Nepali Baptisms and Confirmations at Messiah

back row: neelam, kamala, pankaj and man rai; front row: prasanna rai

Thanks and praise be to God for continuing His saving work among the Nepali community in St. Louis. On Sunday, September 27, Man Rai, Kamala Rai, Pankaj Rai and Prasanna Rai were baptized at Messiah Lutheran Church on South Grand. Man, Kamala and Neelam Rai (Neelam had previously been baptized) were also confirmed during the same church service.

The family moved to the United States from Nepal about four years ago. Like many of the Nepalese, they come from a strong Hindu (Keerath religion) family. Their conversion to the Christian faith was not without struggles. Through the faithful witness of their daughter Neelam, other Christian relatives (including Tara and Meena Basnet), Pastor Sam Thompson, Pastor Mike Okine, the Nepali ministry at Messiah and especially, the Messiah-linked Nepali Home Bible Study, the Rai family has been adopted as God’s children.

Please pray that God continues to encourage them and strengthen them in their Christian faith, in their knowledge of the Word and in their trust of Jesus Christ, who for their sake and for ours and for the whole world, died and rose again so that one day we will live with him in perfect peace and joy forever.

By: Rev. Michael Okine, Pastor, Messiah Lutheran Church