Home ANS Reports	Christianity 'exploding' in Bangladesh, despite persecution
Christianity 'exploding' in Bangladesh, despite persecution
by Mark Ellis April 3, 2017
written by Mark Ellis April 3, 2017
By Mark Ellis, Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
BANGLADESH (ANS – April 4, 2017) — Sandwiched between India and Myanmar, Bangladesh is the third largest Muslim-majority country in the world. Often beset by floods, cyclones and tornadoes roaring through the Bengal Delta, it also has the sad distinction of ranking number one in the world for children suffering malnutrition.
Bangladesh is 89% Muslim and nearly 10% Hindu, according to the Joshua Project, with Christians numbering less than one percent.
One ministry leader, who recently completed a fact-finding trip to the country, believes Christians are being undercounted. "Christianity is much larger and growing, especially in the rural areas," says Jim Jacobson, president of Christian Freedom International (CFI).
On his trip, Jacobson interviewed scores of indigenous Christian pastors, street evangelists, missionaries and converts to Christianity. "According to them, Christianity is on the increase and the growth is a cause of concern for the Muslim majority," he notes.
"As a result, persecution is on the increase against the fast growing, mostly underground Christian church."
One 60-year-old pastor, a former Muslim, reported to Jacobson that 20,000 Muslims have converted to Christianity among the hill tribes of northeast Bangladesh in the last 12 months. This pastor faces many hardships, has been beaten numerous times, and must pay bribes to police to continue his ministry.
Another pastor and Muslim convert to Christianity told Jacobson that in his district more than 6,000 have converted to Christ since 1991. This pastor has been targeted for assassination by ISIS. He told CFI, "Of course I am afraid, but when I think about my spiritual life I am not afraid. We continue to preach no matter what."
Photo captions: 1) CFI President Jim Jacobson visits with Christians in Bangladesh. 2) Dan Wooding makes a point to Mark Ellis when Mark co-hosted "Windows on the World."
About the writer: Mark Ellis is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), and is also the founder of www.GodReports.com, a website that shares testimonies and videos from the church around the world to build interest and involvement in world missions. Previously, Mark co-hosted a TV show called "Windows on the World" with ANS Founder, Dan Wooding, aired on the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (http://hsbn.tv/), which is now co-hosted by Dr. Garry Ansdell, Senior Pastor of Hosanna Christian Fellowship in Bellflower, California.
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Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis worked in the commercial real estate industry before he answered a call into full-time Christian ministry. For 9 years, he served as Asst. Pastor at Church by the Sea in Laguna Beach. He began writing about the church around the world in 1999 with the assistance of Dan Wooding of ASSIST News. After a mission trip to the southern Philippines in 2004, God gave him the vision for the God Reports website, which supports and encourages Christian Missions. He also serves on the board of Morning Star News.
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