Nepalese in Brunei


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

They are the Nepalese men and their families serving with Brunei and British armies stationed in Brunei. The Gurkha are also known as the Gurung. The name Gurkha denotes their status, unsurpassed by any other military elite, as the bravest of the brave.
Originally, the Gurkha were descendants of the Gorkhali community but now they comprise various tribesmen living in the hills of Nepal. Believed to be descendants of the Mongols and Tibetans, they are known for their legendary skills at attacking the enemy with their fierce khukuri blades.
They are deployed in the oil-rich Seria district and the capital city of Brunei. They speak a language classified under the East Gurung cluster. They also speak Nepali, which is Nepal's official language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In Nepal, the Gurkha lived in small villages in hilly terrain and were accustomed to traveling long distances on foot. These villages consist of loosely grouped homes surrounded by farmland. Most of them were farmers - planting vegetables, rice, maize, millet, and wheat. They also raised goats for meat and cows for milk.
In Brunei, a foreign country, the close-knit community lives in barracks and quarters. Two-thirds of the short and stocky hills-men are deployed in the capital city. These older men, formerly active Gurkha soldiers of the British army, are employed as security guards to protect the houses of the royal family and government and public property. The other one-third of younger men serve as active Gurkha soldiers of the British army stationed in the oil-rich Seria district at the request of the Sultan of Brunei.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Nepalese are Hindus. They live in the world's only Hindu kingdom, and they worship their king as an incarnation of the Hindu god, Vishnu ("protector and preserver of the worlds"). Many Gurkha families in Brunei are Hindus. Some of them claim to be Buddhists, while others are animists, and a small remainder is Christian.
Their system of beliefs is a complex blending of two major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Adherents of both religious faiths worship each other's gods and cherish mutual respect, a tradition with a long history. In Brunei, they worship together in the same temple.
They also hold on to their traditional animistic beliefs that non-human objects have spirits. They recognize local gods, goblins, and spirits. They also believe that ghosts and demons haunt the crossroads and rivers. They make offerings to these spirits to appease them.


What Are Their Needs?

Presently, the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei provides for the Gurkha community's daily physical needs. But when their work contract ends, they must readjust into their society back in Nepal. Pray that God will give wisdom to believers who are willing to help prepare the Gurkha for the transition back to living in Nepal. Pray for those who are believers to reaching out to the Gurkha in all their areas of need.


Prayer Points

Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.
Pray for signs and wonders among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.


Scripture Prayers for the Nepalese, Gurkha in Brunei.


References

Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nepali, general
People Name in Country Nepalese, Gurkha
Natural Name Nepalese
Pronunciation
Alternate Names Eastern Pahari; Gurkha; Gurkhali; Gurung; Nepalese, Eastern; Paharia; नेपलीज़
Population this Country 2,200
Population all Countries 876,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 13317
ROP3 Code 107204
Country Brunei
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 44  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Brunei
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 44  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
19.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.80 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
9.70 %
Hinduism
70.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.30 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nepali (2,200 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nepali (2,200 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2024)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
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Forum Bible Agencies
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Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible The Love Fellowship
Mobile App Android Bible app: TBS Nepali Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Nepali Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Nepali General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Nepali Bible Stories Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Nepali Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source travelwayoflife - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source Anonymous   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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