Evangelist in Nepal Had Throat Slit by Man He Prayed With for Months
A Christian evangelist in Nepal has been murdered by a man who he prayed with for months, who lured him into his home at night and then slit his throat, reports have said.
"You are awakened at 3 am. with an urgent request from an acquaintance – one you've ministered to for months who is in desperate need of prayer for healing and deliverance. What do you do? Nepal evangelist Debalal faithfully arose from his bed and traveled 30-minutes away from his village to the home of 29-year old Kumar," the Indian Christian Activist Network reported, noting that the incident took place in Nepal late in October.
The man, Kumar, had apparently received prayers and fellowship from the evangelist many times before. On the night of the incident, the Christian, identified only as "Debelal," entered the man's house to pray, but was attacked by Kumar with an iron rod, and then slit his throat with a khukuri, a popular Nepali knife with a curved blade.
ICAN said that Debalal had shared the Gospel with other villagers in the region, but was warned by some to stay away, as they did not want to listen to his message or prayers.
"Debalal obeyed God's call to minister to the lost and sick. It cost him his life. His wife is now a widow and his two sons are fatherless," ICAN added, and called for prayers for Debalal's family, for all Nepal believers to stand firm during this time, as well as for Kumar and his family.
No reason has yet been given for the alleged murder. Requests by The Christian Post for further information were not answered by ICAN at the time of press.
According to the CIA Factbook, based on a 2001 census, 80.6 percent of Nepal's population is Hindu, with Buddhism making up another 10 percent, and Christians make up less than 1 percent. While Nepal was not featured on watchdog group Open Door's 2013 World Watch List of top 50 countries with the worst persecution of Christians, a 2011 article noted that prospects for religious freedom there are dim.
"Nepal will be a secular state – there is no other way," said Sushil Koirala, president of the Nepali Congress, Nepal's "Grand Old Party," referring to the country transitioning into secularism with a prohibition for converting people to one's faith.
"Forcible conversions cannot be allowed, but the members of the Constituent Assembly [acting parliament] should be made aware of [the evangelism ban's] implications," Koirala added.
