Omar and Pat Beiler are the Regional Directors for the Eurasia Region
that stretches from Russia
through Eastern Europe,Central Asia, the Middle East/North Africa and
down to Southern Asia which includes Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the last
southeastern stop before the Asia Pacific Region begins at Myanmar. This is the
first visit to Bangladesh for the Beilers so they were able to be
introduced to the different people and ministries in Bangladesh. Eurasia
contains the largest population of non-Christians in the world. Eurasia
is home to the largest portion of the Hindu and Muslim world and has been
the birthplace of not only Hinduism but also other religions such as
Buddhism.
The Roof Garden
Roof Top Gardens
A team of nine members of the Convoy of Hope ministry have been visiting
Bangladesh for the past couple of weeks. Not only have they helped at
the ministries in "the Place" but they have also been able to help with a
need at the Home
of Hope. With 240 children along with staff food is a large
concern and expense. At the HOH we are trying to create as many
self-supported projects as possible. One of those is to utilize what
normally is wasted space by having roof top gardens. The team was able
to put in the beds where seeds have been planted for vegetables.
The Youth ARE Alive in Bangladesh
Darin Stroud, the ministries director for Kansas and Travis Dummond with the Kansas Youth Alive visited Bangladesh
for a time of show and tell. They were able to help share some of the
insights they have from years of experience putting together Youth
Conventions. They shared for two days some of the principles and ideas
for conducting youth meetings and then for two days helped in a small
youth conference of about 300 young people at the Home of Hope.
Our young people did a great job. Leaders are
raising up. Plans are already in the works for nine divisional youth
meetings in the next few months. There is an emerging Bangladesh of
young people with new hopes and plans. This is great day for
Bangladesh.
One
of the most exciting things that has happened recently is the opening the
Ministry Outreach (MO) office.Kallal Chowdhury who has worked in our Bengali Media Ministries office
for a few years has moved over to help launch the new MO office.Recognizing that media now ranges from
print to YouTube the MO office is a combination of the evangelism literature of
Global University that has been in operation for over 35 years to the "new
media" of websites, podcasts, blogs and YouTube videos to reach out to Bengalis
all over the world.
GlobalReach.org
is a site in connection with the Global University of the AG.Students can go to that site, choose
Bengali as a language choice and study in the Bengali language.More courses are being added almost
daily.Needless to say we are
excited about this amazing way to get these materials out in one of the most
cost effective ways we could ever think of.
Media Seminar Begins
The
Media Seminar for the training of a variety of attendeesbegan Aug 30 and will continue
until Sept 24.About twenty people
will take part in the training through the course of the next few weeks.The training will help bring up the
next group media people to reach out to the masses of people of Southern
Asia.Bengali Media Ministries
staff, Media Outreach staff, a delegate from Sri Lanka, 5 Home of Hope young
people, and a variety of other interested people will be getting training on a
broad range of topics involving media in outreach.
Henry
Marsh, facilitator of the Media Commission of the AGWM is the primary trainer
for the month long events.Joining
him will be Derek Sasmon from Lincoln NE and Missionary Mark Williams.Each of the trainers will be sharing
their areas of expertise.
With
the masses of populations in our part of the world media provides the most
effective way of reaching out those who might not get a chance otherwise to
hear of the love of God.
Pray
with us for the next emerging generation of communicators.They are mostly very young but they are
the ones who have an idea of how their generation thinks and feels.
Graduation for the Home of Hope students
We
have come to a wonderful time in the years of the Home of Hope. Our
"children" that started so many years ago are each year beginning to
graduate. This year three of our young people are ready to leave the Home of Hope to enter life.
Five
others are entering the two year time we call the Transition Program.
In the Transition Program the young people have two years to learn how
to take care of themselves. They also take this time to enter schools
and get jobs until they are completely on their own.
KANSAS TEAM comes to Bangladesh
A team of 12 from Kansas recently visited Bangladesh. Led by Pam Barber the team was able to help with teachers training, physicals for the Home of Hope children, training the beginning of Missionettes in Bangladesh, and children's church.
