Engaging Migrants with the Gospel of Jesus

Far from home, migrant workers in Bahrain turn to God’s Word for comfort

“My family is waiting for me,” says Hassan*. Hassan left his country to provide a decent living for his family back home. Now in Bahrain, he works in horrible conditions, lives in a labor camp, and barely makes enough money to send home.

Approximately 55% of Bahrain’s workforce are migrant workers like Hassan. They leave developing nations like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to work low-skilled jobs in Gulf nations. They work as maids, construction workers, and hotel staff.

Tragically many of these workers are exploited. They are subjected to abuse, excessive hours, and very low salaries. Overwhelmed by these challenges, they struggle. They become lonely, depressed, and even suicidal.

It is here that the local church community is reaching out with the message of hope, the Bible.

Bringing the Good News to Migrant Workers

Bible Society in the Gulf, together with local churches, are working to address the spiritual needs of migrant workers.

Through the End-to-End program, workers hear God’s Word in the languages and formats they can read or understand. They find meaning for their lives.

Local church workers visit labor camps twice a week to share the gospel of Jesus with migrant workers using printed, audiovisual, and storytelling forms. They also distribute solar-powered audio players among illiterate workers so they can hear God’s Word in their own language, which is Telugu for many.

“It is extremely useful to me. I hear the Word even during my daily work as a domestic help,” said a housemaid.

Other migrant workers are deepening their walk with Jesus by attending prayer meetings at the local church. God’s Word is changing lives and bringing hope! Although these migrant workers are far from home, they are near God’s heart. Will you join us in praying for them?

Let’s Pray Together:

Father, we pray for migrant workers in the Gulf to be comforted by your Word. We pray that your Word will continue to reach them in foreign lands and give them hope. Strengthen all those working to bring the gospel of Jesus to labor camps. May they be protected, guided, and helped through your Spirit.

*Name changed to protect identity.

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Nena Podbury
Nena Podbury

Nena Podbury is a Prayer Mobilization Associate at American Bible Society. Originally from the Bronx, she served in children’s ministry for 12 years doing Sidewalk Sunday School. Nena is married with two children, Noah and Emilia.

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