2025 - A Burden and A Hope | | |
Hi friends! Today we come to you with a burden and a hope. We are prayerfully asking God to speak to your heart about giving a special Christmas gift.
We know it is a long one, so please stick with us to hear about just TWO SPECIFIC NEEDS.
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In the hurried, crowded streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Siliguri, India, something quiet, yet powerful is stirring. There are millions of lives in motion, but only a tiny whisper of the gospel reaches them. In these massive urban cities, the church is still almost invisible.
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Did you know that in the country of Bangladesh, Christians make up only about 0.3% of the population? In Dhaka itself, one city-corporation area counted only 4,481 Christians among the over 23 million people living there. In West Bengal, where Siliguri is located, there are more than 99 million people with the percentage of Christianity only being 0.74%.
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In many places around the world, Christians can simply walk into a building, sing worship songs, hear a sermon. Not so here. The gospel has not yet taken root in large measure in the lives of the men, women and children you would pass by every day. They’re deeply loved by God, but they don’t yet know it. They’re hungry for meaning, for hope, for someone to walk with them.
This past year, God has been at work preparing us ready to step into what we believe will be significant ministry opportunities in these two cities.
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In Siliguri, India:
The church we have supported and helped relaunch this year in Siliguri, has started a ministry of compassion to street children and struggling families. Week after week, we have seen small miracles:
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A hungry child eating their first hot meal in days. A young girl receiving safe shelter instead of silence and fear.
A mother hearing words of hope instead of judgment. A teenager finding family in the church instead of the streets.
Each face has a name. Each name has a story. Each story matters deeply to God.
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God put it in on my heart to bring this to you and ask for your help. I kept hearing this verse in my head and heart, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for Me.” – Matthew 25:40. I kept seeing Jesus in the faces of these precious children.
There is so much work to be done, so many to share hope with, so many to help. I wrote this Facebook post about one encounter. You can view it below.
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Our hope is to raise $12,000 for this ministry, to strengthen their 2026 budget, so they can reach more families than ever before.
This is more than charity.
This is worship.
This is Christmas—God’s love breaking into the darkness of our world.
We believe that together, we can step into 2026 strong—ready to reach more children, love more families, and shine Jesus’ light where it is needed most.
Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing that every child matters. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ.
If you would like to give toward this specific need, on our giving page there is a drop-down menu to select where you would like your gift applied, just click on ‘Help the Needy’ India.
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In Dhaka, Bangladesh:
We are ready to launch our new church in Dhaka—a place where the forgotten will be seen, the broken will be healed, the gospel will be lived and shared. A church that will stand among the many and say: “You matter. Jesus cares about you.”
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We have been praying, training, and planning – and the time has come. We have found a small place to rent right in the heart of the city. Our pastors, Sohan and Razani, have settled in. They are in the process of purchasing a condo apartment and their two boys have adjusted to their new school. This family is from Dhaka but has been studying here in the Philippines for the past 3 years, and they are excited and as ready as can be!
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Our prayer is that this church will be:
A place of belonging
A place of transformation
A place of safety
A place to learn and grow
A place to worship the One who heals the brokenhearted
This is not about building a building. This is about building a spiritual home.
Our hope is the launch the first Sunday in February 2026. To do this, we need your help!
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Fundraising Project - Would you pray about sponsoring any of the needs below?
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100 Auditorium Chairs so people can gather and worship = $1,500 *You choose a chair @ $15 each, or can also sponsor one full row @ $150
- Tables (4) $50 each = $200
- Carpet (1) = $100
- Air Conditioner (2) $1,000 each = $2000
- Refrigerator (1) = $450
- Kitchen Needs = $500
- Water jars and cooler = $150
- Ceiling Fans (5) $30 each = $150
- Lights (5) $50 each = $250
- Curtain backdrop (1) = $450
- Laptop (2) $400 each = $800
- Printer (1) = $200
- LED TV Screen (1) = $700
- Keyboard (1) = $460
- Acoustic Guitar (1) = $130
- Microphone (2) $50 each = $100
- Pad Drum (1) = $700
- Mixer Console (1) = $450
- Speakers (2) $650 each = $1300
- Cables = $100
- Amps (3) $100 each = $300
- Bibles (50) $3 each = $150
- Office equipment and supplies = $500
- Misc. costs = $300
We will send out pictures as items are purchased so we can celebrate together.
This is a Kingdom investment in lives, families, futures, and eternity.
| If you would like to give toward this specific need, on our giving page there is a drop-down menu to select where you would like your gift applied, just click on ‘Church Planting'. | | |
Thank you!
Thank you for believing in this mission.
Thank you for giving generously.
Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Your gift means someone in Dhaka and Siliguri will hear “You are loved.”
Your gift means a table will be set for a child who eats too little.
Your gift means a church will open its doors and say, “Welcome home.”
Your gift means the gospel will have another place to shine.
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Thank you for your willingness to step into something bigger than yourself. Thank you for seeing what many don’t yet see. Thank you for being part of building God’s kingdom in places where it is scarce. While many parts of the world seem dark, we know that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5
If you are buying gifts for loved ones this year, would you add Shreve Missions to your list? We have a full list of ways you can give below.
I do not make any promises the Bible does not make. But I know God will fulfill every promise He makes to you in His Word. I know He blesses those who put Him first and who practice generosity. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” – Proverbs 11:25
| | Thank You For Praying With Us! | | | | |
We are so honored to be your missionaries and blessed that we get to do this together!
WE LOVE BEING YOUR MISSIONARIES!
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As long as there is ONE MORE...
Michael and Elaine Shreve
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WAYS TO GIVE:
Online Giving: Shrevemissions.com/give
Checks by Mail: PO Box 5961 Cleveland TN 37320
*Make checks payable to Shreve Missions
Donate Stock (Available HERE)
Donor Advised Funds
Donate Airline Miles
*All gifts to Shreve Missions are completely tax-deductible. Your gift will be deductible in the tax year given (i.e., gifts given in 2025 will be deductible on your 2025 taxes).
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