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Asia: Hostile Access

Overview:

Until the 21st century, Bangladesh was considered one of the poorest countries in the world. Though there are signs of economic growth, governmental instability continues. Churches are careful when offering relief to the poor and needy because they do not want to encourage false conversions among people claiming faith in Christ solely for economic benefit.

While Bangladesh is a majority-Muslim nation with increasing extremism, a growing number among the majority are coming to faith in Christ.

Major Religion:

87 percent of Bangladeshis are Sunni Muslims, while 2 percent are Shia Muslims. About 0.4 percent are Christians.

Persecutor:

Local Muslim authorities, Islamic extremist groups, families and communities persecute Christians. Hindus persecute believers in the northwestern part of the country, and Buddhist (Chakma) extremists persecute believers in the southeastern Chittagong Hill Tracts.

What It Means To Follow Christ In Bangladesh

Many Christian groups meet publicly, while others worship in unregistered churches. When Muslims convert to Christianity, they are often forced to leave their community.

Access To Bibles

The Bangladesh Bible Society and the missions community have made Bibles available in several languages, but those in rural areas and especially Muslim converts have difficulty finding and acquiring them.

VOM Work

VOM serves those expelled from their communities and provides for the medical needs of those injured in persecution attacks. We support Bible distributions and evangelism training, and we provide rural pastors, bold evangelists and church planters with tools and resources for their ministry.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for the protection and peace of Christians threatened by the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam. Share Prayer
• Pray for pastors and other Christians who minister to those in the poorest slums in Dhaka. Share Prayer
• Pray that Islamist groups will not gain power and increase the persecution of Christians. Share Prayer
• Pray that those who persecute Christians will repent and come to faith in Christ. Share Prayer
• Pray that Christian converts from Islam will be guarded from those who wish to harm them (Psalm 140:4).

The Voice of the Martyrs. U.S.A.

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Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.