Abdul CropAbdul is in his seventies and works as a day laborer in northern Bangladesh. One day while working in the field, a Bible League-trained pastor, Lokman, met him and asked why he was working at his age. He responded that he had no formal education and had to work as a day laborer to support his family.

Pastor Lokman invited him to join Bible League’s Bangla language Bible-based Literacy program. He explained the program to Abdul and let him know that there were many students of his age. He was inspired and joined the classes. “I was delighted to know that I could study, and I readily agreed to join,” he says.

Abdul started working from a young age due to poverty and hardships. “Instead of going to school like other kids, I started helping my parents. Lack of finances kept me out of school,” he notes. “Now, I don’t have to rely on others to read the names of signboards and places.”

Abdul says that God changed his life after he learned to read and write. “I had a bad temper,” he admits. “I was an alcoholic and mistreated people. I followed Muhammad’s teachings and believed that I would go to heaven if I recited the prayers every day.”

During the literacy classes, Abdul learned about Jesus. “I believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. No one can have eternal life without Jesus,” he confesses. When villagers and his relatives found out about his new faith, they started to curse him, and warned him to stay away from the Christian faith.

Today, Abdul can read and write with some assistance. God delivered him from his bad temper and his craving for drinking. “I want my wife to also read and write and embrace Christ,” he says. “I want my family to believe in Christ. My life has changed since participating in the literacy program. It gives me great joy that I can read and write like a schoolboy.”

Abdul helps his wife learn from his book. “He laughs a lot and does not get angry,” says his wife, reacting to his teaching.

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone, especially Pastor Lokman, who helped me to read and write. My life has changed, and I thank God for it,” he says.