[Today's Prayer] Church in Nepal's Flood-Affected Areas: "Many Believers Have Lost Their Livelihoods"

According to a recent announcement by the National Emergency Operations Center under Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs, the death toll from the devastating flooding of the Bhote Koshi River, which began in the Rasuwa region, has reached 165, while 826 people are still reported missing.

According to reports from local Nepalese media, recovered bodies have been found across several areas downstream from the disaster zone. The largest number, 65 bodies, were recovered in Chitwan, followed by 27 in Dhading, 26 in eastern Nawalparasi, 20 in Gorkha, 12 in Nuwakot, 9 in Tanahun, 5 in western Nawalparasi, and 2 in Rasuwa.

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A total of 579 tourists, including 466 foreigners and 113 Nepalese nationals, are also currently out of contact following the disaster. Authorities continue search and rescue operations in the affected areas, and so far, 104 people have been rescued, primarily in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading. Rescue teams are making every effort to locate those who remain missing, while an all-party meeting was held in Kathmandu to coordinate relief and rescue efforts.

Open Doors, an international organization that monitors Christian persecution, said, "The devastating flooding has severely destroyed major infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and homes along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli River basins, making access to the affected areas extremely difficult." Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs urged people to pay attention to officially confirmed information as search operations continue. As new information comes in from the field, the number of casualties may change.

The flooding that struck Trishuli Bazar and the Rasuwa region caused severe damage to villages along the Trishuli River basin, destroying bridges, causing loss of life, and devastating people's livelihoods. Christian leaders in the Trishuli area reported that seven families from churches they serve were affected. According to information gathered so far, 17 believers from five churches in the Rasuwa region have been reported missing. A local ministry leader stated that several believer families living along the river suffered flood damage, while approximately 20 to 25 believers who had been working at a hydropower project site remain missing.

John (pseudonym), the senior pastor of a local church, reported that in addition to these losses, many believers have completely lost their jobs and sources of income. Most of the affected believers depended entirely on daily labor related to hydropower plant construction, tunnel excavation, river maintenance, and cross-border trade for their livelihoods.

Open Doors asked, "Please continue to join together in prayer for all of Nepal, which is deeply grieving following this devastating flood. Pray that God's comfort and renewed strength would come upon the bereaved families in their sorrow, that the safety of those involved in rescue and relief efforts would be protected, and that the affected families would receive the help they need, so that the wounded communities across this land may be healed and regain hope."

Source: Christian Today

"Always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Heavenly Father, we hear the news that the number of casualties and missing people continues to rise as rivers in Nepal overflow, and that many believers in local churches across Nepal have lost their livelihoods because of the flooding.

As the destruction of infrastructure continues to increase, making search operations increasingly difficult, and as countless people are losing their jobs and homes, please comfort the nation of Nepal and allow wounded families and communities to receive renewed strength through Your comfort.

Especially, please help and uphold the believers in local churches across Nepal who have lost their jobs and homes because of the flooding. Help them not to lose their trust in You, and grant them greater faith to endure and persevere through all things.

Please allow the global Church to pray for Nepal with one heart and serve Nepal through active acts of help and support. Through the prayers of the global Church, please do a new work in the land of Nepal and quickly restore the destroyed infrastructure and the lives of broken and wounded people.

People of Nepal, because you love God, endure and persevere through all things! Rise up and overcome every circumstance through faith that trusts in God, and arise as a nation that brings life and salvation to the nations!