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Dear Pastors and Leaders of Nepal,
There are moments in life when words simply don’t seem to be enough. This is one of those moments. We grieve with you.
We grieve for the husbands, wives, children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and church members you have lost. We grieve for the people who once sat beside you in worship and will not be sitting there again. And we grieve for the churches and buildings that have been destroyed, the places where you prayed, worshiped, preached, celebrated, wept, and watched God build His church.
These losses are real. They are painful. And they matter.
We will not minimize your sorrow or offer easy explanations. Instead, we want you to know this: You do not have to walk through this grief alone.
God Is Near
The Bible does not tell us that faithful people never experience devastating loss. It tells us where God is when they do.
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart.” Psalm 34:18,
The Lord is near to you. Your tears do not mean your faith has failed. Grief is not unbelief. Job grieved. David cried out to God. Jeremiah knew sorrow. And Jesus Himself wept.
You do not have to hide your pain from God. Bring Him your questions, your confusion, your tears, and the things you cannot explain.
The God who holds you in your joy is the same God who holds you in your sorrow.
Your People Are Not Forgotten
Every person you lost mattered to you, to their families, to your church, and to God.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” – Psalm 116:15,
We grieve because these people were precious to us. And we hope because they are precious to God. The empty chairs in your congregations represent people who were loved. The names you speak through tears are names God knows. Their lives were not insignificant, and their faithfulness was not wasted.
The Building May Be Gone, But the Church Is Not
We know losing a church building is not a small thing. Those walls held memories, sacrifices, worship, fellowship, and ministry. It hurts because it mattered. But the building was never the church.
“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house.” 1 Peter 2:5,
The walls may have fallen, but the living stones remain. The congregation may be scattered, but Christ is still gathering His people. You may have to gather in homes, borrowed rooms, temporary shelters, or open spaces. But wherever God’s people gather in the name of Jesus, Christ is still there.
Pastor, You Are Still a Shepherd
Perhaps you have wondered, “How do I lead my people when I am hurting this badly myself?” Please hear this clearly: You are a shepherd, but you are not THE Shepherd.
You could not control everything that happened. You could not save everyone. And you do not have to carry false guilt for what was beyond your control. Your calling has not disappeared because your heart is wounded. You do not have to lead as though you were untouched. You can lead from a wounded place while allowing Christ to sustain you.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV. Your weakness does not disqualify you. It is a place where Christ can meet you with His strength.
Take the Next Step
You may not know what rebuilding looks like right now, and that’s okay. You don’t have to know everything today. You only need to take the next faithful step.
Care for the wounded. Comfort those who are grieving. Gather your people. Pray together. Feed those who are hungry. Encourage those who are afraid. And when you are ready, begin planting again. God has not called you to rebuild everything in one day.
He has called you to remain faithful today.
We don’t know exactly what God will rebuild, and we should not promise that everything will return to the way it was. His restoration may look different from what you remember. But we know who God is. He has not abandoned His people. He sees what was lost. He sees what remains. And He sees what you cannot yet see.
Nepal Still Needs the Gospel
And when you are ready, lift your eyes again. Not because the pain was small.
But the gospel is still great. People in Nepal still need hope. Families who need to hear about Jesus. Young people searching for truth. Broken hearts that need to discover the love of Christ.
The devastation may have interrupted your plans, but it has not canceled God’s calling. The walls may have fallen. The gospel has not. The congregation may be scattered. Christ has not abandoned His church. Your strength may be gone.
But His grace is still sufficient.
So when you are ready… rise again. Not for recognition. Not for applause. Because Jesus is still worthy.
Keep preaching. Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep shepherding. Keep discipling. Keep carrying the gospel. And keep believing that God can bring life from places that look like ruins.
We Will Walk With You
Please know that you are not carrying this burden alone. We stand with you in prayer, friendship, practical support, and love. Your sorrow matters to us. Your people matter to us. Your church matters to us. And you matter to us.
When you are too tired to see beyond today, remember God is already in tomorrow.
The walls may have fallen, but God’s people remain. The buildings may be gone, but Christ remains. Your hearts may be broken, but the Lord is near.
And you may not know what tomorrow holds, but you know who holds tomorrow.
So grieve. Pray. Heal. Gather. Rebuild. And when the time comes… rise again.
The story is not over. The church is not over. The gospel is not over.
God is not finished with Nepal!!
With deep love, honor, and prayers for you,
Your brother and fellow servant in Christ
Michael Mints
