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Missionary asked to denounce Christ

Written by ANS

Thursday, 31 July 2008

Buddhism is the official religion of Bhutan. The practice of the religion is very much a part of daily life in this Himalayan country.

BHUTAN (ANS) -- Gospel for Asia (GFA) missionary Amil Romir refused to comply with a local government official's request to denounce Christ and discontinue his ministry in the small country of Bhutan.

Romir was summoned to the office of the local political leader. The man asked him to write a statement saying, "I will never preach about Jesus Christ and will never show the film on the life of Jesus Christ in this area." Since Romir refused the request, officials threatened to send his case to a higher authority.

Romir and his ministry has been the target of anti-Christian extremists for several months. In June, local officials interrupted a worship service that he was leading. Authorities delivered a warrant calling for each of the Christians in the service to appear before the local government body and answer questions.

On June 30, Romir and his congregation appeared before the authorities, at which time each believer was questioned individually on how they became a Christian.

"We received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior by our own decision and conviction," one believer told officials. The other Christians echoed this testimony. Romir answered each of the questions they asked about the ministry.

They authorities declined to arrest Romir or the Christians, but they tried to force them to sign a statement saying they would not tell others about Jesus.

It is illegal for Christians to meet in homes for worship in Bhutan. When the Bhutanese Christians refused to sign the statement, officials released them under the condition they would not have further meetings or worship services and that they would come back and clean the government office and grounds every 15 days.
Romir and his church members are making the most of their unusual punishment by continuing to be examples of Christ's love and humility as they serve these local officials.

GFA officials say Bhutan is a difficult place to minister the Gospel. In the past, elected officials have banned Christianity and denied citizenship to anyone who refused to practice the state religion of Buddhism.