August 26, 2026 was a sunny day in Nepal in which everything changed for the thousands of people living in the Trishuli River valley. My wife and I had just been there two months earlier hosting a church leadership conference for well over 100 people crammed into a simple church building set up overlooking the river. Though it was hot, I challenged the leaders as they sat crosslegged on the floor for a couple hours about their relationship to God as well as being examples to other believers. My wife encouraged the women to love the Lord first and to love their families as they faithfully serve the Lord in that valley.
Little did any of us know of the danger and disaster that was upstream. Ten Bible-preaching churches ministered in the Trishuli River valley made up of hundreds of believers in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Over 25,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. The majority of the above 2-lane concrete bridge washed downstream that we crossed as we traveled to the leadership conference. Most of these ten church buildings were damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of bodies have been recovered. Approximately 5,500 people are still missing and presumed buried alive. One church in the valley lost every member except for the pastor who was away from the valley on an errand.
What can we do? First, remember that life is short and fragile; we should live every day for the Lord imagining that today may be my last day. “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14b).
Second, we should pray for the people who escaped and survived. May the believers find God’s grace to be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) as they’ve lost nearly everything but their own lives. May the surviving unbelievers turn from their false gods to the true, living God who will save them from their sins. “…The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance…” (Romans 2:4b).
Lastly, we can donate funds to help the survivors. Whereas there are many organizations on the ground, truly born-again Christians are often neglected, both intentionally and unintentionally, as they are such a small minority. Most of these believers have lost family members, friends, homes, livestock, and farmland. We can help them with food, fresh water, mattresses, blankets, and mosquito nets. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). You may designate “Nepal flooding” and DONATE at www.Vision2020Asia.org
