregations later in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu all were in fellowship with us as they started off. Putalisadak was one of the founding members of the Nepal Christian Fellowship and our Pastors were always available as efficient Bible Teachers from the beginning for the whole Church.
A notable growth in the church started in the late 1980s along with the Evangelistic awakening in Nepal and continued to grow in numbers and commitment during the relative freedom after the peoples' democratic movement in 1990. In late 90s the church expanded with satellite congregations for the convenience of its members and in early 2000 we expanded our ministry into Kavre and Dhading districts.
The church has grown with a leadership team of mature, committed and trained people taking care of various aspects of its ministry and mission presently with more than 12 congregations, 12 full time ministers all supported by internal church income through regular tithe and offerings of its members.
In 2003, we celebrated the Golden Jubilee with various programmes throughout the year. As a token of our commitment for further training of leaders, we facilitated short-term trainings for Pastors through Advanced Course for Ministry and Skill Development for Pastors and our Jubilee training block has the Beth Shalom Faith School of Ministry with a two year residential C Th programme (affiliated to the Faith Theological Seminary, Kerala) for church workers from all over Nepal committed for full time ministry.
We have a scholarship programme for our needy students, a welfare fund for emergency charity contributions and a women's enhancement project- Deborah Training Centre which facilitate skill development and income generating programmes.
We praise the Lord of the Church for His gracious enabling as we continue to serve Him and trust the Holy Spirit to lead us on in His purposes in His might and direction. We lean on the faithful prayers and partnership of many saints around the world.
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