by Luke Knickerbocker, 2003 Crown College graduate
Open Doors
Our family moved to Kathmandu, Nepal in 2014 to serve as the Lord opened doors. Being a predominantly Hindu country, it is considered a “Creative Access” nation. One opportunity we had was to assist the Gurung family as they launched the Crown Nepal Bible College. Pastor U.J.’s family has led a wonderful church the last two decades in the heart of the capital city. There are numerous church plants out of Kathmandu Baptist Church across the country of Nepal. God is using their influence to help spread the Gospel. Pictured below is a youth conference they host annually. I can’t wait to share with you the unique opportunity for Crown Nepal.
National Leadership
As a foreigner, I realized that the local people would be the greatest leaders in church planting. Therefore, having a part in helping prepare future leaders through the Crown Nepal Bible College was quite fulfilling. I recognized that my role was to help Adarsha be successful as he led this great work from its beginning. Even when our family returned to America, the work continues today because it was NOT dependent on foreigners. Our family embraced our opportunities to support when needed. I was happy to preach and teach when asked and to strengthen the hands of those doing the work.
Partnership in the Gospel
Pastor Gurung’s son Adarsha graduated from Crown College of the Bible in Powell, Tennessee in 2015. Following graduation, he returned to serve alongside his father. Adarsha had a burden to start a Bible College to train another generation of leaders. He embodies the vision of Pastor Clarence Sexton to evangelize the world through local churches. It was a wonderful blessing to meet Adarsha in 2015 and see how God had brought our paths together. Years ago, I also had graduated from the same Crown College in preparation to serve on the mission field!
Doing Our Part
When the Crown Nepal Bible College began in the Fall of 2015, I was only able to teach English. I desired to teach Bible classes when my Nepali language improved. The following year, I taught Bible classes in the day, and in the Evening School of the Bible. My wife Jamie also was a great blessing as she was able to teach English and Bible classes. She also shared practical life-skills in enabling the ladies to be Godly keepers of the home.
Growth and Influence
The student body grew quickly each year and soon had to relocate to a larger facility. Their academic courses also increased to offering musical instruments, and teaching electronics, and sewing. The Crown Nepal Bible College also has a bookstore where they are translating and publishing Biblically sound literature. This is so needed, as the few books available in Nepali are mostly from charismatic leaders.
Please pray for the unique opportunities given to Crown Nepal
Beyond the walls to villages
I have been encouraged by the faithfulness of the Gurung family and their church. Other local pastors in the Kathmandu Valley have been able to teach in the college. Today several graduates from the college are now teaching others also! They are constantly sending out teams to evangelize and hold meetings in other villages. They keep a good balance of Godly separation from worldliness and passionately spreading the Gospel. Click here to watch the choir and orchestra sing a Spirit-filled hymn.
God has blessed with unique opportunities for Crown Nepal
A village outreach with college students
The Next Step
God has opened another door for the growth of the Crown Nepal Bible College. What a unique opportunity for Crown Nepal! They have been given the opportunity to buy their own property! After renting three different locations, they now can have a permanent setting to teach the college students throughout the year. They have purchased land and are still raising an additional $38,000 for the buildings they need to build.
How can you help?
Seldom in life will a greater opportunity arise that will allow you to make an eternal investment. You may not be able to go train men and women personally in Asia, but you may help those who are getting the job done! Click the following links to learn more: Crown Nepal Bible College website or Read Adarsha Gurung’s most recent newsletter.
You may send a love offering to help with the building project to the address below:
Check out our article “Is it okay for a missionary to come home?”
