Source: Baptist Press News, November 5, 2013
He was 14 years old when he was kicked out of his country. Now 36, Rasaili spent 18 years in a Nepali refugee camp, after being forced to leave Bhutan.
Today, Rasaili is one of 70,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled in the USA within the last four years. And he, like many Bhutanese, has found a freedom in Christ that he could not have imagined before he left his homeland.
From a Hindu background, Rasaili has seen Jesus work in miraculous ways through the healing of his wife Pabitra. He believed in Jesus because of this experience.
“I have a heart to do something in the kingdom of God,” Rasaili said. “My wife and I have a burden to change our community for Christ – even go as a missionary to Nepal, India, and Bhutan.”
He now serves as associate pastor of First Agape Baptist Church, one of five Bhutanese churches in the Atlanta area.
First Agape began in 2010, starting with two Bhutanese families. Just this year, he sent a Bhutanese couple to plant a church in Kansas City, Missouri, and he organizes groups of Bhutanese leaders throughout the Midwest and eastern United States.
Last year, First Agape trained 38 pastors, elders, deacons, and Sunday School teachers, all committed to planting Bhutanese churches all over the USA. This year, they expect 50 people from 22 states.
» Read full story, and watch a brief video about Dharnal.
» See also J. D. Payne’s recent post on planting ethnic churches in the USA (Missiologically Thinking).