The guys also helped with some brick laying at the site for the Bible school Campus, rearranging school storage,welding of what will be a store run by the children and painting of the Bethesda church that meets at the Home of Hope.
Of course the weather was normal for this time of year in Bangladesh so it was hot and humid.
Also from Kansas are the Pardee's from Good News church in Topeka. The Pardee's not only joined in with the rest of the team but in the past two months they were able to help with many educational needs as well as some organizational planning. Rick was able to help with several electrical needs at the HOH and the planning of the new store building made out of two shipping containers.
HOME OF HOPE ADDS HANDICRAFT STORE
The
Home of Hope is involved with several efforts to generate income inside
the country to help defray costs. This past week we were able to have
the grand opening of the HOH Handicraft store. Items such as handmade
Christmas cards, clothes from the sewing project, as well as other
items that have been prepared at the HOH are now on sale at the store.
Donny
Johnson is the CFO of ALCO stores in the US. With 258 locations in the
US he is familiar with store openings therefore we were able to have
Donny cut the ribbon to officially open up the new HOH venture.
Donny Johnson and family visit Bangladesh
Donny and Tammie Johnson just visited Bangladesh with their three daughters Brianna, Bailey, and Brittany. The Johnsons have had a great interest in Bangladesh and have helped in amazing ways.
Several years ago Donny was moved by the Lord to help build a church in Bangladesh. He then visited Bangladesh along with Dwain Jones and others. God spoke to Donny to help in even greater ways which he has done. He and his family provided funds to build the HOH Youth Home in Koligram along with several other churches throughout the country.
As the Johnson family visited we were able to have a dedication of the Youth Home in Koligram this past week.
The Johnsons
Youth home dedication
JUNE 2009 SEMINAR LARGER THAN EVER
Three times a year there is a seminar in conjunction with the Assemblies of God Bible College. Students are invited in and we stress salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the call of God.
Keep in mind that in the present facilities we only have 60 beds. Our attendance at these meetings this time was 127. I think you can see why building the Bible training facilities is important. The Campus training center has 3 foundations in with two in progress. Completion is slated for Nov of this year for all five buildings.
Very few if any of the young people who attend this seminar have any idea about the things of God before being sent by their pastors. We are constantly amazed at how God has used these meetings. I asked the Dean of Students how many had accepted the Lord this time. The answer:127. Many want to come for Bible school in January.
As a reminder scholarships for students cost $500 for a year. If you or your church can help sponsor a student please do so through AGWM, Bangladesh Bible School Scholarships.
STAFF APPRECIATION DINNER
Each year we have a dinner honoring our staff and giving awards for those who
have been faithful for 5, 10, 20 years and more. This year the staff
surprised Sharon and I by making us a part of the recipients of the
award. July 24, 2009 will mark our anniversary of our arrival in Bangladesh 30
years ago.
For some reason people often comment on our length of stay in Bangladesh.
For us it is easy. God called clearly and we came. Then He has said
anything else about anywhere else. It has been our joy to serve in Bangladesh.
Challenge and Opportunity Often Coincide
In the past two days we have had both challenges and opportunities
present themselves. What to do? My thoughts on that...as much as we can.
Yesterday another cyclone (hurricane) hit Bangladesh. Preliminary reports say that several churches and schools of the Bangladesh Assemblies of God have been affected. You probably just received an email about those issues.
On top of that, I just learned that on two fronts
finances that were hoped for or expected for the building of the Bible
school building will be less. Two directions on the same day. The
greatest difficulty on that is that a total of about $50,000 to not be
coming in and we have already signed contracts on those funds.
Add to these challenges an opportunity that seems
to be emerging. Just this afternoon the neighbor next to the land that
we are building on let someone know that he may be willing to sell his
property. It would be a great opportunity if it were possible.
My guess is that it would be another $50,000 to be able to secure that land.
Need.
