Two adventurous Sydney Anglicans have finalised plans to climb the Himalayas in order to raise much needed ministry dollars for Nepal.
They are organising an innovative sponsorship program called Himalayan Hike For Health.
The higher they trek, the more money they will raise for Nepalese Mission agency INF.
Steve Fletcher from Mission Beyond Tours and Matt Clarke, a council member from INF Australia, have teamed up to lead a party of 15 mission-minded adventurers.
Both men are members of St Matthew's, Manly.
"We want people to sponsor us for every metre we go up in height. The higher we go in altitude the more we will raise," says Steve.
"And if you are interesting in participating in the trek with us, we still have room."
The trek begins in late October and last for 15 days.
"Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and people are doing it tough there," says Steve.
"INF does a wonderful job in Nepal " supporting people in the area of health as well as displaced persons. They are bringing the message of the gospel through their work."
The party will be trekking along the Nepal-India border in the region of Mt Everest and especially Kangchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain at over 8,000 metres.
The organisers are aiming to reach the 4,000 metres mark.
Mission Beyond Tours is an organisation that exists to combine adventure with mission opportunities.
"Our aim is to work with Christian organisations in the area in which we are travelling," says Steve.
"It is disappointing that we won't be able to cross the Nepal border because of the political instability there."
Mr Fletcher says there are still spots available and people interested in participating can email Mission Beyond Tours, visit their website or telephone Steve Fletcher on 9981 7762.
Mission grows in war-torn Nepal
Despite the long-running Maoist war, the growth of the church in the world's only Hindu kingdom is such that INF voted at its annual conference in March to hand responsibility to a new board of directors entirely comprised of Nepali Christians.
As a symbol of this transfer, INF Executive Director Steve Aisthorpe handed the new board a Bible which formerly belonged to Pat O'Hanlon, a mission-founder who trekked into Nepal from India in 1952.
At that time there were hardly any Christians in the country, but it is estimated that there are now hundreds of thousands of people in the Nepali church.
"This is an exciting and challenging time for INF," says Mr Aisthorpe.
"The mission faces considerable changes in a difficult situation for Nepal, but we are very much looking forward to all that God has for us in the future."
People interested in offering support can visit the INF website.
