When our neighbourhood shifts, our ministry needs to shift as well. This is the attitude of St George’s, Hurstville, whose members have witnessed a huge increase of Nepalese people moving into their area in recent years.
“A few years ago, Hurstville was a predominantly Chinese area,” says rector the Rev Brian Tung. “But I noticed that more and more Nepali are moving in. There are more Nepali coming into Hurstville now than Chinese. I saw the possibility and potential for Nepali ministry… it has to start somewhere by someone.”
As Mr Tung was praying and pondering how to reach his new neighbours with the gospel, Bijaya and Kate Shrestha were also praying for ways they could serve. Mr Shrestha is a Nepalese Christian who came to know Jesus from a Hindu background and spent many years in Nepal serving the church. Mrs Shrestha also served on the mission field in Nepal for many years.
The couple could see the need for more Nepali ministry in Sydney, given the large number of Nepalese moving into the country, and felt convicted to use their gifts and experience to serve this community.
A Changing Community
As of 2021, there were almost 60,000 people born in Nepal living in Sydney. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Nepalese people now account for 15 per cent of Hurstville’s population (Chinese people account for 47 per cent). Less than 3 per cent of the Nepalese in greater Sydney identify as Christian.
While there are already existing Nepalese ministries in Sydney – including a Nepalese congregation at St Luke’s, Liverpool and a Nepalese Bible study at St Paul’s, Canterbury – there is a growing need for more.
Mr and Mrs Shrestha have established a Nepali gathering in Hurstville, in partnership with Evangelism and New Churches. “So far it’s a small fellowship,” Mr Shrestha says. “Every week there are seven to 12 people coming. Every week we are just reading the Bible, praying, singing Nepali songs.”
Praying Daily
Mr Tung says he is consistently praying for ministry to Nepalese people. “We’re literally praying every day. It’s hard work and very challenging. Nepali are extremely time poor, so we can’t do ministry in the same way. Most of them work two or three jobs. Going to church on a Sunday morning is not possible.
“We are praying that there are open doors... to overcome significant obstacles, like the challenges that Nepali face when they’re in Australia. We pray that somehow it will be overcome so they can hear the gospel and be committed to Christian fellowship on a regular basis.”
Mrs Shrestha adds: “Nepali need to hear [the gospel] and be discipled in their heart language. Please pray that God would raise up a team to work with us who are committed to seeing the gospel go out among Nepali people.”
PRAYER:
- Give thanks for the many different ways churches serve the Nepalese community in Sydney
- Pray for the new Nepalese fellowship in Hurstville, that it may connect and share the gospel with many Nepali people
- Pray that challenges and barriers may be overcome for the Nepali people so they can hear God’s word and join regular Christian fellowship
- Pray for a team of people to serve the Nepali community and share the gospel
