"What are you looking forward to?"

Over the last few months, I have been a part of a team that helps our friends in Bangladesh learn conversational English. My relationship with the students of the bible schools started when I traveled to Bangladesh on a mission trip with some guys from Gateway. We put in two computer labs and got to learn a little about their culture and how they live. It is because of those computers we are able to spend time with the students on Saturday mornings. I look forward to connecting with them each week. I love to see their smiles and hear about their lives every week. Many of the students we have been working with will graduate in a couple of months and will return to their villages and towns. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to start the conversation and I asked those who were graduating what they looking forward to doing, I was prepared to hear about a job they had lined up or maybe something else work-related but that was not the case. Their response was that they were going to go back to their homes and share what they had learned about Jesus and how he is their savior. When I heard this I was filled with joy and was excited to see their passion and joy for Jesus.

After we finished that day I remembered something I was told on our trip years ago. The men in this school are part of a small minority of Christians in Bangladesh. Christians are only about two percent of the population. The reality is for them to share their faith is a very brave thing. So I want to ask you to do two things. First, pray for these men as they go home and carry the message of the cross. As you pray ask God to protect them and give them the boldness to share the gospel. My second challenge for us is to talk to someone in your life about Jesus. Or maybe it might be easier for you to invite them to one of our weekend services. If these young men can share Jesus with the understanding that they may be persecuted for their faith, why can’t we? I went into that Saturday hoping to teach and encourage them, but it was them that taught me so much that day.