Life often feels overwhelming—filled with worries, fears, and uncertainties that weigh heavily on the heart. But you were never meant to carry these burdens alone.
God invites you to release every , every fear, every anxious thought into His care. He sees you, understands your struggles, and walks with you through every moment.
Let go of what you cannot control, and trust Him with all your heart. In surrender, you will find a peace that the world cannot give.

I have just returned home after completing this month’s ministry journey.
By God’s grace, I was able to meet people, pray with them, and serve in different places, for which I am truly thankful.
Considering the current situation surrounding the national election in Bangladesh, and with the election scheduled for February 12, I am staying at home for now. I am using this time for prayer, preparation, and seeking God’s direction for the next steps.
I am planning to begin another ministry journey very soon.
I humbly ask for your prayers regarding:
Our nation and the election situation
God’s guidance and protection for the ministry
Provision of the necessary resources and support
Your prayers and encouragement mean a lot and strengthen this ministry.
May God lead everything according to His perfect timing and plan.
Thank you and blessings

Grateful to God for this beautiful fellowship.
Psalm 133:1
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.

December 24: Today, following the Lord’s command, guiding others to step into a new life in Him.

Renewing the Mind.....
Your heart can be turned toward God
while your mind is still operating on old patterns.
That doesn’t mean you’re fake.
It means you’re in process.
Scripture never teaches that spiritual awakening instantly fixes the way we think.
Salvation happens in a moment.
Transformation happens through renewal.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
This week’s focus is simple and direct:
the renewing of your mind.
Not positive thinking.
Not ignoring reality.
Not pretending life is easy.
This is about learning to see the world as it actually is—
through truth, not survival logic or cultural noise.
Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
The Bible calls this growth and development.
Old assumptions get challenged.
Unchecked thoughts get examined.
Paths that “seem right” get tested against God’s wisdom.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
God isn’t just interested in your worship.
He’s interested in your perception.
Because what you believe shapes what you tolerate.
And what you tolerate eventually shapes how you live.
John 8:32
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
This week, we’re moving
from heart posture to mental clarity,
from reaction to discernment,
from inherited thinking to renewed thinking.
If your heart has been seeking God,
this is the week your mind starts catching up.

Paul claimed that he was directly called by the risen Jesus Christ, not appointed by humans. Although he was not one of the original Twelve, his apostleship was later recognized and affirmed by the early church leaders. Therefore, calling him merely a “self-proclaimed preacher” is an oversimplification.
1. Why do some say Paul was “self-proclaimed”?
He was not among the original Twelve apostles
He did not follow Jesus during His earthly ministry
He explicitly calls himself an apostle
This leads critics to argue that Paul appointed himself.
2. Paul’s own claim
Paul consistently states that:
He encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9; 22; 26)
His mission was directly commissioned by Jesus, especially to the Gentiles
“Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ”
— Galatians 1:1
3. Did other apostles accept Paul?
Yes.
Initial suspicion existed (Acts 9:26)
Barnabas vouched for Paul (Acts 9:27)
Later, Peter, James, and John formally recognized his ministry
“They gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship”
— Galatians 2:9
Peter even refers to Paul’s letters as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15–16).

Conclusion:-
Paul did assert his calling himself — true
But his apostleship was tested, confirmed, and accepted by church leadership
Therefore, he was not merely a self-appointed preacher, but a recognized apostle

Wishing you all a *Merry Christmas* and a Christ-filled New Year from our family to yours!
May the love of Jesus bring peace, joy, and hope to your home.
Luke 2:11
A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.

Greater than Santa — a Savior is born for us!
Here’s our special banner prepared for the Christmas celebration at our church.

We are delighted to share that, by the grace of God, a baptism service is being planned for the 24th of this month. At present, 10–13 candidates are prepared to receive baptism.

Whenever someone publicly declares their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism, it is always a joyful, meaningful, and spiritually powerful moment. Through baptism, believers identify with Christ and step into a new life.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

We humbly request your prayers for this program—that everything may be conducted smoothly and that the presence and guidance of the Lord may be experienced in a powerful way.

