Religious minorities have suffered greatly under the recent unrest that drove Bangladesh’s former prime minister to India and brought in a new interim government. BBC News recently proved some Muslim-Hindu persecution claims on social media to be false.

However, many recent occasions of political or religious violence are all too true.

“Political parties who were opposite from the previous government are taking different kinds of opportunities. Anybody from the previous government’s party, they are being tortured,” Paul says.

“Even [everyday citizens,] if their address is from the same district [as] the last Prime Minister, they are also being harassed or tortured.”

The instability is affecting Gospel work. A3 recently decided to postpone travel and meetings between Bangladeshi leaders and international cohorts until the situation stabilizes.

“[The] police system is still not fully working, so attacks can happen at any time,” Paul says.

Ask the Lord to continue protecting believers. Pray that the political situation will stabilize further and that minority fears will decrease.

“Some people who are fundamental Islamists stated that [Bangladesh] is their country, and minority people should not be in this country,” Paul says. “Other Muslim people [are] saying, ‘No, no, the minority people should be safe, and [it] is our duty to protect them.’”

*Pseudonym

Header image depicts student protesters in Bangladesh. (Photo courtesy of Rayhan9d/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Police officers refuse to return to work. Many vanished from their posts after facing mob violence for their role in hundreds of protester deaths.

“It’s (Bangladesh is) ruled by the mob right now. When you have hundreds of people gathering, who will step in the way of that?” FARMS International’s Scott Clifton says.

“The military hasn’t been able to maintain order. The police force hasn’t been able to maintain order. It’s affecting anybody who’s [in] a minority group.”

Hindus protest the mistreatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh on August 12, 2024.
(Wikimedia Commons)

FARMS’ primary contact in Bangladesh says gangs are setting minorities’ houses on fire, and people are dying in the chaos. He tells Clifton, “Our days of terror are not over yet.”

“The first step for our contacts in the country is survival,” Clifton says. “They’re praying, they’re taking it moment by moment. Once there is stability, there will be an assessment of the damage and a plan made about how to move forward.”

So far, this believer has lost $30,000 worth of inventory designated to support ministry projects. “Although FARMS is focused on long-term development, part of that long-term development might be re-establishing businesses that can continue to support people locally,” Clifton notes.

The most important thing YOU can do is pray. “Our action item is to pray, to appeal to God on behalf of all the believers in Bangladesh,” Clifton says.

“[Pray] that He would protect them, that ministry would continue, that He would even use the hardships to soften many people’s hearts and open them to the Gospel.”

Pray also for a peaceful resolution to the current unrest and end the economic “bleeding.” “The economic situation in Bangladesh has been really bad. Now, with everything shut down, it’s [even worse,]” Clifton says.

“You have many people [living] below the poverty line, depending on day laborers’ wages to provide for that week’s food. Everything is closed, so people can’t find work, and there is a lot of economic stress. Once [the situation] stabilizes and people can earn an income to support their family and put food on the table, that will go a long way towards stability in the country.”

Header image depicts a public celebration following the forced ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024. (Wikimedia Commons)

Wycliffe Associates’ Tony Tophoney says former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left a power vacuum when she fled to India last week. Minorities are paying the price of lax governmental control.

“The police stepped back and kind of ‘circled the wagons’ [and] the people left out on the fringes of the society are the minority [groups] like Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians,” Tophoney says.

“The opposition party has been waiting for a moment like this. They were burning down Christian churches and Hindu temples, beating the believers in their homes.”

The unrest is directly affecting Wycliffe Associates’ partners. “All Bible translation work in Bangladesh has ceased due to the conflict because most of the Christians are hiding in colonies now,” Tophoney says.

Hindus protest the mistreatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh on August 12, 2024.
(Wikimedia Commons)

“With the violence ramping up and the uncertainty of the political situation, those colonies are being threatened and attacked by the opposition party.”

Many believers have fled to makeshift refugee camps on the border with India, hoping to escape across the border to safety. However, “the Indian authorities are guarding their border and stopping them from going any further,” Tophoney says.

“They’re stuck in that situation and don’t have any food because the agitators have made it impossible for those groups to access food.”

Ask the Lord to intervene and help as only He can. “We’d love to have your prayers,” Tophoney says.

“We need them desperately for South Asia and Bangladesh in general, that the Lord will protect the believers and protect the small light that burns for Christ. It is a fragile light, but it has been burning brightly.”

Header image depicts student protestors on July 11, 2024. Students launched the “Bangla Blockade” following a one-point demand for scrapping all illogical and discriminatory quotas in public service through the enactment of a law and keeping a minimum quota for marginalized citizens in line with the constitution. (Wikimedia Commons) 

“The believers should have been released from prison by now as their sentences have expired. They should be at home, but they’re not,” says Greg Musselman with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada.

