OUTREACH AND CHURCH PLANTING MINISTRY

AMONG  BENGALIS ( BANGALI ) 

                                  

A brief Description of the Bengali people:

Bengalis are identified as an ethnic group of people who are distinguished from other ethnic groups  by their culture and  language Bangla.  The route of Bangla language is SANSCRIT, one of the ancient languages of the world.  Bangla is the mother tongue of five hundred million people and it is the 4th major language in the world.  The racial identity of Bengalis is much closer to the Aryan race.  The term “Bengali” is a broad umbrella, shelters Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists.  Bengalis have a long heritage and cultural pride.  Majority Bengalis of the world live in South Asia, especially in Bangladesh and the neighboring state of India, West Bengal and other North Eastern states.  Outside the Indian sub-continent Bengalis are living in Middle East, all over Europe especially in UK, USA and Canada. 

Demographic report  about the Bengali Immigrants in the United States and New England:

Since 1975, large number of Bengali population from Bangladesh have been coming to the United States as immigrant.  Bengalis are living in all over the Unites States, mainly in New York , New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California and in other Southern States.  Around one million Bengalis are living in the United States.  They are the fith largest immigrant community in USA and among South Asian immigrants they are third largest group.   Around 13, 000 Bengalis live in New England, more than 8000 live in Massachusetts.   6000 Bengalis live in greater Boston area.  In Greater Boston area main concentration of Bengali population is in Cambridge.  More than 4000 Bengalis live in Cambridge.  Bengalis who are from Bangladesh, majority of them are Muslims.  There are many Bengali Hindus living in this area who are mainly from West Bengal  ( India ).  But, the Bengali Christian population in Greater Boston area is very microscopic in number.  Bengalis who live in Greater Boston area are identified more closely by their cultural heritage than by their religious background.  There are few Bengali Associations in this area. 

Bengali Muslims are the largest unreached people group in the world and Bengalis are the most unreached people group in the Unites States.  Bengalis are among 110 language groups in Boston.   There is a great need and opportunity to reach out this ethnic group.  The task is very challenging. 

Church Planting Ministry among Bengalis in Greater Boston area:

Among 6000 Bengalis in Greater Boston area, there was not a viable Bengali Church.  No initiative was taken before to reach out this unreached people group.  With complete guidance of the Holy Spirit and with a vision to reach out this unreached people group through the reading of the book of Isaiah 54: 2 the Bengali Ministry was launched by a Bangladeshi Pastor Paul S. Biswas in June 2003.  After doing survey and net working, lot of contacts were made from the Bengali community in Boston area.  Initially it was mainly friendship evangelism.  A small Bible study group was formed with five Bengali believers and the group used to meet twice a month at different places.  New members were added with the group.  Few prayer groups were formed among the members of Cabridgeport Baptist Church who had passion for unreached people groups.  These people are faithfully still behind the task.  Without the support of any local Church the work could not grow.  With that motivation Cambridgeport Baptist Church came forward to support the work.   The main emphasis of the Bengali Ministry is outreach and Church planting.  
 
 

Boston Bangla Church (BBC)

History:

The year 2005 is marked as the great year of blessing for the Bengali Mission in Boston. 

A small Bible study group was formed and it was growing spiritually.  Group members were strongly motivated to become disciples of Jesus.  So, the group decided to start regular worship service.

With the vision of reaching out Bengalis in Greater Boston area and in all over USA, Boston Bangla Church (BBC) was planted on January 8, 2005.  Boston Bangla Church is the first Bengali congregation in New England.  Opportunities are more but the task is very challenging. 

The Vision:

To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ among all Bengali people in America.

“ Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes” (ISAIAH 54: 2). 

Our Mission Statement:

To plant self- sustaining and reproducing Churches among Bengalis by making disciples and sending them out to minister the Gospel to other Bengalis 

Target Groups: Professionals and Students. 

The Main Focusing Area:  The Greater Boston 
 
 
 

Our activities:

  1. Organizing outreach Bible study group among our non Christian Bengali contacts and forming more prayer groups to motivate the Churches in this area for partnering this outreach ministry among Bengalis.
  2. Distributing Bengali Bible and Gospel literature through personal contact.
  3. Placing Bengali Bible especially the Kitabul Mokaddos (The Bengali translation of the complete Bible in Islamic terminology) and the Injil (New Testament) at the international language section in public libraries.
  4. Sreet evangelism.
  5. Prayer walk
  6. Offering seminars on Islam and Hinduism
  7. Equipping strong teams
  8. Building up relationship with Bengali community through intercultural get-together meetings
  9. Arrenging Interfaith Dialogue  with Muslims and Hindus
  10. Net working with other South Asian Churches in New England, organizing consultation meetings on Church planting net work.

       .

Needs:

  1. More prayer partners (by the end of 2007 our goal is to have hundred prayer partners)
  2. More Ministry Partners from the local Churches
  3. More workers and their support

Contact Information:

REV. PAUL  S. BISWAS

Church Planting Missionary/ Pastor

Website: bbc.safne.com
bangla.safne.com
www.jitowth.net/bangla

E-mail: gospelbangladesh@hotmail.com; paul.biswas@gmail.com

Tel: 857-472-0363