Field Report : Bangladesh

The 30-inch high bass drum beat out the rhythm as the church gathered in Sharon Village in the hills of southeast Bangladesh to commission their first eleven missionaries. The Presbyterian Church in Bangladesh is made up of 23 congregations of the Bawm tribal people of these hills known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Eighty years ago a neighboring tribe evangelized the Bawm. Now that the Bawm are essentially 100% converted, they believe it is their turn to reach other unreached tribes near them. Mission to the World has entered into partnership with them to make this happen.

On that evening of July 9, 2003, the drum beat and the commissioning service was held for the first eleven Bawm missionaries. Cartee Bales, missions pastor for Naperville (IL) PCA, and Paul Taylor, international director for the Asia/ Pacific Region for MTW, were present for this service. Paul was the guest speaker for the occasion, and both participated in the laying on of hands and commissioning. After the service and another month of training, those eleven were sent to the nearby unreached tribes—the Mru (30,000 people) and the Chakma people (350,0000).

A year has come and gone. At a gathering in July 2004 to celebrate the first year of ministry, the missionaries reported approximately 200 conversions, half of which have now been baptized. Eight new worshiping congregations have been started—four among the Mru and four among the Chakma. In addition, one junior high school has been opened and an elementary school is under construction and will open in January of 2005.

The number of missionaries has grown to 19, and two additional unreached tribes are under consideration for future ministry.

PCA churches and individuals are needed to partner with us in this work. Contact Paul Taylor if you would be interested in knowing more about this (ptaylor@mtw.org).