STORY

TESTIMONY

Testimony of Shyam Shrestha

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Just as He Chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6).

Paul could not say these words before his conversion. He even could not understand this mystery and the purpose of his creation recently after his conversion. But could write these things to the believers of Ephesus as Lord Jesus gave him the revelation about His glorious grace when Paul was in the prison of Rome (60-62 A.D.). He encouraged his brothers and sisters of Ephesus with these important messages which have a profound spiritual meaning. We cannot say whether all those Ephesians believers at that time could understand this mystery or not (Ephesians 1:4) but by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is revealed to us today and we can understand what Paul wants to say to us about our calling and accountability in Christ.

Sometimes God perform wonderful miracles when we are facing hardship like Paul did in prison many times. God could teach us about His grace and mercy anywhere and in any time. Lord Jesus had already predestined the right place, date, time and moment for his children to fulfill his plan and purpose! He is omniscient, omnipotent and mighty God!

My Background

I believed that Jesus Christ is my savior and the Lord in 1995 A.D. which was recently after my marriage with my wife Minu. She is a Diaspora Nepali. She was born in Patna which lies at Bihar state of northern India. My father-in-law went there in his teen age to make money for his survival and to support his family who lived in a village at the northern part of Nepal. At that time my mother-in-law was already settled there with her parents. She was born at eastern part of Nepal near Mount Everest. In 1960 my father-in-law, Krishna Bahadur Shrestha and my mother-in-law Radha were got married in Patna and they settled there permanently as a Diaspora Nepali couple. They both are from Hindu religion and from Newar tribe. I would like to add something more here which is related to this story.  In the past and in the present also many Nepalese people go to different parts of India in search of job; so that they could survive and also they could support their family who live in their home town in Nepal. Because of lack of employment here in Nepal many people use to go to foreign land to make money. Young and energetic Nepalese people use to go to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Dubai and other gulf countries in search of jobs. Now educated and some graduate people love to go U.S.A., Japan, Australia and Netherland to make much money. Now many young ambitious Nepalese are working in Korea. According to the government data about 2,000 people go daily outside the country in the search of job and money to make their future bright. And now nearly 15% of the total population of Nepal is outside the nation. Among them many people got the Gospel in foreign land and some of them are already chosen by God and they are busy in different kinds of ministries in between those Diaspora Nepalese. Praise the Lord!

When we read the history, we come to know that many male Nepalese went outside the country and they joined in Indian Army and British Army. They fought in wars in favor of those countries and got the victory. Many Nepalese are working as a general labor in different kinds of 3D (Difficult, Dirty and Dangerous) jobs in many countries. More than 4,000,000 Nepalese are in India they are busy in different kinds of professions like: army, police, military army, security guard, cook, farmer, helper and household works. Beside these, more than 200,000 Nepali women are prostitutes in different parts of India who were sold there by their friends, husbands and other family members. Many of them are dyeing day by day through terrible diseases like: HIV Aids and by other STD diseases. It is very sad story and we have to pray for them to our heavenly father and let us hope that our Lord would allow them to hear the gospel of the Kingdom as he proclaimed like this:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

Now I will continue my personal story again. I was born at Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. I am also from Hindu background and Newar Tribe. I have a sister who is younger than me. My parents live with me. My ancestors were farmers by profession as they did not have another option for their survival. And my father learned the skill of making furniture as a carpenter and he supported us through his profession. He provided me good education in well known school and colleges; so that I could do something for the expansion of His Kingdom today! Praise the Lord for his wonderful plan!

My wife was born in India. She has two brothers and two sisters. According to her testimony, she was a religious girl. She used to fast once in week and in every Saturday and every Tuesday she used to visit Hindu Temples to worship different gods and goddesses.

My mother had a sister who also lived in Patna since a long time. Her son, who is elder than me once invited me to visit there when I had vacation in my college. In 1990, I went Patna with him and I stayed there for two weeks. I saw Minu there and I got married with her in 1995 A.D. Now I believe, it was the plan of God, which He had already predestined for my life before my birth as Saint Paul proclaimed about himself.

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace”(Galatians 1:15).

