This is the precise church history of Cross-way Church, Lalitpur, Nepal. It has provided major date, events, key leaders, and their contributions towards the development of the church from 2005 to 2020. It began with extremely passionate Nepali couple Rev. Arbin Pokharel and Mrs. Bimala Shrestha Pokharel who have the mission and vision to plant the church in Nepal and also have the heart to do social work among Nepali underprivileged women and children at risk through “the social enterprises.”[1]
By the grace of God, this couple met each other while studying in Grand Rapids, MI. They got married in 2001. Their attraction to one another was their deep calling to serve God in Nepal. In 2002, immediately after graduation from Calvin Seminary they packed their suitcases and headed to India for 2 years’ mission work in Dehradun. They spent two years (2002-2004) serving as faculty and spiritual coordinators to the students, while Rev. Arbin, not yet ordained served the Nepali church as an assistant to the pastor. The two years in India is still paying rich dividends, as trained leaders from Presbyterian Theological Seminary have joined their ministries in Nepal.
In 2004, Pokharel’s family returned to the Civil-War-infested Kathmandu after 12 years of being away from their home country Nepal with nine months old baby girl Alyssia. In the first year 2004-2005, they spent the time to connect and re-connect with their families and friends. At the same time, they started praying in their living-room to plant a church. This prayer fellowship as seed began to sprout in Pulchok, behind Hermans Bakery & Jhemsikhel, near Tika School, apartments. As a result, their family members soon connected with them and started joining in prayer fellowship in their living room. Some of them became convinced of the gospel and desired to be baptized. Amrita Shrestha, Sumadhu, and Sunita Pokharel along with their four children were the first to believe the gospel and became excited to join the church.
To reconnect with wider family members, and old friends from schools and college, they hosted the first Christmas party at Hotel Clarion in Man-Bhawan, Lalitpur. Over 400 people joined the party. It was a simple Christmas program with Pokharel and Karki’s children singing carols, a few dances, and a Christmas skit put together by Amos and EPTS[2] (RPS) concurrent internship students. Pastor Arbin gave the first Christmas message, the gospel of Jesus Christ among 400 people. The Word of God was planted into the hearts of these people. Gradually, God started bringing His people (children, youth, and adults’ men and women) into the fellowship.
In April 2005, Ms. Menuka Mishra came as an internship student of PTS, India to serve and help the fellowship for three months (April-June 2005) under the supervision of Ps. Arbin and Mrs. Bimala. During this time, the first home fellowship started in Thapathali, Kathmandu at Gunanidhi Sharma’s apartment, he had come into contact with Ps. Arbin through his friends in Battle Creek, Michigan. They reached out to his family who lived in Thapathali. They started visiting them every week. The neighbors heard singing and praying in the house fellowship and asked to join the fellowship. One of the neighbors, Mrs. Urmila Karki had taken baptism, but without knowing much, but with tears, she rejoined this faith-fellowship. Urmila along with her family became a very active member, began to grow in faith and vibrant prayer ministry. Another neighbor, Mrs. Nalu Rai joined the fellowship and became along with Ms. Amrita Shrestha to be the first two to take baptism in Cross-Way Church.
In June 2005, after outgrowing Ps. Arbin’s living-room in Jhamsikhel rented house, they moved into Higher Ground Coffee House on the first floor in Jawalakhel across the street from Standard Chartered Bank. The business was closed on Saturdays, so Pastor rented it for Saturdays for church worship. During this time, the first baptism of Ms. Amrita (Munna) Shrestha, then a medical student of KMC, and Mrs. Nalu Rai were held at the HG Coffee House Church. In the meantime, Mr. Amos Gurung started interning with Pastor Arbin during his one-year practical ministry from EPTS and became the first full-time staff of the church.
In the appointed time set by the grace of God, the Cross-way Church was inauguratedon November 19, 2005, by the hands of Dr. Rajendra Rongong at Han Kook Inn, Bal Kumari. On this occasion, two elders Mr. Gunaniddhi Sharma and Mr. Amos Gurung were also ordained by Dr. Matthew Ebenezer with Pastor Ruel Thapa who represented RPCI, Dehradun, India. And to bless the ceremony the honorable leaders of Nepal were present, such as Dr. Rev. Mahendra Bhattarai, Bishop Narayan Sharma, and Dr. Sashi Bhattarai. At the same time, Pastor Lakim Rai joined the ministry with a passionate heart to reach the unreached people of Nepal. He took voluntary retirement after 17 years of service from the Indian Military and joined Cross-Way church as well as began his studies in Bachelors in Theology (BTh) program at EPTS (RPS) seminary. His family (Mrs. Punam Rai, Marina, and Dhiraj) joined him the following year in 2006.
