Nestled in the heart of Queens, New York, All Nations Baptist Church serves a uniquely diverse population—including one unreached people group arriving at its doorstep.
As many as 100,000 or more Bangladeshi immigrants now live in New York City, reports The New York Times. Although the Bangladeshi community is overwhelmingly Muslim, with few known believers, some are spiritually searching. This represents a vital mission field that Pastor Prodip Das and his wife, Cathrin Anee, are faithfully and patiently harvesting one individual and couple at a time.
Prodip and Cathrin, both from Bangladesh, serve as ABWE EveryEthne missionaries with a passion to reach Bangladeshis in the US and their home country. They have planted two churches in New York City, including the Bengali-speaking congregation of All Nations Baptist Church, which Prodip co-pastors. In addition, Prodip regularly trains church planters in the US and Bangladesh.
To build relationships with Bangladeshi Muslims, Prodip stands ready to meet practical and spiritual needs in the community. In 2022, a Muslim couple, Abul and Shamaim, found his phone number on the church website and called, mentioning that they were looking for a Bengali church and pastor. Abdul told Prodip, “I want to talk to you about God’s Word.”
“I gave them a Bengali-language Bible and shared the gospel with them for more than a year,” Prodip reports. “They accepted Christ in July of 2023 and were baptized that October.”
Prodip is currently sharing the gospel with another couple he connected with through a friend in Holland, Michigan. Upon their arrival in the US, Faruq and his wife, Masuma, needed a room to rent and a ride from the airport, among other assistance.
They come to church every Sunday and participate in a monthly Bible study Prodip holds with two other families in the Bronx.
“They are open to hearing the gospel,” he shares.
In late spring 2024, Masuma discovered she had cancer and needed to undergo chemotherapy treatments. Shaken, the couple came to Prodip and Cathrin for prayer. Prodip read James 5:13-18 and explained, “While there is disease in your body, there is also the disease of sin. It is more important to confess your sin to Jesus and obtain salvation.” He says, “they wept openly and confessed their sin.”
While they have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord, they acknowledge their belief that Jesus could heal Masuma.
“Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet and can heal, but they struggle to believe he can forgive their sins,” explains Prodip.
Masuma has completed most of her treatments and the prognosis for recovery is good. They both continue to come to church and engage in Bible studies, indicating to Prodip that the prognosis for their souls is good as well.
