Ministry Grows in Bangladesh, Needs Still Persist

Bangladesh: January 27, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Cyclone Aila's flood waters are gone, but life in Bangladesh is far from normal. Many survivors still live in the jungles with no proper shelter and very little to eat.

In two districts of Bangladesh, 40,000 people were left homeless and 222 villages were hit when the cyclone swept across this tiny, impoverished country in May 2009. More than 100 people were killed when the cyclone struck land, and a total of 2 million lives were affected by the raging storm. A GFA correspondent in Bangladesh reportS that 250 families from churches pastored by GFA-supported missionaries still suffer from the aftermath of the cyclone.

The bitter cold of the winter months has added to the misery of those living in makeshift homes after their houses were swept away by the waters. Without suitable shelter, millions of people are left vulnerable to the biting chill that can lead to death. The cold weather has already claimed 13 lives in one area of Bangladesh. And with health issues like coughing, fevers, pneumonia and diarrhea on the rise, life has become even more difficult to bear for the victims of the cyclone.   But even with all the suffering, the number of believers in Bangladesh continues to rise as more men and women find salvation in Christ. In October, 80 people publicly testified of their newfound faith, and two churches are now in need of suitable places of worship to accommodate the growth.

The GFA field correspondent asks for prayer for the new believers, that they would continue to grow in their walks with the Lord, and also that the Lord would bless these congregations with a church building. For those who still suffer from the flooding, they ask for prayer that God would bring comfort and meet their needs.