Harvest Bridge 2023 Impact Report

Bhutan: A Year of Fellowship and Miracles

By Pastor Jagan*, Country Director

Bhutan was the last country in the globe to open up to outsiders or even let their own people out after Covid lockdowns. The lockdowns lasted until September 2022. So in 2023 pastors and all the missionaries, they were feeling good after much relief from the Covid situation. We were emphasising all the time Isaiah 40:31. Never ever give up. You may appear like you are losing, but just wait on the Lord. This year, God promised that He will make everything new. You know, like a year of provision. In the entire year, I personally was seeing progress in the spiritual realm, in the ministry realm. And God has been so good. We got so many opportunities to reach new places. It was a busy year, in fact, the busiest year ever, in terms of ministry.

A TIME TO GATHER

The missionaries could go around here and there to do ministry. There were good meetings that took place, like youth meetings, and some retreats, a few marriage seminars, and family camps we could conduct in different places. On the India border, in our seminary, every two months we had fellowship. We also had a Christmas celebration for 80 missionary families. We could bless them, and they were so happy. Then we opened the program for outsiders, and we had a Christmas play, not in the usual way, not in a boring way. We had dancers and story all put together. We invited the neighbourhood people expecting 200 people, and around 600 people came!

Pastor Tandin* had one of the most encouraging moments this year: “As we were having our women’s seminar in a hotel near China, we were running short of funds to cover the expenditures. But by faith we moved to the hotel and had a very powerful seminar. At the end of the seminar we invited the owner of the hotel, who was a Buddhist from birth. We prayed for the blessings of the hotel and his family. The LORD touched him while we prayed. He testified that he had a very new experience while we were praying. When the retreat was over and when we went to settle the bills, the owner had already ordered his accountant to excuse $365 and requested us to continue to pray for his family and business. He has become so interested in Jesus and started to ask for stories about Jesus. We are in constant touch with him.”

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

One thing that is very, very much encouraging is that the youths are actually doing good. They are fire brands. The youths are really coming up very well. We have got a lot of hope as they are tomorrow’s leaders for the church. Shoipa*, 26, was one of those youth and now she is one of our missionaries:

“I have been involved in various ministries including leading worship, translation, assisting the Pastor in the Sunday Services, Sunday school and also teaching students at the Bible college. Recently, God has primarily used me to mould and guide young girls for ministry. I am actively involved in the student ministry. I conducted a student seminar. It was so successful and I could minister to around 55 students with the Word of God.”

FROM CHAOS TO JOY

Despite the lifting of Covid restrictions, in the month of September 2023, the government has announced there should not be any meetings, no gatherings, political or anything due to the upcoming elections, which they had in January. Another difficult thing was the inflation has raced to its peak. Generally, the countrymen are going through a season of frustration. Tourists are not coming. So they have a lot of shops, a lot of hotels, a lot of restaurants empty. The business is slowed down. Because of that, the offerings are affected in the church. It would have been much more difficult without HB, because 75% of the missionary support is covered by Harvest Bridge, very honestly.

In the entire year, I personally was seeing progress in the spiritual realm, in the ministry realm. And God has been so good. We got so many opportunities to reach new places. It was a busy year, in fact, the busiest year ever, in terms of ministry.

The year of 2023, God had promised is the year of seeing God’s miracle. There were 120 baptisms this year. For a country like Bhutan, it is really a big number.

In 2022, it was all chaos, but last year it was, by the grace of God, it was all right. The year of 2023, God had promised is the year of seeing God’s miracle. There were 120 baptisms this year. For a country like Bhutan, it is really a big number. And the persecution last year, it was not much.

There is also a great joy among the Christian community and most of the citizens because the government has introduced a new system. See, a lot of people were frustrated without having citizenship. To make it clear: though they were staying inside the country for over 20 years, 30 years, they were staying without citizenship. Only having some road permit. They cannot have any privileges. But thousands and thousands were issued citizenship in 2023. Especially Christians.

Sister Dawa*, was one of these:

“After years and years of prayer requests for the citizenship for my family and for the people who do not have CID (Citizen Identity Card), finally our prayers were answered by God. In the month of April, my elder son and daughter received the citizenship identity card. Me and my younger son are on the way towards getting CID. I am really grateful for the prayers answered, not only for me but for almost 90% of the people who were struggling in their life with no CID in Bhutan.”

THE POWER OF PRAYER

There were many answered prayers. Pastor Taku* saw God work miraculously in an unexpected way:

“This year the monsoon was horrible, as continuously it was downpouring for over a week at a time. A few of our fellowship members are daily wage earners. Due to the heavy rain, they could not go for work, which has brought a tough time for many of our fellowship members. The main need was daily bread. I called everyone to the fellowship place, and we earnestly prayed for a miracle. As we were praying, we heard the noise of someone knocking at the door. I went and opened and found that one of the village leaders (not a Christian, a Buddhist) was there saying he wanted to donate 10 days ration for all the church families as he was compelled in his spirit that he must help us. We explained the situation and thanked him. He was astonished to witness how God works and he also said that he will pray to Jesus who hears his children’s prayers. Now he is in the process of accepting the LORD.”

Pastor Joshua* describes a near death experience that he and two other missionaries survived: “In June, myself and other church leaders were coming back from a leaders’ meeting. Our brother lost control of his car and the car fell 15 feet down from the highway. All of us three in the car were thrown. As I opened my eyes, I saw a deeper valley where the car was stopped by a tree trunk. If we had not been thrown, we could have fallen hundreds of feet further down in the valley. I thank God for saving my life from the pit of death.”

Phuntsho* shared: “According to Psalm chapter 9:9-10, God protected us in every manner. I was persecuted by district police officers while I was preaching the gospel. They put me in jail for two days and warned me not to preach again. They wrote a statement, and after signing that I was released. It is very risky to do ministry in our area. God worked in this way: In the month of April they forwarded my case to a district court. According to the charge sheet, I actually should have to be in jail for four years as per the law, as I was accused of preaching the gospel. As a church, we all came together in fasting and prayer. The next day, I received a call from the judge saying that my case was settled and I did not have to go to court. I was surprised to hear that, and thank God for our prayers. God’s ways are always powerful.”

Pastor Pasang* gives thanks on our behalf: “I would like to express my gratitude to you for your support, love, and prayers. We work diligently for God, and there are times when His ministry feels challenging. Your prayers and support are always needed. Thank you once again!”