Bangladesh ~ By Doneshor Tripura

Doneshor felt a fervent desire to know the truth. He decided to mark with a red pencil everything he found in the Bible and in the Gita that was good and helpful. Soon he realized that he was marking nearly everything in the Bible. Doneshor decided that one day he would be a Christian, though he had no idea how or when that would happen.

He entered college and had little time to read, but his desire to know God never left him. When he returned home after college, he met an old friend in the marketplace.

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I’ve become a Christian, his friend told him. Doneshor was thrilled. He told him about finding the Bible in the river, then said, Tell me how can I become a Christian.

His friend’s face lit up, and he hugged Doneshor. Then he told him that in a city about 30 miles [45 km] away, there was a church where Doneshor could learn how to become a Christian.

Early Saturday morning Doneshor boarded a bus to the town where the church was located. He found the house church and went in. Everyone sat with their eyes closed. Doneshor didn’t realize they were praying. He looked at them. They look like normal people, he thought. When they opened their eyes, they were surprised to see Doneshor standing near the door. They welcomed him and invited him to join them.

Doneshor attended the church as often as he could, but he couldn’t go every week because the bus fare was expensive. But he felt great joy in what he was learning and began telling his friends about it. Some wanted to visit the church too, so the little group agreed to take turns going, sharing the expense of the bus fare. Then those who had gone could teach the others what they had learned.

For a year Doneshor and his friends attended church this way. Then Doneshor told the pastor that he wanted to be baptized. The pastor was happy to arrange the baptism, but apologized that the little church had no baptistry. We’ll have to baptize you in the Chengi River, the pastor said apologetically.

That’s wonderful! Doneshor responded. The same river that brought me the Bible will seal my covenant with God.

Doneshor and 24 others were baptized in the river where his quest for God had begun. Among those other 24 were seven friends who Doneshor had invited to Christ. They are the first Christians among the Tripura people.

Doneshor Tripura studied theology at Bangladesh Adventist Seminary and College in Bangladesh.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.
Find more mission stories at www.adventistmission.org

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