A group of 14 Nepal youth filmed and produced documentaries of church members’ testimonies as a way of sharing the gospel. Since video content continues to increase in popularity, the group believes videos can dramatically impact the church’s outreach in Nepal.

After studying for two months in an intensive course at the Nepal Gospel Film Academy, the youth spent the month of August putting their training to work. With borrowed or donated equipment — including two used cameras, an outdated computer, and a couple of microphones — they began working with churches on the eastern side of Nepal and are working their way to the western side of the country.

Nazarene Youth International Nepal District President Gopal* is the one who motivated the youth to start the Visual Media Group. Gopal sees this group as a crucial part of future evangelism in Nepal. 

“[They are] a bridge to connect other ministries, and that it also gives people the opportunity to share their testimonies regarding the power and works of God,” Gopal said.

VMG Coordinator Puzan* sees the group as a campaign of NYI in Nepal and not a separate entity.

“This is a campaign that has been running with the youth ministry by its side,” Puzan said. “We are launching it as a campaign because many people don’t see audiovisual as a ministry. This way we’ll be able to reach and encourage more people, and those that don’t see us as a ministry will see that it actually is.”

As they share stories of how God is bringing hope and transformation to lives in Nepal, the youth want to encourage more Nazarene churches to be part of this campaign. Gopal and Puzan hope that it will encourage people in all local churches to see media and filmmaking as a viable ministry for their congregation.

“We are planning to launch an awareness program and audiovisual training in every church and we hope, one day, all churches will motivate each other by sharing ideas, and that the Gospel will be carried out more effectively and efficiently,” Gopal said. “We also pray that more youth will become more engaged in audiovisual professionally, which will directly impact the ministries and the work of churches positively.”

Puzan also thinks that every church should have an established media group of their own.

“We want to launch a Visual Media Group in every church,” Puzan said “We will encourage people to participate. With training, preparation, and cooperation from both our side and theirs, we will be able to achieve our goal of spreading the gospel.”

Video content can be used for many purposes. Apart from filming documentaries and testimonies, VMG has other projects in mind that will help spread the gospel in Nepal.

“We can broadcast our church services, which will be beneficial and a blessing for other believers who can’t make it to the church,” Gopal said.

Since the start of VMG, the district purchased a new computer and camera. The group has also started to look for their own way of financing equipment and is seeking sponsors to acquire enough equipment to work on multiple projects at any given time.

*Names changed for security

--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia