It was a simple choice, really - leave the village or leave Christ. For Dil Tamang’s family the choice was easy, though it would make life quite difficult.
From the time Dil was born, he had suffered from one sickness after another for three continuous years. His father took him to every witch doctor in his remote village of Nepal, but Dil did not improve. Finally, desperate to see his son healed, he went to see a Christian evangelist who had come into town. The evangelist prayed over young Dil and said that he would be healed if his family began to follow Christ, which they did. And Dil was completely healed.
This was a huge turning point in the life of the Tamang family as they sought to follow Christ in a culture that was completely opposed to Him. They were beaten many times and forced to pay extra taxes because they were Christians. Finally, they were given the choice to leave the village or leave Christ. In the middle of the night, the entire Tamang family headed south, trying to find a place where they could live and worship their Lord. They settled in the town of Gorkha, but felt unable to share their faith just yet.
For two years they developed relationships and lived their lives for Christ. People began to notice they were different. The village chief came to Dil’s father and asked him why he did not worship idols and why they didn’t visit the witch doctor. It was the opening he had been waiting for and he shared with the chief about who Christ is and what it means to follow him daily. The village chief responded to the message that he heard and became a believer, both he and the whole village!
This is the spiritual heritage of Dil Tamang. He almost didn’t survive his early years. Thanks to a miracle of God and the faith and dedication of his parents, he is now traveling the hills and valleys of Nepal sharing the love of Christ and teaching others to do the same.
Dil Tamang heads up the Himalayan Bible Study Academy, which trains pastors and church planters all over the nation of Nepal. He has been a long-time partner with NDI and will be leading the push in that mountain nation to distribute the LAMP players (Leadership and Ministry Preparation).
“We are so excited to hear about the programs you are making available to train pastors here in Nepal,” Dil said recently as we met in his Kathmandu office. “We need teaching that will help us disciple young pastors and also help them refute the false teachings that are coming into our country.”
The LAMP player will have the very best in biblical, theological, and spiritual teaching from professors here in the U.S. and around the world. These courses are being translated into Nepali for distribution to pastors throughout the nation to help them as they “give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9).
For more on the LAMP Project or how you can get involved, please call 1.888.772.9634 and ask for Matt Smith, NDI’s Vice President for Ministry.