A year ago I met Shanti, a courageous young woman whose life inspired and blessed me tremendously. Shanti is Project Hannah’s (PH) young leader in Nepal. She told us about PH’s ever-growing prayer movement, and how the Nari Asha (Women of Hope) radio program is changing women’s eternal destinies. These fascinating stories are a poignant reminder that no one is out of God’s powerful saving reach – not even women trapped in the most discriminatory cultures. Not a day goes by without Shanti being confronted with the ugly plight of her sisters. It’s a striking contrast to the breathtaking scenery of this small country, nestled at the foot of the Himalaya region, not far from Mount Everest.

     Nepali women are said to be extremely religious. Nevertheless, they are plagued by fear of the spiritual world, facing “mountains” of ignorance and hopelessness. Their hearts cry out to the wind as the psalmist of old: “I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?” Their religion and its complex practices offer no answers. They don’t know their Maker, the true Defender of the weak. Shanti is determined to lead them to him no matter what it takes.

     Though she’s surrounded by impossibilities such as extreme poverty, a small and fragile Christian church and even personal tragedies, she does not relent. Three weeks after she suffered a miscarriage, she set aside her personal loss, sorrow and pain and was back on the rough mountainous paths visiting, teaching, and encouraging PH’s listeners. She knows and rests on her “immovable, unchangeable, unstoppable” God. She has found the answer: “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and Earth!” With contagious enthusiasm, she sets out to empower women by teaching them sewing and literacy skills. She produces radio programs, leads Bible studies and mentors new Christians. She presses on, not counting the cost and ignoring opposition along the way. Firm and daring, she walks the road less travelled upon, bringing hope to women in remote villages, prisons and brothels.

     This remarkable young woman reminds me of Dr. John C. Ortberg’s definition of leadership: “Leaders don't ask for comfort. They don't ask for ease. They don't ask for manageability. They ask to be given the burden of a challenge bigger than themselves—one that can make a difference in the world . . . .” He goes on to say: “. . . The Spirit wants to make you threatening to all the forces of injustice and apathy and complacency that keep our world from flourishing. The Spirit wants to make you dangerously noncompliant in a broken world.” Shanti fits Ortberg’s profile perfectly. With God’s help, she chooses daily to be “dangerously noncompliant” in her broken world. How does she do that? She trusts and obeys the promptings of our God who “never sleeps nor slumbers!” PH is blessed with a new generation of noncompliant women like Shanti.

Read three articles by Shanti (a Q&A, Shanti’s personal testimony and her testimony about how God is using the holistic ministries programs in Nepal).

Founder and Global Ministry Director Marli Spieker writes a column for the back page of each Hannah’s Heartbeat newsletter. Three times a year, Project Hannah creates the Hannah’s Heartbeat newsletter to share stories of listeners whose lives have been transformed by Jesus through our ministry.