Pastor Shan Rai has been unanimously elected as the President of the Bhutanese Nepali Churches of America (BNCA), the largest umbrella organization representing Nepali-speaking churches across the United States.
Along with him, Pastor Raju Ramdam has been elected as the general secretary and Pastor Gobar Biswa as the treasurer of the BNCA.
President Rai stated that the executive committee will be completed soon, with a total of seven members.
Pastor Rai was elected during the 12th BNCA National Convention held from July 3 to 5 in Rochester, New York. The event marked a significant moment in the organization's journey as it chose new leadership to guide its mission.
In his remarks following the election, Pastor Rai pledged to lead BNCA with integrity and dedication throughout his three-year tenure. He emphasized serving with love, respect, and the fear of God, while advocating for the rights and welfare of Nepali-speaking churches in America.
According to the BNCA constitution, the term for the president is three years. Pastor Bhadra Rai previously held the position.
Today, BNCA represents over 200 Nepali-speaking churches across the United States. Notably, a major spiritual awakening began in these churches following the resettlement of Bhutanese refugees in the U.S. during the late 2000s.
Since 1990, hundreds of thousands of Bhutanese Nepali refugees have been living in various camps across the eastern part of Nepal. Starting in 2007, many were resettled in third countries, including the United States, Australia, Denmark, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Canada.
"Wherever Bhutanese Nepalis have settled around the world, a significant spiritual awakening has followed," said President Rai.
Who is Pastor San Rai?
Pastor San Rai currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, with his wife and daughter. He arrived in the United States in 2009 through third-country resettlement from the Khudunabari refugee camp in Nepal.
He serves as the pastor of Agape Nepali Church in Boston and holds a degree in Biblical Theology from South India Theological Seminary in India.
In 1995, while hosting a Christian fellowship with a local family in Danabari, Ilam, Rai and eleven others were falsely accused of religious proselytization and imprisoned for 14 months in Ilam District Jail.
