Since a coup last summer that created chaos across Bangladesh and increased violence against Christians, an Islamic extremist group called Hefazat-e-Islam has been rising in power. Several Christian leaders from different parts of Bangladesh reported that they received threatening letters from Hefazat leaders, warning them that any celebration of Christmas this year “will be the last celebration they do in this life.”
Read MorePolitical violence has escalated in Bangladesh, resulting in the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheik Hasina and at least 95 deaths on a single day (Aug. 4) in the capital city, Dhaka. Front-line workers report increased targeted attacks against Christians as a result. In one case, a church was attacked by an armed crowd that damaged vehicles and tried to set fire to the building early one morning.
Read MoreDuring an Islamist gathering denouncing Christianity and encouraging anti-Christian activity, Juhel stood up and shared his testimony about his faith in Christ. Some in the crowd listened with interest because of his reasonable and gentle approach, while others expressed opposition and anger. Some in the group invited Juhel to speak again in the mosque, planning to attack him there. When he turned them down, they planned an ambush instead.
Read MoreWhen Raissa was a teen, she was kidnapped and raped by a group of Muslim men who wanted to punish her father, a Christian pastor. For years, Raissa felt trapped in her home, unable to leave without being taunted, threatened and retraumatized by her attackers, who had faced no consequences. Raissa asked for help relocating to a larger city where she could be free of her attackers and pursue education and a career.
Read MoreFor generations, Shebona and her family have lived on and worked land for tea plantations. They age without dreams or aspirations, expecting to lead the same life as their parents and grandparents. But one girl who worked with Shebona on the plantation was different, more joyful; Shebona learned that she was a Christian. This girl shared some literature with Shebona and connected her to two front-line workers who led her to Christ.
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Growing up in predominantly Muslim Bangladesh, Fedu’s life was permeated by Islam. His father was an imam, and his grandfather told him stories of pilgrimages to Mecca. Fedu studied at an Islamic school, and, like his father and three brothers, became a Muslim scholar and imam, eventually teaching at a mosque in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. While working at the mosque one day in 1996, Fedu met a student named Azad from a nearby college. The two struck up a conversation and quickly became friends. However, when Fedu learned two years later that Azad had become a Christian, he began to worry about him. He knew Muslims at his mosque would find out about Azad’s conversion, and he also knew the local Muslim authorities were some of the worst persecutors of Christians in Bangladesh. Instead of standing up for his friend, Fedu stopped talking to him altogether. Then, 15 years later, Fedu received a call from Azad, who had felt God nudging him to reconnect with his old friend. As the two caught up on each other’s lives, Azad mentioned how Jesus had changed his life. And when they finally met in person, Azad gave Fedu a Bible and
Read MoreAfter worshiping peacefully together in a tin hut for more than 10 years, a church of more than 20 families from the Chakma people group recently began constructing a church building in their village. Shortly after building began, a mostly-Buddhist organization known as the Underground Army destroyed the church building’s windows and threatened to torture or kill the men of the church, who fled into the jungle for several weeks.
Read MoreBelievers in a particular community in Bangladesh are requesting prayer after assailants destroyed their homes and attacked the women in the community. A local contact wrote that the aggressors had struck just the night before.
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His purpose was to bring as many people to Christ as he could—to point them to the Savior. It didn’t matter the danger. Godhad called him to this work, and he would follow to the end.So he packed up his belongings and began working in an outreach ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ in his native Bangladesh. Redoy Roy walked quickly up the stairs to his home in the late evening of April 23, 2003, after being dropped off by the rickshaw. It hadbeen a wonderful evening as he showed the JESUS film to almost twohundred villagers. He loved to watch the audience and the beautifulexpressions of fascination and hope that showed on their faces. And heloved even more when the film finished and some in the audience choseto follow this Jesus—their newfound Friend and Savior. Roy turned the handle, pushed the door open to his rented home, andmade his way through the dark house. Before he could reach the lightswitch, he was hit in the face and knocked to the ground. Angry radicalMuslims grabbed him and dragged him over to his bed. A couple more heldhim down as they tied his hands and feet to the bedposts. Roy screamed
Read MoreAfter Mannan left Islam to follow Jesus Christ, area Islamic leaders called for villagers to ostracize his relatives, even telling local vendors to deny them food. As animosity toward Mannan and his relatives grew, the Islamic leaders and angry Muslim villagers called for police to arrest him and his relatives, falsely accusing them of causing trouble.
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