I did not know anything about Christianity in my teenage. I even could not get a chance to hear the name of Jesus Christ in my childhood. When I was in the secondary school, one day our science teacher said in the class like this: “Gautama Buddha is the light of Asia and Jesus Christ is the light of the world.” When I heard this slogan, I had an interesting question in my mind. “If Jesus Christ is the light of the world and he already removed the darkness which covers the world, then why did again Gautama Buddha tried to be a separate light only for Asia?” I mean why did Asia again need the extra light?  I did not ask this question to anyone but by the grace of our master Jesus, now I come to know the answer of my question which I had in my mind since a long time ago. Now I clearly understand about it and I can tell people who Jesus is and what the Bible proclaims about him. I also have the basic information about Gautama Buddha of Buddhism, Allah and Mohammad of Islam, gods and goddesses of Hinduism and about many more about other pagan religions. As I already believed in Jesus and surrendered myself to Him, now by the help of the Holy Spirit, I know many things about Christianity and Christian Triune God.

As I already mentioned above, I was married with Minu in 1995 A.D. and I was 26 years old at that time. After three months of that event my sister got married. After her marriage she started to get sick frequently. She had different kinds of problems in her body like: headache, stomachache, fever and vomiting etc. Doctors gave many medicines to her to cure from those diseases but it was all in vain. My mother loved her much; so she took her to some witch-doctors but they also could not heal her. She was pregnant at that time and the baby died inside her womb. After investigation and diagnosis the doctor said to us that she had a terrible wound in her womb and it should be cured by the operation. If not the womb should be removed from her body. He also said that it was not easy to conceive a baby again. We all were very sad hearing such things about my sister. Her health went worse and worse. She began to lose her weight and became very weak and there was no way and no hope! All of us were very much disappointed at that time.

Turning Point of My Life

Suddenly, one of her school friends told her, “If you believe in Jesus Christ, you may be healed. Christians prayed for many sick people and most of them got new lives. Many demon possessed people were healed by Jesus when we prayed for them. So please come to the church.” When we hear that good news then we had a hope in Jesus! My mother took my sister to the church on the following Saturday but I did not go with her on that day. At that time I had many questions and curiosity in my mind. When my sister returned home from the church, I noticed something different than before. Her face was looking good!

On the following Saturday I also went to the church with my mother and sister. I had a very new and unusual experience on that day. I met one of my friends there and he helped me to understand the regular rituals of the church worship service. He also introduced me with the pastor and leaders of that church. I was happy and felt comfortable through his company on that day. All the church members prayed for my sister after the worship service. The pastor of that church visited our home frequently and he prayed and taught us from the word of God. My friend whom I met in the church shared the Gospel to me and I believed in Jesus as He is my Lord and savior personally. I started to attend church regularly and I also joined the house fellowship and Bible study class. My faith gradually increased through those spiritual activities and it became strong when I saw changes in my sister’s life.

In 1996, October 14^th, Rev. Dr. Mangal Man baptized me in the name of Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit immerging in water. On the same day our heavenly father gave a new son as a gift whose name is Philip. So this day is very important and meaningful for me. What a plan which the Lord had already predestined for me!

Then I started to read the Bible specially the New Testament, and I found some important verses which are as follow:

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

I was blessed and encouraged through these wonderful words of God! Praise the Lord!

One day my sister went to the Hospital for regular checkup of her body. At that time she already got rid of stomach pain. The doctor suggested her to have Ultrasound Video X-Ray test to figure out the condition of the wound in her womb. The doctor was surprised when he found the wound was no more in her womb! We gave many thanks and honor to our heavenly father when we knew that He already healed my sister. My faith in Christ was increased through that miracle. Doctor had proclaimed that she could not conceive a baby again but by the grace of our Lord, now she has two beautiful daughters. Her husband and mother-in-law and her two sisters-in-law came to the Lord through that miracle which God had performed in her life. My mother and my sister always give this testimony to people when they get opportunity. And some people have already received Jesus as their savior through her testimony. Hallelujah!

After my baptism, I started to play guitar and sing hymns and choruses in the worship service of our church. I use to sing secular pop songs before but when my life converted I quit those worldly things and started to sing and play musical instruments for the glory of our heavenly Father. When I sing and play musical instrument I enjoy a lot and I feel peace in my heart. I forget all the tension and anxieties when I sing songs for our Lord!

Now by the grace of our Lord, I am serving him through AMI since last 22 years! I am busy in teaching especially, I use to visit remote areas of Nepal to equip the lay leaders. Please pray for me!

My Calling

Before my conversion, I did some secular jobs in electricity and electronic fields. After that I started business of Nepali Handicraft Carpet Fabrication. When I was unsuccessful in that business then I started a new business of Wooden Furniture Fabrication with the help of my father who had some experiences about it. Anyway I was facing financial crisis at that time and I had to pay a large amount of money to some business parties. So that problem always made me sad and anxious. I even could not sleep well many nights. I always use to question myself like this: How can I solve my financial problem? How can I make money for my survival? At that time my son, Philip started to go his school and I also had to take care of my parents. Therefore, I was in need of money at the time. Because of that problem I did not have peace in my heart. But as soon as I put all my burdens and worldly things and my problems in the feet of Jesus, then I started to feel comfortable and had peace in my heart. Many people prayed for me and my problems were solved gradually.

