|TOP|An organisation dedicated to helping persecuted Christians has recently turned its attention to Nepal.

Christian Freedom International (CFI) announced that it is launching new operations to help minority Christians in the country, which consists of 0.45 per cent of the population.

"Nepalese Christians need a helping hand, especially now. This is the right time for CFI to work in Nepal," said CFI president Jim Jacobson at an undisclosed house church in Katmandu.

Christian minorities in Nepal are growing, despite the persecution and oppression by the Hindu Kingdom, which remains the only officially Hindu country in the world today.

CFI plans to provide the nation with programmes, which includes distribution of medicine, food, Bibles, micro-enterprise or self-help initiatives, and legal assistance. But due to weeks of civil unrest in Nepal, it has become harder for Christian agencies to enter the country.

|AD|A pastor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CFI, "We have many problems, but we must do the Lord's work."

Most churches in Nepal are not registered with the government, which makes it typical for 26 people to worship together in a cramped 7 x 12 room.

"The owner of the building said we must be quiet during worship service, but we are grateful just to have the space. Most landlords will not rent to you if they know you have a church," the anonymous pastor said.

"People who convert to Christianity face persecution from local leaders and sometimes the government," he continued. "There are pastors in custody right now because they tell others about Jesus. The persecution is getting worse. Many Hindu leaders don't want Christianity to spread, but it is spreading fast."

After several weeks of mass public demonstrations, Christians in Nepal have recently held a thanksgiving service in Kathmandu following steps towards the restoration of democracy to the Himalayan kingdom.

But in terms of justice in society, the Christians in the country want introduction to full religious freedom.

“We have to thank God for these political changes," Pastor Philip Gajmer, coordinator of the Valley Christian Council, told the Geneva-based Ecumenical News International this week.

But he added, "We cannot just rejoice and relax. We need to pray and work for full religious freedom."