On Sunday, 28 February, the stake organized a Nepali speaking group, which is only the third such group in the church in the United States; the others being located in Columbus, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Brother Shane Strate was sustained as the new group leader for the group of about 25 members. The group’s church services will be held each week in the Nepali language at the Tallmadge building at a time to be determined.
Beginning in the 1980s, Nepalese people began fleeing Bhutan to escape the ethnic violence and suppression there. An estimated 85,000 to 120,000 Nepali-Bhutanese people live in refugee camps today, mostly located in Nepal and India. Before 2009 there were approximately 34,000 Nepali speakers in the United States. In a three-year period between 2009 and 2011, over 40,000 Nepali refugees resettled to the USA, and Ohio continues to receive refugees each year.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has actively worked to support refugees from around the globe, and an interesting article written by Matt Martinich entitled “Recent LDS Growth among Nepali-Bhutanese in the United States” outlines some interesting facts about efforts in Salt Lake City to support Nepali-Bhutanese refugees.
We are excited to support our Nepali-speaking brothers and sisters in the Akron Stake and look forward to working together to further the work of the Lord among these very special people who are making Ohio their new home.
Akron Ohio Stake News 