How to deal with it. Both are important. One set of "challenges" helps
the hurting in churches and schools the other set helps the future for
workers in the harvest as does the possible "opportunities". It
usually is best not to present too many things all at the same time but
what do you do when they happen at the same time?
Quite honestly all I know to do about all of this
is to pray and let God be God. He will direct, He always does. That's
why He left us with another Comforter. We have had to many times
where He has helped that there is not reason for us to worry or fear
now. All I ask is that you help us pray. And then we will let God
amaze us again.
Hurricane Alia Hits Bangladesh
We have just received a report from the Chairman (superintendent) of the Bangladesh Assemblies of God. Hurricane Alia hit yesterday and this report is about affected churches.
Please pray for all of those who are going through those struggles right now.
Blessings Larry Smith
From Rev Jonathan Munshi
Cyclone Alia hits Bangladesh!
Hundreds
of people have been killed by cyclone Alia that ripped
throughBangladesh, while millions remained marooned by floodwater.
Cyclone Alia slammed coastal areas
of Bangladesh triggering
10 - 15 feet tidal surges destroying crops, houses, cattle, roads &
embankments. Alia swept many areas still recovering from cyclone Sidr in November 2007, which killed 5700 & made at least a million homeless.The
worst affected areas are Satkhira, Mongla, Chalna where we have
churches & schools. The reports are coming of churches, houses
& schools being destroyed & damaged.
The
immediate need is clean water & food. The long term need will be
rebuilding houses & constructing cyclone shelters which can be
used also as church & school. The Reuters reports that the
situation here is alarming & death tool & diseases will go
out of control if nothing is done now.
Church in Bangladesh has
already started the relief work. Asking you to help as well. Please
pray for this nation & people who suffers so many times so that
they turn to God for ultimate salvation.
Rev: Jonathan L. Munshi Chairman
Bangladesh Assemblies of God
Update on the Campus
We
are deep into the building process for the new buildings that we are
calling The Campus. The Campus will house the Assemblies of God Bible
College, Global University, Christian Teachers Training Institute, and
the Outreach Seminars.
No building program it seems goes without
challenges. We have had ours. We have now had at least five
measurements of the land to satisfy all of the neighbors around. We now are putting up the boundary walls
and fences on sure measured land. Already the foundations of two of
the five buildings are either in or nearly complete. Our goal is to
have a dedication of the Campus in November of this year.
SAGU Team
Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) has again helped Bangladesh
by sending out a team of students. The SAGU team came to help with our
Bengali Media Ministries department. BMM produces a weekly children's
program and constantly wants and needs fresh input.
The SAGU team was able to not only help with producing segments for the
children's program but the ladies on the team helped in the beginnings
of a new program that is being developed for future broadcast.
The new
program will have a target audience of Bengali speaking women literally all over the world. Through the satellite TV
station that we have used our programs go into places where there are
pockets of Bengali speakers in such places as London, Riyadh, and New
York as well as many other countries.
We love to have teams come and share their skills and creativity. If
you have team that would be interested in coming please let us know. Contact us through our email address at LRSESMITH@gmail.com
EASTER IN BANGLADESH
I love celebrating the Christian holidays in Bangladesh!
Easter of course is the most special holiday of all. Because there is an Easter we certainly have a great hope.
This year I got to speak at the Mirpur church in Dhaka for the Good Friday service.
The Mirpur church is not very old and is filled with young people.
The Mirpur AG has been meeting in a tiny room where they have had to
have 2 services and each have been packed. Palm Sunday was the first service in a new rented facility where several ministries will soon open up.
When Good Friday
came the new room though it was not even finished yet was full with
nearly 200 people. Already they will need to look forward to multiple
services.
Then I also was asked to speak at the Sunrise service
at the Bethesda church where the children at the Home of Hope
attend. After a breakfast together then at the baptismal service 40 of
our HOH young people were baptized in water. We are so proud of them.
Later a special lunch followed by a bit of fun with the annual Easter Egg Hunt made it a full and great day.
