Baptisms, magic amulets and hope

19/02/2009

Almost 50 baptisms have been celebrated in Bangladesh, the direct result of an evangelism programme led by the Bangladesh Baptist Church Union (BBCS) and supported by BMS World Mission.

The 49 baptisms took place at a single ceremony in Chappai, north-west Bangladesh, amongst tribal people.

 

These are mainly animist groups, and the BBCS started church planting work there in 1996.

Since then, 30 churches, with a total of 1,200 members have grown around Chappai – all thanks to the work of God through just eight BBCS church planters, financially supported by BMS.

The four ordained pastors and four trained evangelists each look after several churches, as well as working at planting new fellowships among the small villages of mainly subsistence farmers, usually separated by just a few miles.

Before the service, Rev Milton Biswas, General Secretary of the BBCS, gave an inspirational talk and told the assembled crowd that the Holy Spirit had made him aware that some baptismal candidates were still wearing ‘magical’ charms and amulets on their waists or wrists, symbols of their former animist forms of worship. In a dramatic gesture, he asked candidates to find any of their remaining amulets and remove them. The amulets were then flung over a nearby wall and the baptismal service began.

BBCS pastors and evangelists in these areas generally take the approach of evangelising entire families rather than individuals, thereby avoiding some of the social problems created by individuals becoming estranged from their communities.

Margaret Gibbs, BMS Regional Secretary for Asia, who was present at the service, said that it was very encouraging to see such a successful ministry initiated, led and brought to fruition by Bangladeshis, among Bangladeshis.

“BMS is delighted to be able to encourage this relatively young evangelising work,” she said. “I cannot imagine a more natural and fruitful means for people to be led to Christ in these communities.”