Gyan Sunuwar
Pastor Gyan Sunuwar helped pioneer the Everest Base Camp Outreach in Nepal, which began in December of 1996. He has a special burden to share the Gospel along the Mt. Everest base camp trek route, to win souls and plant churches. God has used Gyan to plant many churches in the Himalayas and now there are 14 in his care. Currently, Pastor Gyan needs financial support in the amount of $996 to complete the roof of this church -- this includes porter and worker wages.
The Testimony of Pastor Gyan
I, Gyan Bahadur Sunuwar. was born into a Hindu family in 1966 January 25. When I became a teenager, I started exercising the same traditions as my parents. Since our family was the head family in the village, we were compelled to observe those rituals for the sake of the villagers. We had many gods and goddesses that we had to worship and many temples ceremonies to attend. But there was no peace and joy in my family.
I got married quite young and experienced struggles and pains as my days passed by. According to our tradition, we must serve wine at any and every occasion. Consequently, I became a drunkard. After the death of my father, I experienced even more struggles. A couple of months after that, my oldest son of 5 died and we went through a terrible time of bereavement. I became a heavy drunkard and started using cigarettes, tobacco, etc. The condition of my family and myself grew more miserable with each passing day. All the gods and the goddesses could do nothing to console my family. As a result. I became an atheist because there was nothing left.
There was no one to help us in those days. Even my neighbors started talking about me saying, “He is finished now. He has nothing to live for.” My family’s condition grew worse. I had no money to feed my family or to clothe them. I borrowed money and my debt increased day by day. My properties and house were nearly taken over by the person who had loaned me the money. I had no way to live, but only to die.
One day, I decided to commit suicide. I made a plan to go to River Khimti with a friend, Dala, to fish. There I would die in the river. So we both went to the river and Dala started fishing. I was looking for the right place to end my life when a voice came to my ear saying, “You do not need to die; you have harmed no one. You have to do something." I was surprised to hear that voice and came into consciousness, as if I had had a dream and had awakened. After hearing that clear voice, my heart became courageous and I returned home.
Two days after that incident, I decided to go to Kathmandu in search of a job and a place to stay. On my journey to Kathmandu, I met an evangelist who gave me an evangelistic booklet. I started reading it and especially noticed, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). This portion of the Bible brought a huge change in my life and I entrusted my life to the Almighty God, accepting Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. That was in the year 1993. I had been to Kathmandu in search of a room and a job, but after I accepted Jesus in my life, I returned to my village as a Christian. I made a commitment to God to serve Him in all circumstances, whether they would be times of suffering or times of happiness.
A Brief History of Pastor Gyan Sunuwar’s Ministry with EBCO
Although it was not an easy task to serve the Lord, I decided to minister for Him. Just as I was starting, a big persecution took place. But due to the grace of God, I was successful in His ministry. I knew that I had to go for biblical training so I went for three months’ of evangelistic training with O.M. (Operation Mobilization). By the end of the training, I was very excited to go back to my own place and minister for the Lord. As I said, I faced severe persecution, so I had to look for another place to plant churches. The first church was planted in Ramechhap District (where I eventually planted four churches) which is a neighboring district of my own. After a year, I planted a church in my own village when I started a fellowship by sharing the gospel with three small ladies.
As I continued to do the ministry of God, many miracles took place. Many people who had no hope for their lives were physically healed. Those who were ensured of their death by doctors, within a month or two months, were saved in the name of the Lord Jesus. Many people came to know the Lord Jesus through these miraculous works of healing. In this way, as I continued to work for the gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, many churches were planted.
Before I became a Christian, I had been to Everest Base Camp more than 12 times as a porter. After I accepted the Lord Jesus, I had a burden to share the Gospel along that base camp trek route, to win souls and plant churches. After praying and sharing with Pastor Hanok Tamang, he connected me with Dr. J.L. Williams. Because of their help, I was able to go into that area with the gospel and many people came to know the Lord. The ministry was known as Everest Base Camp Outreach (EBCO) and it was started in 1996 December. (Currently, Dr. JL Williams and his ministry help me by supporting my River of Life Bible School and they have also given me a new motorcycle.) As we approached many with the gospel, God did many miracles in that area and churches were planted.
I am grateful to God who used a weak vessel like me for His wonderful purposes. I am thankful to Him because He is still using me in the EBCO region. These days I invest my time in mentoring the local pastors and leaders, encouraging them with the Word of God, training them in the ministry of reconciliation, in evangelism, and in making them disciples for the work of the Kingdom of God. I get my pleasure in doing these things.
God has used me to plant many churches throughout the Himalayas, and now there are 14 churches under my care. In and through God’s power, I am praying to plant other new churches this year. I am thankful to God for all that He has done in my life. There are many persecutions around when we serve God. I had to go through many. But these days many churches can be found along the EBCO route and fifteen years ago there were none. So I am thankful to God for using me for His kingdom to share His Gospel in the EBCO region.
In His Grace,
Pastor Gyan
Pastor Dinesh, Anand, Gyan and Krishna
Pastor Gyan opening the door to the church
Pastor Gyan praying the prayer of Benediction
Pastor Krishna and Pastor Anand opening the banner
Sotreni Church
The Worship hall
Worship team who led people to worship