At the initial staff and personnel meeting of World Missions for 2018, International World Missions Director Dr. David M. Griffis officially announced the addition of Bhutan to the countries where the Church of God now has an established presence.
Bhutan, known also as the Kingdom of Bhutan-Druk Yul, is located in the eastern Himalaya Mountains. The population is expected to be at 819,781 by the year 2020. The national language is Bhutanese, one of 53 languages in the Tibetan language family. Interestingly, inheritance generally passes through the female rather than the male line. A man is expected to make his own way in the world.
Vajrayana Buddhism is the state religion. Other religions are barely tolerated foreign intrusions. Proselytism and incitement to convert are illegal. Church buildings are not allowed, and Christians are not privy to many of the state benefits available to Buddhists, such as free education. Bhutan is one of the world's least evangelized nations. Yet, somehow, as God always does, He has provided a Church of God witness in Bhutan.
Until 1999 when the government lifted a ban on television and the Internet, Bhutan was one of the last countries to introduce television, keeping its exposure to the outside world to a minimum.
The Church of God has 13 churches, with 300-plus members, adding Bhutan as number 184 in the nations where the denomination is now represented.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
