HIS VISION
The man of God was deeply burdened to write many more doctrinal books for the youth of our assemblies. His vision for translating the Bible into Nepali language from the original King James Version was motivated by his desire that his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ gain access to the Word of God in its pure, unadulterated form. He never compromised on the truth, once he found it.
Bro. Daniel Rai was a giant in the Christian world, greatly used by God to build His church. He was a father figure to the Church, catering to her deepest need, grieving with her in her losses and rejoicing in her victories.

He was a shepherd exhorting, edifying, feeding and leading the flock towards his beloved Chief Shepherd. It can be rightly said about him,” And like unto him was there no (leader) before him… neither after him arose there any like him” 2 Kings 23:25.

A brief biography

Daniel Rai was born on September 2, 1939, to a staunch Hindu family of witch doctors (Jhakri Bijuwa pariwar). Nobody expected Dil Bahadur Rai, subsequently renamed Daniel Rai, to be anything other than himself. He was a vessel chosen (Acts 9:15) by the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings for a very unique and distinctive purpose in the establishment of His kingdom, unbeknownst to everyone.

Early life

At the age of 23, while attending fellowship in one of Sikkim’s churches in 1962, he got a vision of a bleeding Cross on the church’s interior wall. The vision seized his heart, and he was reborn. On April 22, 1963, he was baptized during the All India Holy Convocation in El-Shaddai, Kalimpong.

In the early 1960s, Bro. Daniel Rai finished his matriculation and was appointed Head Master of Tadong High School in Gangtok, Sikkim. He joined the Gangtok Fellowship with Bro. M G Lingdong and was instrumental in the establishment of the Berachah House of Worship in Gangtok. After reading Bro. Bakht Singh’s story, ‘How I Got Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory,’ his life was changed forever.

The Holy Spirit compelled him to devote his life to serving the Lord, and he got the lofty, holy, and divine vocation. He told Bro. M G Lingdong about his calling and resigned from his employment after much prayer. In May 1967, the Holy Spirit led him to El-Shaddai, Kalimpong, as a totally surrendered, full-time servant of God. He spent two years in Hebron, Hyderabad.

Bro Daniel Rai was joined together in Holy matrimony with Sis. Sonam Ongmu Fudong on 26th December 1975 and was blessed with two sons, Uriel Jon Rai and Ammiel Jackin Rai. He was ordained as Elder of El-Shaddai, Kalimpong by Bro. K Philip, Bro. Lazar Sen and Bro. T.E. Koshy during the All India Holy Convocation in El-Shaddai in the year 2006.

Notable works

1. Bible translator
He was the main translator of the TBS Bible, into Nepali language from original Greek text from 1984-2011, an independent project working along with Bro. David Cloud and Bro. Thomas Kauffman.
2. Book translator
He translated many of Bro. Bakht Singh’s books into Nepali language, including his testimony titled, ‘How I Got Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory’.
3. Lyricist
He was the Chief Editor of most of the lyrics of the old Nepali songs. He penned many, Nepali songs including, ‘Sansar ma mailey dherai mitra payey’. In the year 1967, he along with Bro. Tashi Gyamtso Lepcha, the then elder of Mt Pisgah, Darjeeling complied the song book, ‘Sion ka geetharu’. Prior to that, the songs could only be found in pamphlet form.
4. Writer
He was an avid writer, using his talent for the glory of his beloved Savior. His works include:- i) Chinna Chamatkar ani Wastawikta (Signs, Miracles and the Truth) ii) Himal Jhain Achal Satya yo Apar (Profound Truth, as immovable as the Mountain) iii) Purdah bhitra ko Prathibha (The fact behind the curtain) iv) Kahiley Kina Kasari (When, Why, How) v) Manis ko prashna, Parmeshwar ko Jawab (Questions of man, Answers of God)

He wrote several tracts which are still being circulated today. He contributed several articles to ‘Green Pastures’ and was the Chief Editor of ‘Jeudo Pani’, enriching these quarterlies with the wisdom of words as revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. His voice, reached the masses as he preached many sermons in the Nepali language from Sychels radio broadcasting in Varanasi.