Sacrificing salaries in Bangladesh to help Nepal

Bangladeshi Christians are going without to help their Nepali neighbours recover from the earthquake

Since the earthquake in Nepal, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been sent to BMS World Mission’s Nepal earthquake appeal.

Outside BMS, the overwhelming majority of the relief money to Nepal came from wealthy Western countries whose sums easily overshadowed smaller gifts – gifts that were much harder to give.

One of these little known sources of support and solidarity came from the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS), a BMS partner.

On 18 June, BBCS General Secretary the Revd Ashim Baroi asked that a portion of a BMS grant, $1,500 (£960), be given to the Nepal earthquake relief fund. The BBCS head office also fasted, prayed and gave up their salaries to raise additional money for Nepal. “It’s a moral obligation that we, who have received over 200 years of support from our loving friends abroad, needed to do something for those who are in need and affected by the natural disaster,” says Mr Baroi. 

Asking partners to send money elsewhere is neither a common request, nor is it one made lightly; but it is an excellent example of the way Christ loved.

“There was this sense of satisfaction that the global response to Nepal was genuinely going beyond the western countries that respond and the countries that receive,” says BMS Manager for Mission Projects Steve Sanderson.

“But it’s great to see Baptists in Bangladesh say, 'there’s suffering in a place like Nepal after the earthquake and it’s as much our responsibility to try to demonstrate a Christ-like response as it is the responsibility of people in rich western countries'.”

The generosity shown by BBCS is an excellent example of showing Christ’s love and this is not the first time these churches have done so in this way. The survivors of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and typhoon that hit the Philippines in 2014 have felt love from these churches, when they sent money and prayers to help with their recovery. “If you’re touched by the compassion of Christ, it evokes a compassionate response for those around you,” says Steve. 

Let us all remember that no matter who we are, where we live or how much money we have, there are always opportunities to love the way Jesus did: radically, openly and without reservation.
 
Please keep BBCS, Bangladesh and Nepal in your prayers. Pray for the relief and recovery work in Nepal and for those struggling to get back on their feet.

 

This article first appeared on the website of BMS World Mission and is used with permission