COMPUTER "GEEK" TEAM TRAINS TRAINERS
A team from Open Doors along with Christian Chapel in Tulsa have
just given a couple of weeks of training the future trainers at the
Home of Hope. Teachers along with students were divided into three
groups as Curtis Neimeister and Raymond Oglesby taught classes.
The
computers may be a little bit on the older side but we have
them. The reason we have them is because they were donated by people
from Christian Chapel in Tulsa, Stew Van Arsdale who does this as an
ongoing ministry, our son-in-law Brad Rostocil, and all with the help
of First Assembly of God in Caney, Kansas.
Mike and Virginia Morris have helped collect computers along with so
many other things and then were able to send them by way of containers.
It is absolutely amazing.
We now have a computer lab in the Hope School
with 30 computers and then a computer room for the Home of Hope with
more than 30 computers. Offices throughout the many ministries have
also been populated with these computers. There are six of them at the
Bengali Media Ministries offices available for young people to come
learn animation. Because of those we already have one animator that
now works full time with the BMM and several who are making segments
for our international satellite children's TV program in Bengali.
Massive Meeting
Some say there were 4 million, some say there may have been as many as 6 million people who met north of Dhaka yesterday. The Ijtema is a meeting that happens every year about this time of the year. A group of friends from Kansas were here and we were able to go and view this massive crowd of people as the three day meeting finished.
I can't help but believe that in the heart of each person there is a God sized hole waiting to be filled. If it is not filled then there is an eternity to face with nothing but emptiness.
Our Containers Are In
A few months ago a crane loaded up four containers in Caney, Kansas. That marked more than a couple of years of collecting a myriad of things for several ministries and three missionary families in Bangladesh. Every thing from mattresses, to food items, to computers, and books. Thousands of spiral notebooks were in the containers. Hundreds of thousands of pencils were there. Again Pastor Mike and Virginia Morris and their amazing congregation had packed barrels and banana boxes to then load on the four containers.
The Women's Ministries of Oklahoma helped purchase 100 tables and 500 chairs for the Bible school. Our son-in-law, Brad helped with over 40 computers and monitors that joined with the computer equipment gathered by Christian Chapel in Tulsa and Stew Van Arsdale of the Africa Field office. Sister Dotie from Crown Pointe A/G in Lee's Summit again gave many puppets that are literally seen all over the world on our children's satellite TV program.
All of these were added with many items from Women Ministry closets and individuals and churches from all over the US. It is amazing. Then with the offerings of many more we were able to ship, pay customs charges and finally truck the tens of thousand of pounds of goods to the Home of Hope site where the many items are being given to the Home of Hope children, the Assemblies of God Bible College, Bengali Media Ministries, and to many of the children in the churches throughout the country.
The Morris' "Ministry of Stuff" have helped Bangladesh each time we have been on our year of deputation ministry. They already have a container ready and have already begun collecting for the "next time". Brenda Helmle in Tulsa already has a couple of lawnmowers and a bicycle ready for that next time.
Thank God for the amazing giving of things that literally thousands of people have been a part gathering to give to the ministries in Bangladesh.
Thank you to everyone that has helped in this amazing effort.
Bengali Media Ministry Gets UNICEF Award
We are so proud of Rintu Adhikary and the Bengali Media Ministry team. UNICEF Head office is giving a award to the team on Nov 11 for UNICEF's best children TV program. Three types of children programs and three program's directors were selected from all the Bengali TV channels. There were about 100 episodes sent for this competition .
Bengali Media Ministry is doing a great work. Literally tens of millions of people are touched by the ministry on radio and TV. Half of the population of Bangladesh is below the age of 16. If the youth population of Bangladesh were a country of their own they would be the fifteenth largest country in the world. The programs that BMM produce have a target age of about 12 years old.
If you and your church/ team would like to help expand this ministry, you can contact us at lrsesmith@aol.com or through AGWM.
WE WANT BUILDING TEAMS!!
From the end of Feb-July 2009 we would love to have your building team come help us with a very important and ambitious project. We are moving the Bible school building plus adding other Bible training levels to a new site. People have begun calling the site "The Campus".