In 2006, the outreach with new initiatives started with the name Worship @Cafe, it was also called W@C. Each month leaders prepared a set of programs with a time of Worship, new English songs, youth-related fun activities (games), and one presentation related to a topic of the season or pressing issues like marriage and dating relationships, sports (World Cup), politics (elections), and testimonies. Each big festival, (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving) church organized larger outreach programs in bigger halls in town. The café provided a good neutral and pleasant environment for the outreach. Many people came through the doors, and over the years, Cross-Way church became known for it. To help this ministry Ms. Suchitra Sharma, Mr. Bhim Bdr. Bista and Jaywant Das also joined Cross-Way after their graduation from PTS, during this year.
In 2007, the church exhausted the space in Higher Ground Café, Jawalakhel which held 50-60 people at most. As a pastor’s family they moved to Ekantakuna their in-law’s house to live because Mrs. Bimala’s parents and siblings were all out of the country. Instead of they were asking, her parents asked them “why don’t you build the church on the backside of the house?” They were amazed by their generosity in the hostile context of the city and nation against Christians. This was a great arrangement done by God through faithful people. Indeed, with a thankful and joyful heart, in 2007 they built the first Cross-Way Church building in Dad and Mom Shrestha’s backyard and began to worship there. Likewise, on the ground floor of their in-law’s house in April 2007, Higher Ground Bakery started by Mrs. Bimala Shrestha Pokharel to help and serve underprivileged women and children at risk from inside and outside of the local church. In July 2007, Ms. Menuka Mishra came back after her graduation from PTS to support Cross-Way church ministry. She has been serving as one of the key leaders of the church committee, worship leader, women advisor, and children teacher/advisor. At the same time, Mrs. Suchitra Sharma came back with her husband from India Mr. Vijay Singh Tagoor to support the ministry of Cross-Way church. Specifically, this couple helped in youth (W@C) and children ministry of Cross-Way church for one and a half years.
After church moved into the new church side behind Higher Ground Bakery, new people started coming to church. One of those was Mrs. Kamala Rijal from Nagdhunga. After attending the church for several months, her sister Mrs. Urmila Karki, disciplining and guiding her, the church began to give fellowship in her home town Nagdhunga, Kathmandu. The Cross-Way church took Christmas programs and several other outreach events in their local high school. A fellowship started and began to grow. EPTS (RPS) students Mr. Shankar Khadka and Mr. Santosh Khatiwada did their concurrent and one-year internship ministry there during their studies. Unfortunately, the big tragedy happened with two believers in the fellowship. On the occasion of their neighbor’s wedding, a bus full of people went to a wedding party in Dhapakhel, Naagdaha, few members of the church also joined. Four persons drowned in the lake riding an obsolete wooden boat that leaked water. Rajkumar and Sushial (?), two members of our church also drowned. This became a big blow to the church as they were active members of the church. The villagers blamed the church, saying “our Naag goddess is angry because of you. You must at once remove the church from here.” They came and vandalize the church, broke the few furniture that was there including the podium, and physically abused Shankar Khadka, who was leading the church. Church moved to another location across the street and continued meeting, however with a smaller group.
In the same year, Eld. Amos Gurung asked his dad (Mr. Dil Bahadhur), who had separated from his church in Bhote Odar, Lamjung, and desired to begin a fellowship in Besisahar, Lamjung to connect with Cross-Way. Pastor Arbin along with leaders of the Cross-way church visited him and saw that there was already fellowship started with dozens of people. In the next visit, they asked Pastor Arbin to give baptism to 11 new members of the church. Cross-way church leaders were amazed at the growth of the church. And started visiting regularly to give teachings and guidance.