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

After sometime, my pastor gave me a special counseling and he told me that I should give my life to the work of God and I should busy in church ministries. I prayed for this matter and I talked with my wife and parents about this. My wife was not happy at that time with this new idea as she did not know anything about the ministry but my mother encouraged me to go forward to serve the Lord. Eventually, I made a decision to give my life in His hand! I quit all the worldly jobs and businesses and surrendered myself to the heavenly father. I trusted and believed Him as He is the provider (Jehovah Jireh). I started a new profession as an evangelist when I was 30 years old. That was my new experience when I walked with the Lord! It was very much excitement to me when I started to serve the Lord! I started to visit new people to share them the Gospel attending house meeting, and visiting sick people in the hospitals. My pastor and the brothers and sisters in Christ helped and they taught me much about this matter. Sometime I had to conduct the child dedication program and sometime I attended funeral services also. Slowly I learned how to perform those things and I learned how to teach, how to preach and how to give counseling to the people who are in different kinds of problem.

I worked for 7 years as a church full time evangelist, and I learned many things about the religious rituals of our church. I gained many experiences within that period as I involved in various kings of ministries. During that period I go some opportunities to attend Leadership Training, Spiritual Seminars, Pastors and Leaders Conferences, Bible Study Trainings and workshops etc. Those things helped me in grow in spiritually and I also learned many things from our senior pastor, Dr. Mangal Man. I always give many thanks to our Lord as He gave such man of God who helped me to grow spiritually as a mentor.

I saw Dr. Thomas Hwang first time on April 17^th 2004 at Koinonia Patan Church. There were around 150 pastors and leaders along with me who came from various parts of Nepal and thy belonged in different churches and denominations. That was a theological training for one week (Monday to Friday) arranged at that church which had the banner of:

‘AMI-KOINONIA COLLEGE & SEMINARY’

There was an opening ceremony on the first day and I was much impressed by the exterior appearance of Dr. Hwang when he entered in the class room. He was tall, white and bright skin and smiley face with good personality!

After the short formal opening ceremony with the introduction and purpose of that seminar, the class was started immediately by Dr. Thomas Hwang and he spoke normal and clear English, so that I could understand it well and I wrote all his teachings in English but most of the pastors and leaders at that seminar were writing in Nepali which was interpreted by Mr. Manoj Shrestha. Dr. Hwang gave us important information and data about the world population and numbers of people who belong in different Christian denomination. He gave brief information about Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Churches. He also mentioned about some Protestant denominations like: Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Pentecostals. I was surprised when I heard that there are more than two thousands Christian denominations in this world. He also told us that about one third of world population belongs to the Christianity. But Nepal is in much different in this context. It is a small country whose area is 147,181 square meters and it lies in between two big countries: India and China. The population of Nepal is about 30 millions and according to the government data 1.4% people belong to Christianity, 3.1% Kirat, 4.4% Islam, 9% Buddhist and more that 80% Hinduism. The numbers of atheists and communists are also increasing in Nepal.

Encounter with Dr. Thomas Hwang

I am going to mention about an important event of that seminar, which I will not forget until my last breath. As usual I was on the last bench in that class room, Dr. Hwang came near to me in the break time. He said to me, “I notice you all the time from the first day. All people are writing my teachings in their note book. But why don’t you write down what the interpreter is telling you in your own Nepali language?” I replied to him, “Sir, I have written all things what you taught us from the first day.” He was surprised with my answer and again he asked me, “Can you show me your notebook?” “Sure, why not?” I promptly replied and I flipped over few pages of my notebook and showed it to him. Then he took my notebook and started to flip over its pages. After a pause of few seconds, he looked into my face and asked, “Are you writing my teachings in English instead of writing in Nepali?” “Yes Sir!” I replied short but softly. Then he put his hand on my back and he encouraged me to study and memorize his teaching well with a smile. As he was going away from me he again turned towards me and said like this, “Can you type this notes in your computer and send it to me through email?” I said to him, “Yes Sir, of course! I can do it.” He wrote his email address in the last page of my notebook. Then he went forward and again continued to teach us. I was very happy with that encounter with Dr. Thomas Hwang and I was much excited through the responsibility which he gave me that day!

