Where We Work:
Bangladesh
Bangladesh evangelical lutheran church (belc)
Swapon Sarker is the Founding Chairman of BELC, and his father, Rev. Sanjeet Sarkar, is one of the pastors. Bangladesh has a population of over 172 million, with the number of Christians less than .3%, or about 700,000. The country is 90% Islam. There are 289 different people groups.
Once part of India during the British colonial times, Bangladesh was called East Pakistan starting in 1947. Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, and changed its name to Bangladesh in January 1972.
There are ten churches, most small and some large, and about 300 members in BELC. There are 70 new converts, so amazing recent growth! In 2017 ALWM led 4 days of pastor and leader training, with more than 100 in attendance from the three small Lutheran groups planted by European mission agencies a few generations ago. Pastor Moberly visited 7 of the congregations and also led a two-day leadership training seminar in Nov. 2023.
Swapon Sarker, Founding Chairman of BELC
Orality Training Project
ALWM has partnered with the International Orality Institute to provide a two year leadership training program for Swapon Sarker and BELC. Your gift will provide for printing of the first year of training materials for 25 leaders.
Support ALWM- Bangladesh
Pastor Bill visited this CHOKBENI village congregation in November. They are tribal people of the Oraon people group. On New Year's Eve, some of the non Christian tribal people came to hear the Gospel. Swapon Sarker preached the Gospel among them, and now his father Sanjeet Sarker preached Gospel among them in these photos.
