Bhutan: Evangelising without a Church

On election days in the UK and Ireland, many of our churches become polling stations – places where people can submit their votes and bring about change. Not so in Bhutan. Churches are closed during election periods – which last for several months.

On election days in the UK and Ireland, many of our churches become polling stations – places where people can submit their votes and bring about change. Not so in Bhutan. Churches are closed during election periods – which last for several months.

'No services, no gatherings, no worship.'

“During the Election Period, religious and/or other events involving the general public are to be avoided to ensure smooth, free and fair elections.”

The above statement is taken from the Public Advisory issued by the Election Commission of Bhutan last year. This was a general notice served to all organisations, including the government, private, autonomous and religious institutions, and was in force during February to May earlier this year. The ban is also in place right now, having begun last month, and will be until the end of October. The elections will take place around the end of November.

Bhutan, which lies between India and China, is number 33 on the Open Doors 2018 World Watch List. The main religion is a Mahayana Buddhism, which is closely tied to national identity. Christians make up around 2.5 per cent of Bhutan’s 793,000 population, and Christianity is seen as a foreign element. As a result, churches are not officially recognised in Bhutan; all churches are secret fellowships. The government adds to this pressure against believers, making it harder for Christians to find jobs, apply for loans, obtain properties and even ID cards.

While the ban on public gatherings has been issued to everyone irrespective of any religious group, Christians have been by far the most affected; church services are considered a large gathering and are therefore banned under the advisory.

This has led to many network churches closing down their services or grouping them together in one place during this ban period. Some weekly house churches have been stopped completely or brought down to a small and quiet service without any music or songs.

‘Pray for my vision’

What must it be like to evangelise within this period? What happens when there aren’t churches to invite people to? How do you tell your friends and neighbours about the freedom Jesus offers when persecution is increasing, and the government is becoming more controlling? Thankfully, these sorts of difficulties are not putting off the next generation of Christian leaders in Bhutan. With your support, Open Doors is partnering with leadership institutions in South Asia to train and prepare these courageous believers to reach out to their communities with the gospel.

Tidim*, Jacob* and Chukie* are three Bhutanese students who graduated from one of these institutions earlier this year, and have bold visions for the future.

Tidim says: “God was so good that He has enabled me to finish the course successfully. I have this great passion to reach out to my neighbours as an evangelist. Please pray that the Lord will open up doors miraculously to penetrate into the hearts of the region.”

“I never thought that I could study the Word of God in a better way.”

Jacob, who has already started in ministry as a pastor, says: “I have decided to follow Jesus. He helped me complete my graduation successfully. The purpose He has called me to I will fulfil. No turning back, no turning back.”

“I never thought that I could study the Word of God in a better way,” says Chukie. “Indeed, after coming to the institution I learnt the love and ways of the Lord and I also wanted this joy to be full among my brethren in Bhutan. Please pray for my vision: to work among the youths of our region.”

Sixteen new students from Bhutan have already begun a new school year at the leadership institution! Please pray for the staff, teachers, and students, that they will continue to be a blessing to their nation.

Through local partners and churches, Open Doors strengthens persecuted believers in Bhutan through discipleship training and persecution survival training, advocacy and awareness, literature distribution and literacy programmes. We also provide immediate aid to Bhutanese believers when their faith in Christ lands them in prison, excludes them from families and communities, and deprives them of livelihood and employment. Without your support, this would not be possible. Thank you!

PRAY

• For Tidim, Jacob and Chukie as they continue their ministries, that they will have the means, the opportunities and the courage to reach others for Christ
• For peaceful, free and fair elections, and for God’s will to be done in Bhutan
• For greater freedom for believers in Bhutan, and that God would soften the hearts of their oppressors.

PRAY FOR YOUR PERSECUTED FAMILY

You can pray for Bhutan and other countries on the Open Doors World Watch List by signing up online for our weekly emails, which feature a different country each week.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Inspire your church with stories of persecuted believers who are standing strong in their faith – find out more about Can you believe it?, our new, all-age resource!