By 2008 Cross-way church had planted two churches. During this year, Mr. Santosh Khatiwada and Mr. Sankar Khadka joined Cross-Way Church as full-time staff after they graduated from EPTS (RPS). All along, Ps. Arbin and the leaders of Cross-Way kept having conversations, particularly along the way to/from visiting these young churches, that God had called us, resourced us to plant churches all across the country. As leaders keep discussing and organized vision retreats, it became clear to the Cross-Way church leaders that God wanted us to keep planting Christ-centered churches. So, along with Ps. Arbin and all leaders crafted the Cross-Way church vision: “Cross-Way church is a well of Grace from where we’ll draw and serve so that Christ-centered churches will be planted in the 75 districts of Nepal.”
One of the challenging new seeker Mrs. Maiti Maya who worked at HG Café, Jawalakhel, and her husband across the hall at Kantipur Finance. She had struggled with attacks of evil spirits. Once she had an episode at work, and begin shaking violently, evil spirits speaking in and through her. Mr. Atit Pokharel, Ps. Arbin’s nephew a new believer was also working, and began to pray for her, and she was relieved. He called Mrs. Bimala, who had recently become the new owner of the café. Together they prayed till Maitimaya was fully delivered. It took 6 months before she was ready for baptism. The week before her baptism, at worship service, Maitimaya had a final big episode. She stood up to share her testimony. As she spoke, started shaking, and fell, the evil spirit began speaking in a voice, not of Maitimaya, she crawled forced her way to the front, sat below the cross, and kept speaking. We allowed her a little moment, then carried her out and up to Ps. Arbin’s office, where a group of ladies continued praying for her for 6 hours, singing, counseling, sharing, and praying till she would be fully delivered from the evil spirit. The next week, while everyone watched with eager nervousness, what may happen again. With fervent prayer, with her family present, she was baptized, no episode, only rejoicing and victory of Jesus proclaimed. Her husband, Bikash took baptism a year later, a keen and determined new believer. They have become a strong support to church planting efforts in both their villages in Nawalpur, Sindhupalchok, and Narayansthan, Kavre, and finally at Banepa Kavre, where they have built their new house.
In 2008, Cross-Way church organized “Timothy Leadership Training” in partnering with Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids for the local leaders of Nepal and India. This training went for three-phase (for three years 2008-2010) and most of the key leaders of Cross-way participated and completed the course. As a result, the local church started a small group to have pastoral care for our church members in different parts of the city. At the same time, the church movement with the name CRCN (Christ Reformed Churches of Nepal) started under the leadership of Pastor Arbin and Cross-Way church leaders in all church conference. This annual CRCN Conference helped to guide and shape the CRCN leadership. In the same year, during the CRCN annual conference, for the second time, three elders were ordained from CRCN: Eld. Lakhim Rai and Eld. Suman Rai from Cross-Way church Lalitpur and Eld. Dil Bdr. Gurung from Cross-Way church Lamjung.
During 2008, Ps. Arbin was looking around for land to rent for the church to build, (Dad) Mr. Man Bahadhur – father-in-law and (Mom) Mrs. Krishna Shrestha – mother-in-law found Kistland School land on sale and the school was not interested to purchase. While Pastor and leaders contemplate it, thus, Ps. Arbin’s in-laws went ahead and invested their Rs. 40 lakhs into the land for deposit. Ps. Arbin’s family had invested a piece of land in Thali, Kathmandu with small savings in 2003 for 6 lakhs and added another 8 lakhs the following year. By 2008, the land sold for 93 lakhs, which paid for almost half of the total cost of land in Khadkatol. Then Pastor’s family began a campaign, seeking a loan with less interest rate. Their in-laws (Dad and Mom Shrestha), and De Jong gave the required load for 3%, and even the remaining 100,000 they waived after one year. Thus, the church built a temporary church hall for 22 lakhs, and later furnished with a sound ceiling for 4 lakhs. In 2009, Cross-Way church moved to the new site at Khadkatol, 2nd church building. It was dedicated by Dr. Rev. Mangalman Maharjan of Patan Church. During this year only in May 2009, Eld. Lakhim Rai completed his studies from EPTS (RPS) and joined the Cross-way church as full-time staff.
In June 2010, Eld. Amit Karthak and Mr. Yakub Gurung joined Cross-Way after they graduated from PTS, Dehradun to enhance the ministry of Cross-Way and CRCN in various capacities. In the following month July 2010, Ps. Ruel Thapa and his family joined the CRCN ministry. In the same year, December 11-14, 2010, Cross-Way and EPTS (RPS) organized the “From the Heart to the Heavens” Worship Conference at Cross-Way Church, Lalitpur by inviting prominent Nepali worship leaders from Nepal and India.
