You’re equipping leaders to grow God’s Church in Bangladesh

“My family and I used to live an unbelieving life,” begins Bimal, a former Hindu. But today, this 36-year-old pastor and a Bible League-trained church planter in northern Bangladesh is sharing God’s Word with people in his Santal indigenous community.

It’s not an easy task.

Reaching the Santal

Nestled in India’s crook, about 215,000 Santal people call Bangladesh home. Only about 8% of them follow Jesus. Most people like Bimal follow the gods and goddesses of Hinduism. Bimal’s family worshipped cows, roosters, and the goddess of wealth and purity—Lakshmi.

Many Santal people have little education, little money, and even less hope. In his village not too far from the border of India, Bimal raises cows and takes on daily wage labor when possible to support his wife and two sons.

Shining light in the darkness

Before he came to Christ, Bimal says he lived a “dark life.” He followed the rituals of Hinduism. He did drugs. God’s Word freed him.

When a pastor from a nearby village shared the Gospel with him, Bimal discovered the hope of Jesus. Bimal recalls, “Before I accepted Christ Jesus, I used to perform various religious and social rituals. But there was no real salvation in my life. When I came to the Word of God, I was assured of my salvation.” His family also began following Christ. Today, he pastors the same church that brought Him to the Savior.

But many in his community remain trapped in that same life he once led. They are lost in spiritual darkness. Bimal has seen the light of Jesus in his own life. And he knows God’s Word is the only thing that can guide them out of their darkness.

Bimal explains, “There are many people in my area who are in such a dark life. There is no salvation in their lives. They still do not know the true God. They are still in the dark. But I know and have seen that God’s Word changes people’s lives.”

Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was there with God in the beginning. Everything was made through him, and nothing was made without him. In him there was life, and that life was a light for the people of the world. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated it. John 1:1-5 ERV

Finding courage

Eventually, Bimal met a Bible League-trained Christian who helped him grow in faith and told him about Bible League’s Church Planter Training. For a long time, Bimal’s fear and lack of training kept him from sharing the Gospel. His heart desired to spread the Good News in his community. Yet he didn’t feel brave enough to reach out to people. That all changed when he attended Church Planter Training. Through the program, God gave Bimal the courage and confidence to spread the light of Christ to his people. Now, nothing can stand in his way.

“With this Church Planter Training, I can share the Gospel in a very beautiful way with people in my community. The training helped me overcome the obstacles and fears I previously faced. I was afraid to talk about Jesus before. I’m not afraid anymore. I speak about Jesus whenever I get the chance,” he says boldly.

Bimal shares that Church Planter Training gave him a clear understanding of evangelism. He learned how to effectively share the Good News with others. “The various teachings from Church Planter Training have deepened my understanding of God’s Word.”

Now, Bimal is actively working towards planting a new branch of his church in a neighboring Santal community. He uses the training and Bible study materials from friends like you to spread the Gospel to his people. Through his ministry, six families have already started following Jesus. He explains, “Through these Bible study groups, I’ve helped them experience a spiritual awakening in their personal lives.”

He can’t help but smile when he thinks about how you made a difference in his life. He gushes, “This teaching of yours has spiritually uplifted and encouraged everyone in my congregation. It has changed the lives of many people like me in Bangladesh. Thank you very much! May God bless you, more and more, to work for His kingdom.”

Growing God’s Church

Across Bangladesh and around the globe, God is building up leaders like Bimal. In 2024, more than 92,000 people were reached with God’s Word in Bangladesh. That’s a 415% increase since 2019— and the most people reached with the Gospel there through Bible League’s ministry in more than a decade. God is on the move, bringing the light of Jesus to those who crave it most.

Bimal knows there are still so many in his community who are hungering for the same hope he has found. There is still so much work to do. So many who need to know there is light.

“Just as my family’s life has changed through God’s Word, it can change the lives of all the people in my Santal community,” he says. “God’s Word gives light, peace, and joy in people’s lives. So, I will share about Jesus. I will reveal the good news of God’s salvation. May they, like me, change their lives in Jesus.”

 Later, Jesus talked to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never live in darkness. They will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12 ERV