“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”
(Romans 12:11–12 NIV)
Pastor Tomal, a local pastor in Bangladesh working for Forgotten Missionaries International (FMI), is free on conditional parole after he was arrested in late November because of a family dispute.
The Supreme Court in the capital city of Dhaka granted Pastor Tomal bail so that he could be released after 3 months of confinement.
Earlier during the dispute, Pastor Tomal was beaten by his father and brother-in-law as they accused him of converting Muslims to Christianity. They pressed charges against him, and he was later arrested by the police and imprisoned.
Subsequently, Pastor Tomal reconciled with his family, and they dropped the charges. However, he was not released and was denied bail twice. He later became aware that local imams had taken the opportunity to file a separate case against him, accusing him of being involved with a local terrorist organization and of being an activist for a political opposition party.
Both Pastor Tomal and FMI deny these accusations and believe they have been fabricated in an effort to keep him incarcerated and prevent him from leading his two local church congregations.
“He is a Christian pastor with absolutely no political affiliations. His only aim is to support the Church and preach the gospel,” says FMI in an official statement.
Despite his situation, in prison Pastor Tomal shared the Gospel with those who might otherwise not hear it.
“Light shines best in the darkness. So if I’m in the prison, this is where I’ll still do ministry, and there’s still hope,” he says.
The pastor, his wife and three children remain in a vulnerable position in the community. While he was in prison, another local pastor has stepped in to help take care of his family and the two church congregations.
Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country, and converts to Christianity face a difficult time, with restrictions, discrimination and attacks. Last year, two other pastors in northwestern Bangladesh were charged with “hurting religious sentiments” and trying to encourage Muslims to convert by offering them money, charges they categorically deny. The pastors, who work for the Faith Bible Church of God were released on bail on 17 November, but could each face two years in prison if convicted.
Christians in Bangladesh account for only around 0.3 percent of the total population, or around 500,000 in a country of over 170 million. They mostly live in rural areas and regularly face persecution from Muslim communities and radical groups. In order to worship together, they are often forced to meet in underground house churches.
Home Group Prayer
Dear Lord,
We pray for your persecuted church in Bangladesh and ask that you will protect them from harm and strengthen them in their times of trial.
We particularly pray for Pastor Tomal and his family as he readjusts to home life after prison. We pray that his regular church ministry will be resumed and he will be still able to disciple the six men who have given their lives to Jesus and are serving out their prison sentences.
Give Pastor Tomal a sense of your presence, protect him and embolden him to remain full of faith and hope. And allow him to still share the good news of the Gospel and bring others into relationship with you.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.