Welcome to the New Church Worldwide Outreach Web Communications Center! This section will provide information about growing New Church communities in developing countries, and for supporting these growth efforts.

News from Nepal

Valerie and I have just returned from Kathmandu after spending most of June visiting the two homes for children founded and funded by the Loving Arms Mission. It was great to visit the eleven children we met at the first house three years ago and to see how much they have matured in that time. It was also great to see the ten new children now settled in at the second house.

Kent Rogers and his wife, Shovha, are the father and mother in the first home, and Nadine Rogers is the mother and Rajendra Budhatoki is the father in the second home. The children are given love, security, nourishment and natural and spiritual education.

While in Kathmandu we attended three church services given in Kent’s home. These are held on Saturdays, since this is the holy day in Nepal. The children go to school six days a week, Sunday through Friday. The attendance at the services varied between 30 and 35 people, with 23 children and 7 to 12 adults including Val and myself. Some of the adults attended one service and some attended all the services. In all, 15 adults attended at least one of the services.

The services start with the singing of five or six songs from the Contemporary Service Songbook. Kent plays the guitar and one of his sons plays the electric guitar while other children keep time on a bongo drum and a rattle type instrument. It was very moving to look around the room and see these beautiful faces praising The Lord. Kent then leads the congregation in saying the Lord’s Prayer. Shovha then reads one or two passages from a Nepalese Bible. Kent then gives an extemporaneous talk in Nepalese. While Val and I were there, he paused from time to time to explain in English what he had been saying. At the end of the service we went around the room and each person said an individual prayer or said something about what he or she was thankful for. After the service, everyone stays for a special meal with several people contributing to the feast.

We celebrated the Nineteenth of June on Saturday, June 23rd. Kent’s talk was about the distinct beliefs of the New Church. In the afternoon, Kent organized some games which all the children, including some guests, thoroughly enjoyed. Everyone got the first place prize, which was ice cream supplied by Nadine.

Val and I had mixed feelings about leaving Kathmandu. Although we both wanted to be in our own home again, it was very hard to leave Kent and Nadine, and all the children in their homes that we consider our grandchildren. It was inspiring to see these children learning the truths contained in the Three Fold Word and looking toward the future when they in turn will teach their children about our Lord, Jesus Christ.

-Article by Ned Rogers

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