First phase is the ground floors of five buildings. We want several teams to come help us lay brick for these buildings.
We are now adding a new congregation every three weeks in Bangladesh. But, because of the cramped conditions at present facilities we are only graduating 12-15 students each year. This is simply not enough for the current growth.
To let us know of your interest please contact us at lrsesmith@aol.com
Clearing the Land
Brother Godfrey Baroi
and about ten boys from the Bible school spent one of their holidays
clearing the weeds, old pineapple plants, and brush from the new land for Bible training. They clear 3/4 of
the roughly three and a half acres of land in preparation for
topography surveys and soil tests.
We are well into plan the process of developing the land. We are looking for building teams to lay brick from March-July 2009.
This is no small project. Phase one is the ground floors of 5
buildings. We would love to have several teams. It will take the help
of many. It might be best to contact us early to be able to schedule a
time that works best for your team.
The new property will not only house the AGBS that
has raised up so many leaders already but we are add two or three other
schools as well. We are planning to extend the Christian Teachers
Training Institute as well as adding the Global University program as a
on campus school in English.
The Campus
Dave Damron has given us a great week of architectural work. He
has done the initial drawings for the property where we will have Bible
training, discipleship training, teacher training, and higher training for future leaders. We are calling the new property simply "The Campus".
In just a few short days Dave has drawn the plans, plotted out the buildings on the plot map, talked with the structural engineers, and helped plan the way to start the actual work.
We have learned not to cheat the future. Therefore, Dave has
drawn the plans for foundations to be able to go as high as six stories
in years to come. Right now however, the first phase is for seven
buildings on the first floor.
Containers ready to go to Bangladesh
Today we watched as four trucks came to Caney, Kansas where a crane picked up four containers, lifted them onto the trucks and sent them on their way headed for Bangladesh.
First Assembly of God in Caney pastored by Mike and Virginia Morris have a unique ministry. They gather "stuff". For over a year the Morris' and their congregation have collected a huge assortment of things to send to Bangladesh. The items will be used for the Home of Hope, the Bible school, and for schools.
There are over 100,000 pencils, 100 tables, 500 chairs, barrels full of detergent, toothpaste, as well as thousands of spiral notebooks. There are simply too many things to list here. The itemized list is 27 pages long.
This is the fourth time that the church in Caney have prepared items for the ministry in Bangladesh. There has not been a tally yet but four years ago the items collected were worth over $500,000. This time there were more containers and quite likely the value will exceed previous times.
The Morris' have networked with people from all walks of life and have donations from many other towns and states. The congregation has taken on the vision of providing things to support not only the ministry in Bangladesh but several other projects in the US such as inner city Chicago, a ministry in the Appalachians, as well as a work in Mexico.
It is amazing what a small but committed and motivated group of people can do.
Basketball Camp
Was a wonderful camp with excited experiences for the children in Home of Hope. Brother Pierre and some other volunteers stayed with the children the whole day long. In the
morning till lunch they taught the boys and in the afternoon they were with the
Girls. They had lunch with the children and provided t-shirts for them. There
were 4 colors, Red blue green and white.
Thanks to the volunteer team who invested their time to impact lives of children in Home of Hope.
Land found
We asked you to pray. I think you did. We found the land for the Bible school.
I'm in Bangladesh for about three weeks. One of my biggest challenges
was to find land for the needed move of the Bible school. We have been
looking for months. Yesterday I went with our team to look at two more
pieces. On the way someone called and told us a piece we had already
tried to get was still available. Instead of looking at more land we
were able to make an offer on the piece that we had wanted anyway. It
was the only piece of land that some of us had walked off two or three
times. It was the only one that all agreed would be the best. We all
were rather overwhelmed how easily it went.
We still have to do the paperwork to make sure the land papers are all secured. Pray that the rest of this goes well.
As
soon as the land is bought we will begin the process of laying
foundations. We are actively looking for many building teams to come
during the six month period between Jan 15 and July 2009. If you are interested in bringing a team please let us know so we can get a schedule started.
