Authorities go to extreme lengths for Christians to renounce Christ.
bottom“Even if I’m empty-handed, He listens. I can come to Jesus with nothing in my hands.”
– Tashi*, a believer from Bhutan
In Bhutan, all citizens are assumed to be Buddhist. Anyone who converts to Christianity is watched with suspicion and others go to extreme lengths in attempts to force new Christians to return to their former religion.
All Christians who worship together do so illegally since Bhutan’s government doesn’t officially recognise any churches. Local authorities often refuse to issue Christians the documentation they need for loan applications, property registration, jobs applications, and ID cards.
Christians who have converted from Buddhism face the most persecution in Bhutan. Conversion is considered to bring shame on the family, and new believers are often disowned, leaving believers feeling isolated and alone.
Christian women who convert from Buddhism to Christianity are at the greatest risk of persecution. In addition to being disowned by their families, they can be divorced by their husbands, or forced into marriage.
– Pray that believers rejected by their loved ones will find new communities to support them.
– Pray that God will use the practical support provided by local partners to bless the Bhutanese church.
– Pray over Bhutanese authorities. Pray that God will be transforming their hearts to reflect His.
