Bangladeshi

Bangladeshi Factbook

For the past few years, we have been engaged in helping some believers in Bangladesh. Let me give you a brief background:

One Bangladeshi worker, while in Singapore, received our gospel tract. Being a believer himself, he contacted us and sought to build up ties with us. After some initial Bible Studies with him and his friends, we held a Sunday evening Gospel meeting, where I will preach in English and this brother will translate into Bengali. He will invite his fellow workers from the construction site to attend

The service did not last for too long, as they lost their jobs not long after, and had to be sent back to Bangladesh. Before he left, he asked us to visit him and the churches in Bangladesh. Accordingly, I went with a brother to Bangladesh in 1997. He arranged for his pastor as well as other church leaders to meet us. They told us that they had around 20 over churches in the north eastern part of Bangladesh.

On this first visit, I took a few teaching sessions, going through the theme of 'The Order of Salvation Applied'. They responded well. I return to Bangladesh in 1998. This time, we went through the doctrine of the Bible, as well as the five points of Calvinism. I was expecting objections and questions. Instead, I was told that this was what they have believed and taught all these years. My visit and teaching has only sharpened their understanding. In order to be sure, I ask the pastor to explain 1 John 2:2 to me, and his explanation would be most acceptable to John Calvin. (He has never read John Calvin --- he cannot read English).

The pastor explained to me that he was converted under the ministry of a Norwegian missionary in the 1970s. The missionary actually taught him Calvinism. Since then, he has been going round the villages preaching the Gospel, establishing churches and teaching the believers Calvinism. Because of his Calvinistic beliefs, other churches in Bangladesh viewed them as cults.

Since the visit in 1998, we had a few more visits, from Singapore to Bangladesh, as well as some of them to Singapore. Now, the crux: These people are ex-Muslims. They preach the Gospel beginning with the Koran, and from there, move to Jesus Christ and the Bible. They reach Muslims, and not the minority groups in Bangladesh.

Our role in Shalom Singapore is support. They do the outreach to their own people, we play supporting roles, in having teaching conferences for their leaders, and in funding the translation, printing and distribution of good books.

So far, we have translated, proof-read, printed and distributed the following:- * 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Spurgeon's Catechism * Life by His Death (abridgement of Owen's Death of Death, abridged and printer by Grace Baptist Publication, UK) * Exposition of 1 Cor 12-14( a book written by Dr Poh, Malaysia, on the issues of tongues) * Our brother is currently working on Pink's 'Sovereignty of God' as well as 'Son of Mary, Son of God' by Stuart Olyott.

Prayers for the work in Bangladesh is certainly needed. These brothers are Reformed and Baptistic in doctrines, and they are reaching Muslims with the Gospel.

Return