Christians in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nations are used to being outnumbered. But it’s different when being outnumbered happens during church services!
In Bangladesh, Muslims and Hindus make up more than 99% of the population. Geographically small (about the size of Iowa), Bangladesh nonetheless ranks as the planet’s 8th-largest country by population. Christian congregations tend to be small and scattered, their people often persecuted. Yet at Christmastime in recent years, FMI-supported church planters describe an interesting phenomenon: Church services with usually 30 worshippers attending suddenly swell to more than 100 people in attendance.
Pastor Rajit, serving in eastern Bangladesh, says it is not uncommon for non-Christians to outnumber Christians 4-to-1 at Christmas celebrations held by the churches. Sharing the message of the gospel becomes relatively easy, he explains, when the non-Christians show a genuine curiosity in the Christians’ joy in the hope and compassion demonstrated through Jesus’ arrival as the long-promised Savior for mankind.
The kirtan (carol singing) is a large part of his church’s traditional Advent observance. On December 24th, a group of children and adults walk to the homes of other church members to sing carols. Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies. With the angelic host proclaim: Christ is born in Bethlehem!
“Since our believing families live next to non-believing families, the Muslims and Hindus come outside their homes to also listen.” Rajit notes. “Eventually, I move aside from the carolers and speak privately to the others who are listening. I invite them to learn more about Jesus. Come join us at our church service tomorrow. Come sit with me in my home, I tell them. During this season, I sit with them at my house and tell the story of the birth of Jesus. I share gospel tracts with them to read. I show them the JESUS Film. This way, they get to know the story of Jesus and many are interested in accepting Jesus as their Savior.”
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