Tea for Freedom

Andreas Steffensen

One man in Bangladesh found economic liberty with the help of godly community.

Bangladesh’s minimium wage workers toil in grindingly difficult jobs for an average monthly salary that is the equivalent of $63.

Amolla was one of these workers, supporting his family of six. If any of the children got sick, they had to visit a kabiraj, an unregistered medical practitioner.

Then a World Challenge ministry partner started a local care group, and Amolla and his wife joined.

Opening Up the Heart

The care group helped the couple come to know God, but their poverty still deeply troubled Amolla. Up to this point, he had avoided openly discussing his problems.

He explained, “My inferiority complex was so bad, I felt I had no right to express my difficulties to anyone.”

Amolla’s care group, though, talked about how God brings “rightness” to every part of life. Finally, he explained his situation to the care group and proposed starting his own tea business. However, he would need 20,000 Bangladeshi taka, about $238.

The care group decided to loan him the money. Amolla and his wife started the tea shop, and business poured in.

Now the family earns over double the minimum wage. Not only is Amolla paying back his loan, but he is able to make sure his children see a good doctor when they get sick.

Reaching Out to Others

The blessing of the tea shop has offered this family incredible relief and hope.

“We have to work diligently,” Amolla said with a smile, “but I thank God and the care group from my heart.”

These days, the family are active members of their local church, and Amolla wants to encourage others with how God raised him and his family out of crippling poverty.

Please pray that others in Amolla’s community would also discover God’s power to heal and liberate them.