Everyone in Bhutan is assumed to be Buddhist. Anyone who converts to Christianity is watched with suspicion, and usually there are efforts to bring them back to Buddhism. Since there are no registered churches in Bhutan, Christians instead resort to gathering in homes. No churches are officially recognised by the state, which means that Christians who gather in these small fellowships are acting illegally, leaving them vulnerable to criminal penalties. In addition, local authorities often refuse to issue Christians with the right paperwork to file loan applications, property registration, job applications and ID card renewal.
Converts from Buddhism are most vulnerable, as they can face pressure from family, community and local/national officials.
Villagers taunted my parents. They mentally harassed them. They called Christian faith a foreign religion and began to create chaos for our family.
Deki, a Bhutanese believer
A new prime minister took over in January 2024, but the change in power is not expected to make too much of an impact on the country's small Christian minority. Bhutan generally doesn't get worse for Christians—but things also rarely improve very much, shown by Bhutan's steady rank this year.
Open Doors local partners provide immediate aid to Bhutanese believers when their faith in Christ leads to various kinds of persecution. We strengthen the persecuted church in Bhutan primarily through prayer support and other practical emergency support.
Dear Lord, please be with our brothers and sisters in Bhutan as they risk so much to follow You. We pray for stamina, for courage and for wisdom. Let them find places where they can gather for worship, and protect them as they do. Help young Bhutanese believers to not grow weary, but rather to grow in faith to be the next generation of the church in this beautiful nation. We pray these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.
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