After few months he again came to Nepal to teach more spiritual things to us. He encouraged me and gave me some money as a love gift at that time. He talked with my senior pastor, Dr. Mangal about me and he requested him to set apart me for Ami Nepal ministries. By the permission of my senior pastor, I started to serve our God through Ami Nepal Center since 2007. Since now, Dr. Thomas Hwang came 15 times in Nepal to held Theological Seminars. I interpreted his teachings few times. I was much blessed when I spent time with him. He always talked with me personally as a bloodline family member. He always asks me about my wife and son. He cares and loves us much. Praise the Lord!

Dr. Hwang taught many important subjects in English and I translated and edited them into Nepali and the following books were prepared for the pastors and leaders to quip them spiritually in the word of God; so that cults and heresies cannot deviate them away from the right way. Most of the books in this list are already been printed and some are going to be printed in future. About 200,000 books in Nepali Language are already distributed among the pastors and leaders of Nepal. Nepali churches which are established abroad also use these books to learn Biblical Theology.

1. The Essentials of Christian Theology (Christian Denominations, The Doctrine of Trinity, The Grand Plan of Salvation, The Doctrine of Heaven, The Doctrine of Angels, Eschatology, Structure of the Bible, The Doctrine Jewish Feasts etc)
2. How to Share the Gospel & Testimonies of Hell and Heaven
3. The Exposition of the Act
4. How to Build Christian Leadership?
5. Christology
6. The Exposition of James
7. Taste the Power of Encouragement
8. Historical Survey of Christianity
9. Biblical Anthropology
10. Survey of the Four Gospels
11. The Sermon on the Mount
12. The Origin of Religions

In Nepal more than 1,000 pastors and leaders attended in the theological class of Dr. Thomas Hwang directly and about 300 students are already graduated from Ami Nepal Center where they learned Theology through the videos. Now, we Ami Nepal Center have started ‘Ami Satellite Bible School’ in different parts of Nepal and many church leaders are learning the theological teachings of Dr. Hwang through videos. The churches of the gulf countries also use our teaching materials and books. Praise the Lord! I believe our God is equipping and preparing many people in these last days for the final harvest of His Kingdom.

My Accountability

Since 2004, I have been learning Biblical Theology from Dr. Thomas Hwang in Evangelical perspective. Now it is clear that he is my spiritual father and I believe his spirit has already incarnated upon me! In these days, I am preaching and teaching in different churches whatever I have learned from him. Some Bible Schools and Training Centers frequently invite me to teach Biblical Theology. I am also equipping some brothers and sisters of my church from Dr. Hwang’s teachings. To spread the Gospel according to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ and to teach people from the word of God is my responsibility. I have to be accountable for these things and I believe it is the privilege that God has provided me which is the evidence of His love and grace towards me. I always give many thanks to our Lord Jesus who gave me such a wonderful opportunity and I pray that He would use me as His instrument in future for the work of expansion of His Kingdom according to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ!

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Moreover, I am impressed by the sacrificial lifestyle of Dr. Thomas Hwang. When I heard his testimony from him and from other people, I also love to follow his way in my life and I am trying to practice it as much I can. But I need the help of the Holy Spirit and prayer support of my beloved brothers and sisters to be an example like him. So I would like to request you all to remember me in your prayer. Thank you!

As our Lord used him through His grace, Dr. Thomas Hwang already has done much for Nepal and other countries of the world. Now it is our time to continue his work because the second coming of Jesus is very near! Especially, I have to be accountable with the Lord and with him about this matter. It is excitement as well as a challenge for me! In this advance twenty first century, we have many kinds of media through which we can preach the Gospel and we can equip people from the word of God like: Books, Magazines, Radio, Television, Internet and so on. Praise to the Lord that we can read the Bible and other spiritual information in our mobiles phones today! Nepal Government is working hard to make access of internet and mobile phones in each district and each village which lies in remote places. If we use these modern technologies for His glory then the great changes may happen in Nepal.

Finally, my commitment is to please God obeying His commands. And I will continue the ministries which God has given me throughout my life. May our Triune God help me and give me the required knowledge and wisdom. I pray that our heavenly father provide my needs and Dear Holy Spirit God, please be with me and teach me and guide me in every situation. I pray this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.

My Vision

I would like to produce many more books in Nepali language for the pastors and leaders who are in very need of the knowledge of right Biblical Theology. I am praying to make eBooks; so that people can read the exposition of the word of God in their computers and mobile phones in Nepali language.

Let us pray to our heavenly father that He may provide our needs and give us His knowledge and wisdom to do the work for His Kingdom according to the Great Commission.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord,(1 Corinthians 15:58).

Personal Testimony of Dr. Timothy Pun is coming soon.