Secretariat Team Visits the Himalayan Section, Brings Hope and Revival

Saw Samuel, an associate secretary of the General Conference (GC), and Hiroshi Yamaji, secretary of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), visited the Himalayan Section of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from June 10 to 16.

It was the first visit of the secretariat team from the GC and the NSD after Nepal was transferred to the administrative area of the NSD. The goal of the visit was to better understand the Adventist Church’s activities in Nepal, church leaders said.

Three mission institutions in Nepal are serving under the world church to fulfill its mission. These include the Scheer Memorial Hospital, a pioneering health-care institution in Nepal; the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Nepal, engaged in social work in collaboration with the government of Nepal; and the Himalayan Section, the regional church office directly involved in spreading the everlasting gospel, teaching and preaching about Christ and leading people from darkness to light.

Nepal is a unique country situated between two major countries, China and India. Its social life and economic condition are directly influenced by these two neighbors. In this predominantly Hindu country, preaching the gospel openly is difficult, but the Seventh-day Adventist message has been preached through various means and channels for many years by faithful servants of God.

The Himalayan Section is currently in a transition phase, and the NSD leadership is carefully studying the situation in Nepal. They have placed great emphasis on departmental promotions coming from the NSD, leaders said. Numerous Adventist groups are working independently in Nepal, and the NSD leadership is working toward bringing all these groups together to start a new setup and a new journey.

On June 10, Samuel and Yamaji arrived and spent a week extensively studying the situation in Nepal. They visited several entities, met with leaders, and spent time with youth and church members.

On June 11, they visited the Himalayan Section office, met with leaders, shared God’s words, and encouraged section leaders and workers to keep fulfilling God’s mission. On the same day, Samuel and Yamaji, together with Himalayan Section officers Umesh Pokharel and Hea Seong Kim, visited ADRA Nepal, learned about ADRA activities, and discussed plans for the future.

A day later, the team visited Scheer Memorial Hospital, met its leaders, and learned about its operations. They also attended the inaugural gathering of the Youth Leadership Camp organized by the Youth Department of the Himalayan Section. The event’s main speakers were Yo Young Choi and Hyuntae Kim, youth directors of the NSD and the Korean Union Conference, respectively, under the theme, “The Love of Christ Compels Us.”

In an opening message of the youth leadership camp, Samuel outlined seven important pieces of advice given by Paul to Timothy, emphasizing the essential traits that young people need to fulfill their God-given task. Yamaji offered a special prayer, asking God to grant success to the camp initiative.

On June 14, Samuel, Yamaji, and Robert Dulay, Adventist World Radio (AWR) director in the Asia-Pacific region, left Kathmandu and traveled seven hours on a rough road to a remote mountain village, where they helped to inaugurate a newly built church. The church started a few years ago through contact with AWR listeners.

The new church is located in a remote, mountainous village with a dozen families who became Seventh-day Adventists through the radio program, “The Voice of Hope.” The villagers, who live simple and humble lives, face very difficult circumstances, leaders reported.

Samuel shared the word of God and outlined three principles: Relax, Release, and Rely. He encouraged the villagers with these principles, stating that they are the keys to success, no matter the circumstances.

The newly built church was inaugurated jointly by the three guests and was dedicated by Yamaji. Speakers expressed their gratitude to those who helped to build the church, which included donors from the United States.

Dulay addressed members and church leaders, emphasizing the faithfulness of God and encouraging them to have big visions and plans for Him.

“Our God is big and faithful, and we need to be faithful and have big visions and plans for Him,” Dulay said. “Let us not limit our God and ourselves.” He added, “We thank God for His providence in our lives. Through AWR [radio] waves the everlasting message went to this remote mountain village. It was not an accident but God’s plan. It was God who raised a group of believers and established His church.”