Defying the Odds Through Discipleship

Nepal

“Jesus never says to the poor: ‘Come find the church.’ He says to those of us in the church: ‘Go into the world and find the poor, hungry, homeless, imprisoned.” – Tony Campolo

Karan, a young boy from East Nepal, could have easily become one of  “the poor, hungry, homeless, imprisoned.”  Raised in a non-Christian household, then left to his own devices at the age of five after losing both parents to alcohol addiction, the odds were against Karan growing up to know anything about Jesus.

Karan from East Nepal

But God was with him, both during his years with his parents and after they were gone, and He brought a relative who cared enough to take Karan in and raise him like a son. First step: get him some help for school.

Tutoring classes in Nepal

Still at an age where he could soak up information like a sponge and catch up to his peers, Karan got connected with tutoring classes run through Awana at a local church. The tutoring program was designed to bridge learning gaps for the many local children without the finances or transportation to receive an adequate education — particularly those whose families are in the brick and carpet-making industries, where pay is meager and hours are long. But the tutoring class did more than bridge academic gaps. It was Karan’s bridge to Jesus.  

Awana club in Nepal

Not long after beginning tutoring, Karan joined the Awana Club at the same church. As he learned more about who Jesus was and came to know Him as his savior, Karan also learned lessons that helped strengthen his relationship with his relatives. New doors opened for him to share the message of the Gospel with them, and as a result, eight of his relatives and friends accepted Christ as their personal Savior. They’ve been attending the church ever since.

Karan is now in fifth grade. He’s a strong believer in Christ and still regularly participates in the church’s Awana club and tutoring classes.

The support and generosity of disciplemakers like you make it possible for Awana to offer programs like the ones that have served Karan, and they’re changing children’s futures. Karan’s life has been a beautiful demonstration of what God can do with any situation. We can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for Karan — for all the children of Awana Nepal — in the years to come.