Source: Asia Stories, International Mission Board, March 16, 2014
Troubadours once traveled on foot down trails snaking through the Himalayas, carrying news and the king’s messages to the far reaches of Nepal.
This may sound like a fairy tale, but it’s a historical fact that has changed lives and is part of the fabric of Nepal. This “once upon a time” is Padam Gandharva’s caste’s true story.
Padam comes from a long line of minstrels, only now he carries the messages and songs of Jesus Christ, the King of kings.
“The Lord gave me a vision and a command to go throughout Nepal proclaiming the gospel,” says Padam [a member of the minstrel caste]. “My vision is that through the sarangi (a stringed instrument) playing in every village of the Nepal, the gospel would be sung and declared.”
People recognize that when Padam comes in, he comes in as a cultural performer. When others come, there is suspicion. Padam journeyed to an area deep in a jungle where the gospel had not penetrated.
“I went through there, just singing, singing and people started following me, like a parade,” Padam says. “They said, ‘you’re singing songs about Jesus,’ and that opened the door for me to share the gospel.”
Seven families became Christians and 40 people were healed. There is now a large church in the community. Before Padam’s visit, two Christians attempted to share the gospel in the same village but were tied to a tree for three days.
» Full story with pictures and recordings, as well as several related stories about music and missions.
The story of Padam is the kind of influence I believe I’m after. I would love to read the whole story but my computer didn’t allow it. I got on to your site because God has set me a mission to develop a minstrel team.
There is more to it than this though. Before I share more I would like to know if there’s someone there first that would have faith in hearing the rest enough to contact me. There is some urgency.
I live in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Hi Bridget! Sorry that link isn’t working presently. It looks like the mission agency which published it is doing some reorganizing; I would not be surprised if it pops back up when they’re done, though we may need to change the link. I’ll check back in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, can I suggest you contact mission leaders in Australia? They are unlikely to stumble on your comment, but if you connect with them directly, you’ll have a better chance of finding someone to work with from there.
Here are a few places you could start. If they can’t help you, they can probably suggest other organizations to contact.
http://www.pioneers.org.au/
http://om.org.au/
https://omf.org/australia/
http://www.wec.com.au/
blessings,
Marti