Huge, steep mountains rise all around. A cold wind drifts through the valley, creating a low, steady hum as it passes. In the distance, a man walks along a narrow path leading to a swinging bridge. He moves quickly and with determination, his body bent forward almost at a right angle—making each step seem difficult, yet he presses on.

This man suffers from kyphosis, a forward rounding of the upper back often called a “hunchback.” The condition causes him tremendous pain, making even simple tasks much harder. Because of the shape of his spine, it’s also very difficult for him to sleep, forcing him to rest either on his side or propped up by piles of sheep skins.

If you’ve been following our journey for a while, some of you may already know this man — and, like us, have fallen in love with him and his story. His name is Singerman.

Singerman lives in Nepal, in a small home he built with his own hands from stone and clay. He and his entire family, including his mother, live together in this humble house perched on the side of a mountain, several hours from the nearest road.

Though he lives in this most humble setting and appears to be a simple man, Singerman is actually well-traveled and educated. He grew up in a Hindu family, but his grandfather used to read him stories from the Bible — seeds that eventually led him to become a Christian. For many years, he worked in Malaysia, but his heart longed for home. When he finally returned to Nepal, he became the pastor of two churches in the surrounding area.

For most of its history, Nepal was a Hindu kingdom where other religions were not allowed. Until the 1950s, there was no freedom for Christians or missionaries — practicing or sharing Christianity could lead to punishment. While visiting Singerman, we learned about a man whose father and 56 other men were arrested and imprisoned in the 1970s, simply for practicing their faith.

After the country opened up in the 1950s, Christian groups were permitted to enter Nepal to help with hospitals and schools. During this time, more people quietly began to follow Christ, though open evangelism remained illegal.

In 1990, Christians gained a little more freedom to worship, and in 2007 Nepal officially became a secular nation, meaning it was no longer a Hindu state. However, the government later made laws saying that trying to convert someone is still a crime. So today, people can believe and worship freely, but telling others about your faith or baptizing converts can still cause trouble.

But as we all know, sharing Jesus with people doesn’t always have to do with conversion. In fact, in many cases, that’s the least effective way to reach people for Christ. This is something Singerman understands very well, which brings us back to him walking along the steep mountainside.

Sometimes walking up to fifteen miles a day — and even spending the night away from home — Singerman visits people in their homes to help them in any way he can: working in their gardens, caring for their animals, or simply being a friend and showing the love and kindness of Jesus.

Friendship evangelism is incredibly important, especially in a country like Nepal where the act of conversion is illegal. But even outside of a situation like that, we personally believe that friendship evangelism is one of the most effective and Christlike forms of ministry. Simply helping someone, offering a smile, or being a friend can sometimes be the most powerful use of our talents. If we can simply show the love of Christ through our actions, the Holy Spirit can do the rest.

Jesus Himself practiced friendship evangelism when He was on earth. One example that comes to mind is the story of Zacchaeus — a man disliked by most and considered a sinner. Yet Jesus simply shared a meal with him and showed him a love that surpasses all understanding. Jesus’s willingness to be a friend to Zacchaeus, to associate with him, led to Zacchaeus’s repentance and desire to make amends.

Countless stories in the Bible show Jesus using friendship to reach people — the woman at the well, and even the close relationships He built with His disciples.

Sometimes the simple act of being a friend can be more powerful than all the literature in the world. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its place — because it certainly does. But often, the most powerful thing we can do is help someone, smile at people on the street, or simply be a friend.

As a man we met in the Philippines once said to me, “Before you promise heaven to someone, show them what kind of people will be there, so they will long for it — they will desire to be there.”

You don’t have to travel to some distant corner of the world to be a missionary — because mission begins right where you are. People around us need Jesus too, sometimes even more than those who have never heard His name.

Even now, Jesus longs not only to be our Savior but also our closest friend. He’s with us through every moment, waiting for us to spend time with Him — to talk, to listen, to simply be together.

How much time do we spend with our built-in Friend? And how often do we share the love and friendship we’ve received from Him with those around us? The people we meet each day — our neighbors, our coworkers, even strangers — they all need to know that they too have a built-in Savior and Friend.

Our time in Nepal was probably one of the most incredible experiences we’ve ever had. It’s where it all began. Since then, we’ve traveled all over the world, met so many inspiring people, and heard countless stories of faith. But Singerman — his story, his perseverance through enormous challenges, and the love he shows to others — still holds a very special place in our hearts.