Bangladesh

Partner with Local Missionaries in Bangladesh

Located in the 10/40 Window

With more than 160 million inhabitants living in an area slightly smaller than Iowa, Bangladesh is one of the world’s most populous and densely populated countries. The South Asian country is bordered by India, Myanmar, and the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh used to be part of Pakistan until a bitter civil war led to independence in 1971. The country declared Islam its official religion in 1988. Since then, the Bangladeshi government has taken the initiative to propagate Islam, providing financial assistance to mosques and organizing the training of imams. Today, 89% of the population is Muslim.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest countries, with nearly half of the population subsisting on less than one dollar per day. However, with the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh is making significant progress in economic growth, food production, and universal education. Almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector. Garments are the backbone of Bangladesh’s industrial sector.

The Christian population comprises an extremely small percentage of the population, less than a fraction of 1%, and faces persecution from Muslim communities and radical Muslim groups. Multiple Islamic terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (ISIS), have networks in Bangladesh. Many Christians meet in underground house churches. Believers who belong to ethnic minorities face the highest levels persecution, like those from the Rohingya refugee population, nearly 1 million of whom live in Bangladesh.

In the early 1800s, the English missionary William Carey ministered to the Bengali people and translated the New Testament into their language. Today, indigenous missionaries effectively continue the work of evangelism and discipleship. Christian Aid Mission assists multiple ministries that are working among the Bengali majority as well as many ethnic minority groups. Missionary support is their greatest need, along with funding for discipleship and training programs, which are desperately needed to ensure new believers are grounded in God’s Word.

These ministries are also engaged in compassionate outreach, including providing education to poor Muslim and Christian children, running feeding centers that provide nourishment to hundreds of children, and sheltering orphaned or abandoned children.

Sources: Joshua Project, CIA World Factbook

174 million

Population

Unknown

Evangelical Population:

299

People Groups:

276

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Bangladesh

Pray that God would pour out His spirit on the people of Bangladesh to open blind eyes to the truth.
Pray that people battered by poverty and discrimination would be healed, strengthened and redeemed by Christ’s love.
Pray for protection and provision for brave believers and indigenous missionaries risking everything to share the hope of the gospel in this difficult mission field.

More stories from Bangladesh

Help Children Know Christ in Bangladesh

Workers at a native ministry are caring for 350 children, providing materials and tuition for school, supporting their Bible teachers and operating a quarterly spiritual camp, Sunday schools and a hostel. “Our children are the future of this ministry and the church of the Lord,” the ministry leader said. “So we need to take these steps to grow them well for the Lord.” Workers are dedicated to breaking satan’s strongholds, transforming lives and establishing God’s kingdom. Toward that end, they need donations to form strong foundations of faith in children. They request prayer that God would protect the children from evil.

Help Send the Gospel to the Unreached in Bangladesh

Through Bible studies, Sunday schools and other outreaches, native Christian workers are proclaiming the Good News. A 15-year-old girl at-risk from a troubled family came to a ministry’s orphanage and recently accepted Christ. “We have been able to share the gospel with her, and her life has been transformed,” the ministry leader said. Another girl, 13, has been attending a ministry church with her father for two years. “Her love for the Lord makes others strive to seek to meet and feed on the Word of God,” the leader said. Donations are sought for such gospel work. Pray the Lord would open more people’s hearts to their need for the Savior.

Enable Gospel Efforts in Bangladesh

New Christians at a local ministry leader’s church are growing in their faith as they pray during worship every Sunday and lead their families in evening meetings at their homes. Workers are discipling fledgling Christians even as they visit new villages to distribute Bibles and begin forming relationships; over one six-month stretch, they proclaimed Christ to 1,420 people of other religions, and six churches were planted. Donations are sought for such efforts to proclaim Christ and follow up with new believers. Pray that young Christians will hold fast to Christ throughout their lives, bearing fruit in every season.

Help Sow Gospel Seed in Bangladesh

Meeting people in marketplaces, shops and home visits, native Christian workers form friendships and share the gospel as they invest in the lives of others. Opportunities to tell people about Christ also arise as they distribute water and medicines and give free training in tailoring. Workers recently brought the Good News of eternal life in Christ to 174 villages, reaching 2,900 people and another 100 through social media. Donations are sought for such gospel outreach and follow-up. Pray for workers’ safety and fruitfulness as they step out in faith.

Equip Gospel Workers in Bangladesh

The interest that an ethnic group showed when a native Christian worker shared the gospel in their tribal tongue compelled him to return to their village several times. Each time they heard him speak, they wanted to know more, and after a few months many of them put their faith in Christ and were baptized. The ministry has also increased its reach by posting gospel presentations on Facebook and YouTube. Over a six-month period they planted two churches among two ethnic groups. Workers need donations of $60 of $120 for such gospel outreach and follow-up. They request prayer for provision in the face of rising costs, and for more workers in order to accept invitations to proclaim Christ.

Help Spread the Salvation Message in Bangladesh

A follower of a traditional religion wondered how his sin could be removed, and then a native Christian worker had the opportunity to share the gospel with him. The man received Christ and has begun telling his relatives about God’s grace. Workers focusing on an unreached people group recently planted a church among them, and members of that congregation are bringing the gospel to their relatives in a neighboring village. Over six months, workers planted four churches as they led 65 people to Christ. Donations are needed for such gospel outreach and follow-up. Pray the Lord would draw many people to Himself and glorify His name through their fellowships.

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