Also, if you or your church would be interested in helping with funds
for Bible school please contact us. We also need sponsorships for
students. We would like to have 100 students for the 2009 school year.
It takes $500 to put a student through a year of school.
Land found
Bible school graduation
Prayer Requests
Bible School Land The Bible
School that we started in 1985 has outgrown the facilities. That's a
great problem. There is a new congregation started every three weeks in
Bangladesh.
In 1979 we had 12 churches. Today we have over 400. We only have 150
pastors. To train more workers we need to move and add room for more
students.
Pray as we are right now searching for land to build on. Costs are
escalating by the day. Pray that by the end of May we will have found a
piece of land that will work. There are a couple of pieces that we
could work. Pray that the Lord will direct us to the best place.
Home of Hope Student Pray
for one of our Home of Hope children. I'll not mention his name but he
has been with us for several years. He came to us because the health of
both parents was in jeopardy and their lives were in a very difficult
position. Since coming both his father and mother have passed away.
Recently extended family members have come saying they want to take the
child. At first it sounds like a good thing but there are suspicious
things involved that has let us know they do not have the child's best
interest at heart. Please pray for this child's well being. There have
been threats of lawsuits and the such but we are committed to help
secure this child's future as best we can.
Quarterly
Seminar Continues to see God Work in Lives
Each quarter we have a seminar where
young people from all backgrounds are invited by pastors all over the country
to come for a concentrated time of teaching and preaching. Each time
salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the call of God are emphasized.
The March seminar has had 72 young people and the report is as it often
is, "almost everyone accepted Jesus as their personal Savior".
Pray for the students as they return
home. God has used these seminars as a feeder into the Bible school.
Most of our pastors today had their starts in these seminars. Pray
that again there will be young men and women called into ministry.
The next seminar will be in June.
March Newsletter
Silver Jubilee
25th Silver Jubilee
The 25th Silver Jubilee of the Assemblies of God Church School was held recently in Dhaka.
The AGCS is a joint ministry of the two churches that are housed at our Dhaka Evangelistic Center. The school started with 18 children and now has over 700 in two shifts. The school has classes up to class five and is able to sing Christian songs, read the scripture, and pray every day.
Former students, current students, parents, and former and current board members and staff were in attendance. Maybe 3-4,000 people in all attended the three separate meetings throughout the day. Students have gone from the school and many are now in successful careers literally around the world. Doctors, engineers, teachers, and many other fields are represented by these former students.
For twenty-five years Sharon has been the unpaid honarary principal of the AGCS. This particular school was not set up as a free school like most of our 60 other schools throughout the country. The AGCS has had government official's children, business leader's children, as well as leaders from the Christian community who have sent their sons and daughters. The income generated from the AGCS has been able to offset expenses for the ongoing operations of the Dhaka Center but also has had income for the Bangladesh Assemblies of God as well as the Dhaka AG Church and the Bethel AG church. Those funds have in turn been used for local ministries as well as ministries throughout the country.
"Pastors receiving copies of the 'Fire Bible' at the launch in Dhaka
FIRE BIBLE LAUNCHED IN BANGLADESH
After several years of planning, translation, formatting, and printing the "Fire Bible" was finally completed and officially launched. The Gospel Publishing Center led by Mark Good along with the help of Dulal Sarkar and their team produced the Bengali version of the Fire Bible which is one of several languages that the Fire Bible has been translated into in the past several years.
Director of the international project for the Fire Bible is Herb Griffin who was on hand for the launch. Many pastors in Bangladesh from many denominations were on hand and received the first copies of the new Bible.
The Fire Bible as it has become known is a project of the Assemblies of God World Missions. Missionary Don Stamps from Kansas along with his family produced the notes from a Pentecostal perspective first for the many churches in Brazil. The value of the project was seen by leadership and the Bible was then put into English and followed by many other language groups.
