GFA World Leader Shares Devastating Nepal Flood Update, Urges Christians to Pray
Gospel for Asia (GFA) World President and Founder Bishop Daniel has churches that were directly affected by the flooding in Nepal. He graciously spoke with Crosswalk on Monday and provided an update on the current situation and the status of relief efforts.
People Living in Fear
Bishop Daniel said that people are “living in great fear. A lot of fear and a lot of anxiety because they just went through this incredible disaster. The waters and flooding just came down so fast and swept everything away.”
River levels rose by as much as 30 feet within 30 minutes, according to UM News.
There were two GFA churches in particular, among many others, that were impacted. One of GFA’s churches was totally washed away, and the other is buried in mud so deep that only a small part of the roof is poking out.
Bishop Daniel went on to note that people are also in fear that more flooding will take place and that, “there’s just this fear of even going back to their areas to see if there’s anyone alive; what’s left of their houses.”
GFA World Already has Boots on the Ground for Relief Efforts
Since there were already missionaries there doing ministry among the people, they have been available as boots on the ground to bring water, food, clothing and tents for shelter. At the same time, their presence there to “pray with the people, encourage them, and try to be Christ to them during this very dark situation is really what is bringing hope.”
Bishop Daniel notes that providing relief efforts isn’t new for GFA missionaries. He recalled a major 7.8 magnitude earthquake that took place in Nepal a decade ago, when GFA missionaries were already on the scene, and a massive tsunami in Sri Lanka.
“Relief work goes in phases,” he said. “Phase 1 involves providing water, shelter, food and clothing; phase 2 involves seeing what needs to be done to reestablish people, and phase 3 is the long-term view of what needs to be done over the next three to five years to establish people.”
As an example of what long-term can look like, Bishop Daniel said that when the tsunami hit Sri Lanka, they were still cleaning out wells six years later.
Number of Missing or Dead Continues to Climb
The estimate right now is that 5,000 are missing or dead, and that number is expected to rise. One thing that complicates figuring out who is missing versus who has died is that many people ran to higher ground, and no one knows exactly where they went.
The damage is so severe that a large number of roads and bridges have been washed away. In most cases, it’s only possible for nationals to reach a village by bicycle or on foot, though the government can deliver supplies by helicopter.
Hearts Softened to Hear Gospel in Fresh Way
Bishop Daniel said that many people are making a point of sharing what they have with each other, and hearts have been softened to hear the Gospel in a fresh way.
“Being able to minister to them – their spiritual needs – to pray for them, to put your arm around them, [this] brings the hope and comfort that they need to be able to look toward the future…their farm land is gone, their cattle are gone, their paddy fields are gone, schools are gone, everything’s washed away. In a way, their whole future and lives have been washed away, and they’re standing on the brink of a cliff asking, ‘What is next?’ So this is where the national missionaries are able to step in and help them find hope,” he said.
How Christians in America Can Help
When asked what Americans can do to help, the first thing that Bishop Daniel said to pray.
“Pray for the government of Nepal, pray for GFA World’s national missionaries, pray for the people in Nepal – that God would bring healing to them, and I would challenge every church in America to take time during their Sunday service – two minutes – to pray for Nepal. Don’t let this just become information that we hear and then move on. Let it sink into our hearts. And I would challenge every Christian in their home to spend a couple minutes in prayer. Find Nepal on the map and pray.”
Bishop Daniel also wants to encourage everyone to visit GFAworld.org to learn more about the organization's relief work and how people can get involved.
Thirdly, his father wrote a book called Revolution in World Missions, which challenges Christians to live their lives with the intentionality to make a difference in the world around them. It’s free on the website, and he would like people to get a copy.
Fourthly, Bishop Daniel is asking people to continue to remember Nepal in prayer even after the news cycle ends, and to keep sharing on social media and reposting GFA World’s social posts. This relief effort in Nepal and the rebuilding of lives will take years, and Christians globally can make a difference.
Photo Credit: ©X.com/BBCNews(World)
Originally published September 01, 2026.
