About

Details of Purna Lal Kayestha

Name:	Purna Lal Kayestha
Postal Address:	P.O. Box No. 343
	Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal
Email Address:	purna@ntc.net.np
	purnakayestha@yahoo.com
Phone No.	00977 61 524541
	00977 98460 20530
Church:	City Church, Chipledhunga
	Sundarmarga – 57
	Pokhara – 8
	Kaski, NEPAL
Date of Birth:	August 24, 1955

Purna Lal Kayestha: Background

I, Purna Lal Kayestha was born in a Hindu family in August 24, 1955. At that time my father was a renowned businessman. My father being a member of the school management committee I got advantage to go to higher classes though being weak at my studies. Even though I reached grade 6, my level of education was very critical. Knowing my level of knowledge my father brought me to Pokhara in 1966 AD and admitted me to a school which was the first boarding school to be established in Pokhara( present Gandaki Boarding School), there I was admitted to class 4. That was a mission school which was conducted by United Mission to Nepal (UMN) & International Nepal Fellowship (INF). While I was there I heard about the Lord Jesus Christ. At that time people were not allowed to preach the gospel openly about the Lord Jesus. We were taught about the prophets of Old Testament through stories. In 1971 AD I appeared the SLC exam as the first batch of the school. After SLC the principal of our school Jonathan Lindale gave me an English Bible, but unfortunately I was not able to read the Bible due to college studies and the business at my home with my father. I had kept the Lord at a corner of my heart though I now realize that I hadn't known him properly. At tough times I never forgot to remember Him, He used to answer my prayers which really made me feel that God is with me. But its human nature, I never remembered Him during happy times.

The year when I was married to my wife Jamuna, the attitude of my father and step mother forced us to separate from them. They cheated us with our home and property. Our loan and property were almost equal. This was the beginning of our hard times, by that time we had children as well. It was very difficult for me and Jamuna to survive in that pain and poverty, as both of us were born and grown up in a rich family with no difficulties.

In 1982 AD I got a letter from INF (International Nepal Fellowship) asking to contact the INF office for employment as soon as possible. I hadn't applied for a job in INF, but I had given an interview in Rural Development Centre at Lamachour which was one of the branches of UMN. Now I realize, it was God's plan and I feel so graceful. I worked in INF for about 3 years and left the job there as I got higher salary in a private school. While working in that school I used to share them about my belief to my colleagues. To my great surprise I got same belief toward the Lord in them as well. But they too hadn't revealed their belief in front of the society.

Life's Turning Point

I worked for 7 years in that school. One of my relatives was trying to start a business but they were financially weak. I too was not engaged in any work at that time so he invited me to get involved in the business. Thinking him to be trustworthy I invested all my property for the business, shockingly within 3 years he betrayed our family, that time I neither had work nor money. When I was involved in that business I used to visit a local church once or twice in a month, but I was not regular. During the tough times of life like poverty, trouble I always used to remember the verse Matthew 11:28,”Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. After being betrayed so badly I couldn't decide what to do, then I started reading the Bible staying alone at home. I still remember it was in the beginning of 1994 AD I started reading from the chapter of Matthew. I continued reading from the New Testament, when I reached John chapter 3 the Lord talked to me through verse John 3:5,”unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”. From that moment I decided to get baptized by water and follow the Lord Jesus Christ for the rest of my life. Next morning I went to the local Pastor and asked him for my baptism, he smiled and told me to attend the church regularly. From that day onwards I started attending the church regularly and I was baptized in Oct 1994.

After baptism I had to face many trials and tribulations, my family members hadn't believed in Lord Jesus yet, my eldest daughter Pooja used to attend church occasionally. I had many responsibilities, education of son and daughters, house hold expenses etc. and I was unemployed. I went to different places in search of job but was disappointed. I was very much upset and prayed to Lord, I couldn't control myself and cried while praying. I was tired and I told the Lord "I won't apply for a job anywhere, if you are the true God then bring a job at my home". Within one week the Principal of Gandaki Boarding School, Mr. John Barclay came to my home and inquired whether I could teach in English or not. "Yes, I can teach in English?”, I said. So the next day I went to the school for trial class. Being impressed by the way of my teaching he told me to join the school. After completing two sessions, I was shifted to Finance Office in order for me to be appointed permanently. The Principal who had selected me bid farewell to our school and went to one of the reputed schools in India.

Calling for the Ministry

After working for 3 and half years in that school, I including all the Christian staff had to face many difficulties in Gandaki Boarding School. I was in a miserable condition; one morning when I was in my bed, the Lord told me to read verse Psalms 50:15 in a very clear voice. I woke up and read the verse "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify me" I was excited by the verse. After about a year I was called for a Ministry from NGOC (Nepal Gospel Outreach Centre), I was not much aware about Ministry as I had a very little information about it. Then I prayed to Lord and asked him to give me clear vision so that I can be sure that I am actually called by the Lord for the Ministry. And really it happened; I was treated very badly in the school. My very honorable colleague/teacher Varghese Thomas then suggested me to resign, so I gave the resignation letter and it was accepted easily.

I came to NGOC in Jan 2, 1999. At first I felt bit difficult but the director Late M.S. Rana and assistant director helped and encouraged me a lot. They told me that the Holy Spirit will work within me and guide me. I was in charge of giving training to students from different areas of Nepal. Years went by; the Lord's blessing came surprisingly, either during the emergency time or during the Maoists killing time number of students didn’t lessen in any training. Even strict Hindu and Buddhist or atheist used to accept Jesus as their saviour, it's because the Lord worked in their heart during the training. From a child of 14 year old to adult of 80 years old received the Lord's love and blessing with great enthusiasm and joy. Students were filled with the Holy Spirit and they started experiencing the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

In March 2000, it was declared to send office staff to different districts. From the beginning of 2000 AD department of church planting was also under my responsibility. Our staff from different districts sent new people to participate in the basic discipleship training. Those trained people after returning to their villages provided great support in preaching the Gospel and establishing the church. Within about 3 years, spiritual churches were established.

In an interval of 3 to 4 months we used to go for follow up visits, those visits encouraged the students and our missionary family very much and made them more enthusiastic. Our visit to them and to new believers was like the coming of Jesus Christ for them (According to our students). In this way within 7 years, 23 small and big churches were established. All the credit for this goes to our Lord the God; secondly it goes to our beloved staff working there and students who used to preach the Gospel.

The churches, apart from those which were established by our missionaries, requested for providing "Basic Discipleship Training" for them as well. But this was not appreciated by our office so many who were though interested to participate in the training were not allowed to. I was really very hurt by this decision of the office committee.

New Vision for the Ministry

In 2006 AD, the founder of this organization again became active and at the end of 2006 they took the responsibility of church planting themselves. Our follow up team was also stopped. Our students used to call us for fellowship but though having willingness to go we weren't allowed to go. Groups apart from that of NGOC, those having our trained students used to call us for Community Based Training, fellowship and encouragement but we couldn't go though we wanted to go.

I prayed to the Lord regarding this subject, I want to use the gift the Lord has given to me. He comforted me and I decided to do the work which glorifies the Lord and makes the church strong.