In April 2011, Rev. Troy Bierma and Mrs. Faith Bierma with their two kids (Yazzie and Priya) came to Nepal Mission to support and serve Cross-Way church ministry as well as EPTS (RPS). They served till August 2017 and hope to return after Rev. Troy’s Ph.D. On July 2, 2011, Eld. Lakim Rai ordained as a pastor of Mission and Church planting at Cross-Way. Ps. Lakim Rai helped local leader Ps. Rakesh Magar of Pokhatar to build their local church. And in December 2011, Pokhatar Church was inaugurated by the hands of Rev. Arbin Pokharel and Ps. Lakhim Rai. From December 30-January 10, 2012 was allocated for the Cross-Way outreach program in different districts of Nepal to preach the gospel of Christ with various means (songs, cultural dance, skits, dramas, etc.) to plant the church. During this Gospel outreached time Ps. Arbin was made with a major accident in his Sumo vehicle. However, he was miraculously saved by God in this major accident, though his Sumo vehicle got damaged. But the outreached mission of Cross-Way did not stop because of this accident.
In 2012, Mr. Adrian Dewan, now known as a well-known Nepali worship leader joined Cross-Way church ministry as full-time staff. He wrote many worship songs and published two worship albums envisioning Cross-Way church vision and mission. He is an active worship leader of Cross-way and Nepali churches around the globe. At the same time, Mr. Joshua M. Amjad joined Cross-Way church as full-time staff after he graduated from EPTS (RPS). Although, he was doing a concurrent and six-months internship ministry with Cross-Way for four years of his studies. Precisely, he was a very active leader for teenagers, youths, and young adults and a good program organizer. He was the key leader of the annual Gospel Outreach program of Cross-Way.
From February- August 2013, Ps. Arbin and Family took a sabbatical year break from his ministry. Elder Amit Karthak and Ps. Lakhim Rai took to the responsibility to lead the church in his absence. At the same time, two more leaders also took a break from ministry Ms. Menauka Mishra for two years, and Mr. Santosh Katiwada for three years from Cross-Way church ministry for further studies.
In March 2014, Cross-Way Leadership Training Institute (XLTI) started with a mission and vision to train, teach, and equip local church planters and leaders of CRCN/NRC from different parts of Nepal in their national language. This training is organized for three months of residential training (theoretical and practical). This training has been one of the milestones of the CRCN church movement. In November 2014, Cross-Way’s first album “Anughra ko Inar” was released on the occasion of Thanksgiving and Church’s birthday. In 2014, Pastor Arbin and Mrs. Bimal did a campaign to “Run to Stop Child Trafficking” by running the Everest Marathon with a cause. At the end of the year on December 5, 2014, Cross-Way church appointed Ms. Nirjala as a church secretary and a coordinator to the children’s ministry.
April 25, May 12, and August 19, 2015- These were remarkable dates and a year in the history of Nepal and Nepali Churches. On April 25 and May 12, the big 8.6 rector earthquake came and terrified all the people of Nepal. It was on Saturday at 11:45 am, when we were having church service. Most of the protection walls were broken down and our church building ground floor got damaged badly where our children were having their classes but no one was hurt by the grace of God. Most of our church members and our church neighbors stay on our church small lawn for a week. Slowly, we get too familiar with the tremors and get back to our homes. During this same year in August 2015, Nepal releases a new constitution, proclaiming a secular state with anti-conversion law. It became criminal acts if we practice as such. In this year only the CRCN movement was renamed to Nepali Reformed Churches (NRC).
On March 26, 2016, five elders were ordained from CRCN at Cross-Way, Lalitpur. Eld. This is the third time elders were ordained in Cross-Way ministry. Eld Joshua M. Amjad from Cross-Way, Lalitpur, Eld. Kshetra Sahud from Chruch Cross-Way Bardia, Eld. Rakesh Mager from Pokhatar church, Gorkha, Eld. Bhup Shahu from Cross-Way church, Dang, and ??.