Recently Wycliff Bible translators noted that Bengali has become the fourth largest language group in the world. The Fire Bible has potential for multiplied millions of people to have this great study tool in Bengali.
The Assemblies of God Bible School Graduation
The Assemblies of God Bible School celebrated the 21st graduation of students. AGBS has graduated many students through the years. Some 85% of all graduates are in the ministry today. This has helped the dramatic growth of the church in the past several years.
Following the graduation this year there will be a first. Two days later two students will be marrying. Shortly after that they will enter the pastorate of a village church that they have already had a part in pioneering.
Pray for the new students as they enter ministry.
Home of Hope Students Emerging
The Home that started in Hope is beginning to enter the years of payoff. We started the Home of Hope with 7 little boys in a two room apartment. That was 1991. Soon the number went to 16 and now to over 200.
The church had been weak in the country and God began to show us that to have a generation who would serve Him we needed to raise one up. Now 15 years later those original boys have now left the HOH and are beginning to enter life. Two are in university, six are in college, and one is a salesman in a large paint company in the country.
One of the students is Phanuel. Phanuel is attending college in Dhaka and helping out with the Bengali Media Ministries on a part time basis. Phanuel as a small boy at the HOH was always a "character." He had the ability to do hilarious impromptu skits. He was also the "go to" boy who everyone called on to do whatever task was needed.
Phanuel has used those abilities to create a character on the weekly TV program that airs in Bangladesh. Phanuel has created the Mr.Bean-like character that is one of the many short segments in the weekly program. The program is aimed at those who are 12 years old or less and has a Christian theme that amazingly we have been able to air for the past 3 years.
It is immensely rewarding to see our HOH children begin to enter life. They have come from some of the worst circumstances but have been given opportunity to tackle life at whatever level God allows in their lives. We expect great things.
The Television Ministry
Bangladesh is in a time of rapid change. It doesn't look like it at first but things are happening. I just saw a statistic that I could hardly believe. In 1995 only 8% of the population had access to TV. Today in an ACNielsen survey they have found that 65% of those 15 or older get to see TV at least once a week. 41% have TV in their households.
That amazes me when I know there are still millions in villages who have no electricity! This presents a great challenge and a great opportunity. Yes, the TV can bring a lot of unwanted things into the home. That by itself is not good. If we ignore the opportunity then it is tragic news. But we are determined to not ignore what can be done. We are on TV with a children's program right now. The message is palatable for the secular audience but clearly imbedded. Pray that God gives us more opportunities.
Again, this coming holiday season Rintu and his crew have been asked to prepare a program for the religious holiday time. We remain shocked and amazed at the opportunity.
The Radio Ministry
The Great Questions of Life radio ministry has many inquirers. The director contacts those who are searching and often directs them to special meetings that are held from time to time in different areas.
One of the meetings that people are often directed to are the seminars held by the Assemblies of God Bible School each quarter. Mostly the participants are young people who come for two weeks and sit under intense day long teaching and preaching for about two weeks. The teaching is mostly emphasizing salvation, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the call of God.
Last year a slightly older man came and accepted the call to salvation. Later he was in a larger meeting held by the Bangladesh Assemblies of God and followed the Lord in baptism. He comes from an area where most are not believers and there are no churches nearby. This year he sent his nephew to the meetings who followed the same commitment as his uncle.
Not having a church nearby he wrote to the radio ministry and asked what he could do. He was directed to a district pastor who sympathized but couldn't do much about his need. He had taken a train for over three hours one way just to talk to the pastor. Seeing the need but not knowing what to do about it he has offered to give land so a place of worship may be built so he can worship in his new found faith.
Pray for a building for that village. Also pray for the nephew who plans with urging of his uncle to enter Bible school this coming January.
Graduation for the Home of Hope students
for future broadcast. 
old and is filled with young people.
The Mirpur AG has been meeting in a tiny room where they have had to
have 2 services and each have been packed. 
attend. After a breakfast together then at the baptismal service 40 of
our HOH young people were baptized in water. We are so proud of them.
