When the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, Pastor Kris Moktan was in church.

“It was near the end of the service and I had just been giving a sermon about the end times,” the pastor of Omega church in Ward 5 of Manakamana said before adding jokingly, “After that sermon illustration, it was easy to convince people to give up drinking and smoking.”

At the time of the quake, however, it was no laughing matter. The small building, where his congregation of 43 believers gathered, was completely shaken from its foundation. In a panic, the worshippers rushed to escape through the only door.

Pastor Kris’ wife was pregnant at the time. She was hit on the head by falling debris and also broke her leg. Pastor Kris knows that she was lucky to get out alive.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Saturday is the day of worship for Christians in Nepal and most churches hold their services between 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM.

“Before, it was so hard to be a Christian in Nepal…Since the earthquake, ten people have come to Christ, Hallelujah. Praise God.”

The earthquake, which struck at 11:56 Nepali time, came during the last part of service and thousands of Christians across the country were injured as they ran out of crumbling church buildings. Some were trapped under rubble. Many died.

Pastor Kris says that he is grateful that despite some minor injuries, no one in his congregation was seriously hurt. He is also grateful for the opportunity that this disaster has provided for strengthening the witness of the local church.

“Before, it was so hard to be a Christian in Nepal,” he said, citing how Christians make up only one per cent of the population in this country.

He had grown up in this village and dreamed of starting a church here when he was done his studies, but felt that he was met with suspicion by his Hindu neighbours.

“They were always wondering if I was trying to evangelize to them,” he said.

That reputation has improved since World Renew started working in his community, distributing food, tarps, hygiene supplies, water filters and shelter kits to those in need.

“I want to thank everyone in Canada and the United States who showed people here that Christians are loving,” he said.  “You have helped me in my ministry.”

He explains that while some people in the community continue to have some skepticism about why Christians would care about them, most have come to the conclusion that Christians are loving people.  This has even led some people to begin attending Pastor Kris’ weekly services to learn more.

“Since the earthquake, ten people have come to Christ,” he said.  “Hallelujah. Praise God.”

While his church building was completely destroyed, the faith of Pastor Kris and his congregation remains strong. Less than six months after the quake, they have built a new building out of wood and galvanized iron sheeting where they can continue worshipping.

Pastor Kris lives his faith every day and relies on God to help him overcome the challenges that arise. For example, the landlord who owns the property where the new church is located has asked for the land back. Pastor Kris and his congregation must leave by the end of the month.

Even in the face of this hardship, Pastor Kris can find hope.  He has found other land just down the road and is in the midst of fundraising for the new building.

Asked where he finds the motivation to respond to such challenges, he said, “My favourite Bible verse is Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” 

This is the third of a series of stories marking the six-month anniversary of the devasting earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25, 2015.
Find the first story of this series here and the second story here.