In 2016, Mr. James Lepcha joined Cross-Way after his graduation from EPTS (RPS) and Allen Karthak also joined Cross-Way as full-time staff. On March 26, 2016, the second album of Cross-Way “Laxyabodh: Kristko Sarir” was released in a worship concert with Mr. Arbin Dewan. And from August 2016, Cross-Way building Fun-raise Campaign began with full suing by distributing each brick for one family member. During this year in Fall, Eld Amit Karthak and his family and Eld. Joshua M. Amjad and his family went for further studies. However, Elder Amit Karthak and family have returned but Eld. Joshua and his family not yet return.
In 2017, the Old cracked building damaged by the Earthquake was demolished, and build a new temporary building in an adjacent plot for two years to worship. From April 2017, on the occasion of Easter done a ground broke ceremony with a prayer to start the construction work of the new Cross-Way church building.
In October 2018, Dr. Prem Subedi joined Cross-Way Ministry full-time with NRC and Christ Reformed Center (CRC). In November 2018, during NRC Conference, NRC church leaders celebrated “30 churches in 13 years” celebration of successful church planting mission. During this Conference NRC churches decided into five regional groups for better communications and functions:
- Eastern NRC churches: 6 – Jhapa (1), Morang (1), Okhalghunga (1), Sunchari (1), Rautahat (1), Makhawanpur (1),
- Western NRC churches: 6 Chitwan (2), Gorkha (2), Lamjung (1), Nabalparasi (1)
- Middle-West NRC churches: 7- Dang (1), Rolpa (1), Rupandaihi (1), Surkhet (1) Dailekh (1), Bakay(1), Jajarkot (1)
- Far-West NRC churches: Bardia: 5- (1), Kailali (1), Kanchanpur(1), Darchula (1), Bajura (1)
- Capital NRC churches: 6 – Cross-way Church (1), Dolakha (1), Kavre (1), Lalitpur (1), Bhaktapur (1), Kathmandu (1)
On November 10, 2018, right after the Conference, NRC pastors, elders, and deacons were ordained at Cross-Way Church, Lalitpur. The first lady elder was also ordained and created the history in Nepali Reformed and Presbyterian churches of Nepal. To bless the ordination program most of the NPA pastor, elders and leaders were present with some invited guests outside of NPA. The following are the lists:
Pastors: Ps. Amit Karthak (Lalitpur), Ps. Santosh Khatiwada (Lalitpur), Ps. Kshetra Shaud,
(Bardia), Ps. Bhup Shahu (Dang), Ps. Rakesh Magar (Gorkha), Ps. Roshan Magar (Kathmandu);
Elders: Eld. Menuka Mishra (Lalitpur), Eld. Bhudi Pulami Magar (Rhautahat), and Eld. Issac Tamang (Lamjung); and Deacons: Dea. James Lepccha (Lalitpur), Dea. Poonam Rai (Lalitpur), Dea. Sunita Pokharel (Lalitpur), Dea. Urmila Karki (Lalitpur), Dea. Jyoti Rai (Lalitpur), Dea. Kabiraj Gurung (Lalitpur), Dea. Bikash Tamang (Kavre) Dea. Om Magar (Gorkha), Dea. Sabitri Gurung (Lamjung), and Dea. Noomi Thapa (Bharatpur)
On November 23, 2019, on the occasion of “Thanksgiving and Church Birthday,” we did the first service at the new Cross-Way building and celebrated these important events. Similarly, on December 25, we also celebrated the Christmas program in the new church hall. At the end of the year as usual December 30, 2019 – January 10, 2020, Cross-Way church organized a Gospel outreach program partnering with NRC local churches in their areas.
From March 2020 due to COVID 19 pandemic, religious places were asked by Government to close for an indefinite time. Thus, from March 23, 2020, Cross-Way church went online. We are not meeting in larger groups but we are meeting in small groups in our church compound and the church office is open for church members. Pre-recorded Saturday Worship goes online via YouTube, messenger, and Cross-Way TV for the Cross-Way believers. And they were meeting in a small group at their homes and also meeting via Zoom.
The Cross-Way church has planned to have virtual 15 years Anniversary for five days from November 16, 2020, with Children, Youth, Women, NRC, till the occasion of Thanksgiving Day on November 21, 2020.
[1] Established Higher Ground Bakery and Crafts to help underprivilege women and children at risk from inside and outside of the church.
[2] EPTS name has changed in October 31, 2017, now called RPS (Reformed and Presbyterian Seminary)