THE FOUNDING OF BANGLADESH MISSIONS ASSOCIATION (BMA)

PREAMBLE
The Bangladesh Mission Association’s foundation stone has been laid and its first step was taken with a great hope to bring Bangladesh Church into foreign land. We are passing through a very crucial moment where economical insolvency, social and political unrest and spiritual warfare are rising each and every moment. Therefore the important individual and collective asset is the ability to be lead by the Holy Spirit to enjoy a reformation and transformation of life. God has called you, me and all of us to be part of this realm.
Being inspired from the latest AMA Manila Convention 2016 Rev. Edward Ayub and Shankar Shikdar had a scope to think about the challenge of overseas missions for the Bangladesh Church. They shared this idea to Dr. Timothy K. Park while he was visiting Bangladesh between July 21 and 30, 2016 to teach at the Center for Religious Studies of Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh. He encouraged Rev. Ayub and Ptr. Shankar to take this agenda very seriously, which encouraged them to connect with 5 founding members very shortly.

BMA MEETING & WORKSHOP 2016 & 2017:
BMA had its first meeting on October 18, 2016 at William Shakespeare Academy with 3 members. The 2nd meeting was held on November 4, 2016 at the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh with 4 members, while the 3rd meeting happened at the Garo Baptist Convention attended by 5 members. BMA arranged a one day brain storming workshop on January 14, 2017 at the premise of Grace House Hall at BSFB. Eighteen top level leaders attended from 11 major denominations that had the same passion for mission. The first meeting of 2017 was held on February 9, 2017 at William Shakespeare Academy.

BMA MISSION CONFERENCE 2017
BMA is going to arrange a 3 day mission conference between April 19 and 21, 2017. Dr. Wati Longkumer AMA Head Chairman & IMA General Secretary and Dr. Timothy K. Park, Director of Global Connections and Professor of Asian Mission School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary and the President of EWC-MRD have given their kind consent to attend the mission conference. We kindly ask your kind prayer for this events.
BMA was also represented at the 3rd Tent Making Conference in India:
With the invitation of India Missions Association (IMA), Mr. Shankar Shikdar (BMA founding member) attended the 3rd Tent Making Conference: THE OTHER 6 DAYS between January 26 and 27 held in Hyderabad, India.

THE STATISTICS OF BANGLADESHI DIASPORAS – THE FIRST BMA CHALLENGE
The statistical graphs produced by United Nation Population Division “International migrants stock 2015: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshi_diaspora (The Wikipedia – free encyclopedia) says more than 72 million people from Bangladesh living in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, UK, USA, Kuwait, Qatar, Italy, Oman, Singapore, Bahrain, Maldives, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Greece, Spain, and Germany only. There is no statistics of Bangladeshis living in other countries”. It is assumed that more than about 8 million of Bangladeshi people are living in other countries other than mentioned above. To those Bangladeshis living outside of their country, there is zero presence of missionaries.
BMA takes the first challenge to equip the Bangladesh Church to reach out the Good News of Christ to other countries of the world. Time does never favor anything unless or until being moved. This is high time to go, teach and proclaim the Great Commission of Christ. We expect the power of God by our faith and act. May God give talents and gifts to each and every one of us so that we could make a real EXODUS that empowers us and release us from slavery into liberty!

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Shankar Shikdar
shankarshikdar@yahoo.com

Mr. Shankar Shikdar has a post graduate degree in English Literature from Chittagong University. He has 15 years experience in the field of teaching, training, communication, administration, event management, community development, business development, international relation and human rights activities. He and his wife Lusia are the founders of a Christian school William Shakespeare Academy in Dhaka.