All glory, honor, and praise belong to the Lord alone.

Personal Testimony

Name: Shahanur Rahman
Church: Gopinathpur Baptist Church
Ministry: Certified Teacher, CCI Bangladesh

My Testimony of Salvation

Dearest brothers in Christ,

I give thanks to the Lord for His perfect and eternal plan through which He granted me salvation and eternal life. When I reflect on my life, I am truly amazed by God’s grace, because I was born into a Muslim family and grew up without faith in God. In fact, for a long time I denied the very existence of God. I lived according to my own understanding, did not recognize sin as sin, and believed I was walking rightly in my own way.

A turning point came in my life when I left my village in search of work and moved to the capital city, Dhaka. There, I found employment as a laborer in a small garment factory. My regular duty was eight hours a day, sometimes with one or two hours of overtime. In the afternoons, I had some free time, during which I began spending time with my village brother, Samuel Biswas.

Samuel was born into a Christian family and regularly attended church. He often shared with me about Jesus Christ and invited me to church. Since I did not believe in God, I had no hesitation in going to church. I was very open-minded and developed good relationships with everyone there. One day, the pastor invited me to attend a two-day Bible seminar. As I loved reading books, I thought this would be an opportunity to gain knowledge about the Bible—almost like free tuition.

The first day of the seminar was December 17, 2015. On that day, a preacher taught using a projector, explaining creation, God, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and whether the words of the Bible are truly the Word of God. Through these teachings, I came to understand that God truly exists, even though we cannot see Him, that we have a spirit within us, and that the Bible is 100% true.

Most importantly, I realized that the sins I never considered to be sins were clearly identified by the Word of God. Psalm 51:5 helped me understand that I was born a sinner and that I sin even when I do not want to. I became deeply aware of the eternal destiny of my soul—hell. That day was filled with fear and repentance for me, especially when the preacher spoke about the second coming of Jesus Christ. I realized that if Jesus were to return at that moment, I would not be ready to meet Him.

I became very anxious, wondering how my sins could be forgiven. I thought perhaps baptism in water could wash away my sins, but the Bible clearly says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. I repeatedly asked the preacher how I could go to heaven. He encouraged me to attend the second day of the seminar, assuring me that God would bless me. That night, I cried in fear, thinking that if Jesus returned immediately, I would surely be lost.

The second day was December 18, 2015. I listened very attentively. When the preacher explained John 1:29
I suddenly understood that the burden of my sins had been placed upon Jesus. Still, I struggled to fully grasp it. Then the preacher shared John 19:30
And I realized that Jesus shed His blood for me and that salvation was entirely God’s work—not mine. Later, when the preacher quoted 1 Peter 1:23
My doubts disappeared. I understood that I had been chosen for eternal life in heaven.

After accepting Jesus Christ and publicly declaring my faith, my family rejected me, expelled me from our home, and cut off all relationships with me. I own no land and live in a small hut built on another person’s property. Yet I do not grieve, because my heart is not fixed on worldly possessions. As Jesus said in John 16:33
In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Glory be to Jesus Christ. Thank you for allowing me to share my testimony. December 18, 2015 is the day of my salvation. From that day onward, my new life in Christ began. I was baptized in water on October 24, 2016.

Today is one of the most memorable days of my life.
On this day in 2015, I was born again—I received Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.
That day marked the beginning of my eternal journey.
All glory and thanks to God for this new life!
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Dear Brother/ Sister,
As the joyful celebration of Christmas approaches, we are organizing a special program and outreach in our church and community. Our goal is to spread the love of Jesus, especially among the poor, elderly, underprivileged children, and struggling families.
To make this vision possible, your support would mean a lot. You are welcome to contribute in any way—through financial help, gifts, clothes, or food items.
Even a small act of kindness from you could be a great blessing for someone this Christmas.
For any support or information, feel free to reach out to me!

May God bless you and your family abundantly.
Merry Christmas!