Six Protestant believers and five Catholics all began their prison terms at different times between 2011 and 2016. All of the missing Christians belonged to unregistered churches, and most believers were charged with “undermining national unity.”

“A lot of persecution is going on in some of the more remote places [where] access to lawyers and courts and things like that are not what it would be in the cities. It’s very, very difficult to get any information; they’re just stonewalled,” Musselman says.

“Can you imagine the families, their community, their friends, not knowing where they are? Are they alive? Have they been killed?” he continues.

“We continue to pray that they’ll be soon reunited with their families, but right now, it’s a total mystery.”

A prison in Vietnam.
(Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

Even though Christianity is legal in Vietnam, the Communist government often views believers with suspicion. More about that here.

“They do see [Christians] as somewhat enemies of the state, if you want to use that terminology,” Musselman says. “[Believers are] not going along with the communist ideology, so that concerns the government.”

Pray for the safe return of all 11 missing Christians. Ask the Lord to surround family members with His peace and comfort.

“Continue to pray for these 11 missing prisoners. These are brothers and sisters in Christ; we need to lift them up,” Musselman says.

Header image is a representative stock photo depicting everyday life in rural Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Tomáš Malík/Pexels)

On Sunday, officials said they were working to resolve attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities.

Victory march by protesters after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Hasina fled to India after weeks of student-led protests descended into violence. Scott Clifton with FARMS International says the government collapse paved the way for chaos.

“It provided an opportunity for Muslim fundamentalists to reign the land,” Clifton says. “There’s general lawlessness; these fundamentalists have free reign, and they’ve targeted minority groups, so Hindus have been targeted. Christians have been targeted as well.”

Hundreds of radical Muslims raided the property of FARMS’ primary contact in Bangladesh and took his employees hostage. Inventory losses totaled roughly $30,000.

“Our contact had his businesses completely looted,” Clifton says.

“Stolen livestock, stolen fish from fish ponds – that was money to support orphans and ministry efforts.”

FARMS’ contact tells Clifton he’s hopeful that interim PM Muhammad Yunus will restore security so believers can emerge from hiding.

“They’re fearful for their lives. They’re sheltered at home; they’ve locked every gate,” Clifton says.

“They limit communication because they’re not sure what’s monitored or not, and they’re just living in fear, praying moment by moment for protection.”

No matter what comes next, FARMS’ contact and his family are trusting in God’s faithful presence. Ask the Lord to deliver these believers from the hand of their enemy.

Header image depicts protestors in Bangladesh on August 2, 2024. (Wikimedia Commons)

Three Chinese warships arrived in a Myanmar port yesterday amid rising security concerns. Battles unfold daily, and nearly 200 civilians have been killed since the end of October.

“The military has been bombing and attacking villages. [In] one where we work, there were six adults and three children killed in recent attacks,” AMG International’s Brian Dennett says.

Every visit brings encouragement to those who need it most.
(Photo courtesy of AMG International)

Consecutive military governments have waged war against armed ethnic groups for decades, destroying villages and uprooting more than two million people. The current rebellion started on October 27, displacing 335,000 people in one month.

“This year alone, we’ve provided thousands with food and other urgent needs. But there’s so much more to be done,” Dennett says.

“Pastors in our network have been crying out for help with health supplies, food, and other relief items that we’ve been trying desperately to provide.”

AMG partners with churches throughout Myanmar to provide help for today and hope for tomorrow. Support AMG’s work in Myanmar here.

“Everything we do at AMG revolves around the Gospel. So, as we serve, we are sharing the hope that we have in Jesus.”

Some church members rely on AMG’s food aid to make it through the week. Pray for believers in Myanmar as they navigate political instability and uncertainty.

“Several families worked in foreign factories that closed due to the military regime and their control over everything,” Dennett says.

“We heard that 80 percent of these foreign factories closed, the employees [were] all laid off; they are now without work.”

Header image depicts Myanmar army tanks. (Wikimedia Commons)

“In late October, three defense groups came together, formed an alliance, and they intend to stretch this military government beyond capacity,” AMG International’s Brian Dennett says.

“They’re calling it the Three Brotherhood Alliance.”

Over a hundred army soldiers accepted payment from the Three Brotherhood Alliance to lay down their arms yesterday. It’s the largest surrender since widespread conflict began two years ago, giving the alliance traction across northern Myanmar.

“They’ve been able to capture several key towns [and] military posts” in the past two weeks, Dennett says.

“It’s the greatest test this government has had, giving a lot of hope that maybe they (the government) could be defeated.”

Armed ethnic groups have been fighting Myanmar’s central government for greater autonomy for decades, displacing more than a million people.

AMG’s national missionaries have provided 237 families with relief packets!
(Photo, caption courtesy of AMG International)

“The people of Myanmar have suffered so much, and the level of anger and frustration at the continued horrors the military has inflicted on its citizens is just unbelievable,” Dennett says.

