Written by: Open Doors SA
Article source: JOY! Magazine
In Bangladesh, an Asian country with only 0,6% Christians, children are often persecuted for their faith. At school and within their community, they suffer bullying, discrimination, harassment, and violence because they and their parents follow Jesus. Moryom, a nine-year-old girl from Bangladesh, experiences daily pressure because of her faith. But although her story is hard, the fingerprints of the Holy Spirit are all over it. It’s clear that God is at work in her and her family…
Faith conquers harsh conditions
Moryom lives with her parents and older brother in a small village in northwestern Bangladesh. Her family has a small plot of land surrounded by a rice paddy on one side and a stream on the other. Their house and the adjacent church building are built out of thin metal sheets. Her father is the pastor of the church on their property, serving as an evangelist in their Muslim-majority village and region. Her mother teaches Sunday school and leads an adult literacy class. Both are converts from Islam, which often means brutal persecution in this part of Bangladesh.
Moryom with her father, mother and brother.
Abuse and harassment
From a young age, Moryom experienced rejection and harassment because of her parents’ decision to serve God. She has been beaten, mocked, rejected, and harassed – all because she and her family walk with Jesus. “The villagers don’t like us because we are Christians,” she explains. At school, she often spends her day alone. “Most of the people in my school don’t treat me well,” she says. “Sometimes they beat me with sticks, throw bricks at me, and call me ‘Christian’ as an insult. My classmates don’t want to play with me, and the teachers turn a blind eye when the children bully me.”
Pushed off a roof
One day, a girl from school asked Moryom if she would like to play on the rooftop with her. “I was happy to have company because few children wanted to play with me. We climbed up the stairs and started running around. I was sitting near the ledge when I suddenly heard the other girl say, ‘You are a Christian!’ and felt a strong shove from behind. The next thing I remember was falling to the ground, and I realised that the girl had pushed me off the roof of the building. As I was laying on the ground, I could feel pain as I looked down at my cut and bruised hands and feet.
I had scratches all over my body, and I was badly hurt.”
Forgiveness and prayers
No matter how many hurtful things people say and do, Moryom takes all of it to God in prayer and chooses to forgive them. “Because I’m a Christian and Jesus died on the cross for my sins, I choose to forgive them for their wrongdoings. Those who mistreat me, insult me, hate me, or don’t love me, I forgive them all and pray for them. I refuse to let the hostility discourage me from following Jesus.”
Vital support
Open Doors, through local partners in Bangladesh, helps children like Moryom who live isolated lives amid persecution. Thanks to your support, those children received their own Bibles, and they can have their own Sunday school, where seeds of faith are sown into their lives.
Your gift today can provide encouragement and support to children like Moryom. Visit opendoors.org.za to help them be resilient in the face of persecution.
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Date published: 02/11/2024
Feature image: Moryom reading her Bible.
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