Relentless violence and desperation open doors for the Gospel. AMG International works alongside local Christians to deliver help and hope in the name of Jesus. More about that here.

“Both pastors and our church network in Myanmar, and our extensive team in Thailand, [have] been working to provide food, health care, relief items, [meeting] urgent needs ever since this coup began in 2021,” Dennett says.

Header image depicts armoured personnel carrier used by Myanmar army. (Wikimedia Commons)

A church committee manages the microloan program, and believers repay their loans by tithing from the increase. Once a believer settles their debt, the church committee can start the loan process over again with another entrepreneur – like Sam.

(Photo courtesy of FARMS International)

“He’s taken out [a FARMS] loan to plant rubber trees in his field to provide jobs for believers under persecution,” says Caleb*, a FARMS International leader.

“A lot of these believers have been chased out of their villages and are not accepted back into society. They are hiding out at [the homes of] other Christian families or living in the jungles.”

By working for Sam, persecuted Christians can begin to support themselves. Plus, Sam wants to expand the program.

“In the future, he’ll start to bring animals in so that these persecuted Christians can have food and have [the] ability to raise animals and sell them for money,” Caleb says.

Ruth, another mission-minded believer in Southeast Asia, proactively seeks discipleship opportunities through her small business.

In Ruth’s country, many “people do not have money for (washing) machines, so they take their [laundry] to a business like hers,” Caleb explains.

Ruth used a FARMS loan to start her small laundromat a few years ago. Today, “she trains young ladies on how to run a business of washing clothes, ironing, drying clothes,” Caleb says.

“She also disciples and then sends [new believers] out to their communities so they can start little shops.”

You can help kickstart projects like these with a gift of any amount. Connect with FARMS International here.

“Pray for wisdom for these leaders and that they can come together as one family under God,” Caleb requests.

*Pseudonym

Header and story images courtesy of FARMS International.

Southeast Asia (MNN) — According to Bloomberg, Southeast Asia suffered significant stock losses when foreign funds rotated out of the region this year.

A believer we’ll call Caleb says the economic ripple effects combined with pandemic losses hit several FARMS International projects.

(Photo courtesy of FARMS International)

“We had to put them on hold for about a year so participants could build their finances back up. And with some of the programs, we’re still working through the different struggles,” Caleb says.

Some economists maintain a positive outlook, citing global trends that will benefit the region long term. Meanwhile, thousands of believers in the area struggle to make it through another day.

By working alongside the local church, FARMS’ revolving loan program equips believers to do more in the name of Jesus. More about that here.

Through the FARMS program, “they can have finances to support themselves and go out into the community to witness, show God’s love to the people, and disciple or train new believers,” Caleb explains.

In a country we cannot name for security purposes, meeting Christ through the FARMS program leads to life transformation. “A lot of them are farmers. Some do fruit trees and orchards, and others are rice farmers,” Caleb says of program participants.

“Some of them used to be opium farmers, but when they became believers, they changed from opium to coffee.”

By investing in FARMS, you can help them partner with more churches to start new programs. Most importantly, pray.

“A lot of them (Christian leaders) are tired because they’re the only leaders in their area, or they have many churches and don’t have time to rest. Pray for strength for them,” Caleb requests.

Header and story images courtesy of FARMS International.

Brian Dennett of AMG International says, “The poor people of Myanmar are not getting the exposure they need, and the situation is desperate.”

The country is in shambles following a 2021 coup. “This (ongoing conflict) has caused permanent damage,” Dennett says.

“There seems to be no end in sight, and it has put so much pressure on people – particularly Christians who were already marginalized in Myanmar.”

On Thursday, a new round of sanctions from the European Union sent the currency’s value plummeting again. On Sunday, Myanmar’s Central Bank announced a new banknote worth twice as much as the current highest denomination.

Authorities gave no reason for its release, but analysts connect it to the failing economy.

“Myanmar is headed for economic disaster. It is very hard for people to get basic supplies, food, water, and other essential things,” Dennett says.

Every visit brings encouragement to those who need it most.
(Photo courtesy of AMG International)

AMG International sends help for today and hope for tomorrow through its network of church partners in Myanmar. “We have a large team in Myanmar, an entire network of churches, and a team in Thailand,” Dennett says.

“Despite the government’s resistance, we have successfully been able to get in and distribute to those in need in quite a few communities across the country.”

Every visit brings encouragement to those who need it most. “People are hungry for Jesus; they seek hope in any way they can,” Dennett says.

Partner with AMG here to inspire hope, restore lives, and rebuild communities in the name of Jesus. Most importantly, pray. Ask the Lord to protect believers as they deliver aid.

“Our team is going behind enemy lines in Myanmar and looking to love, support, and share even from the little that they have. Pray for them,” Dennett requests.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Saw Wunna/Unsplash.