To say that our visit was a wonderful occasion is an understatement. We concluded our formal mission service there thirty three years ago and, though our interest in Bangladesh and its people has not waned, the privilege of being able to return is better described as "an out of this world experience".

In fact, it was literally "Back to the Future" ... but not like the 1980s' film. Rather, it was the incredible experience of being able to see first hand and share in the "future" of the Baptist Churches in Bangladesh as it is currently developing. Yes, there is still widespread poverty, disease, suffering and homelessness but, running parallel to these, there is a multiplicity of significant and positive developments in this nation of 160 million people living on half the land area of New Zealand.

Back to the future ... and the 90th celebrations

NZBMS's mission involvement in Bangladesh began 125 years ago. Across those years it worked with Australian, British and American Baptists and the local churches In 1910 the Australian and New Zealand Baptist Missionary Societies, together with the churches, formed what is today is known as the Bangladesh Baptist Churches Fellowship (BBCF).

In the early 1980s the BBCF called for a vision to establish 200 churches by 1990 "through bold witness and intentional church planting initiatives". The significant research of Peter McNee, NZBMS missionary, and other national church leaders in the 1970s influenced this vision, which represented an increase of 175 churches.

This courageous expectation was an echo of the immortal words of William Carey's own sense of God's call to mission many years before - "Expect Great Things from God; Attempt Great Things for God."

Now, that target of 200 churches has been far exceeded as God's faithfulness and great blessing of their witness has resulted in the establishment of something like 450 churches.

One remarkable aspect of the current makeup of the BBCF churches is that their "movement" has embraced 14 new ethnic groups. This, for any denomination - in Bangladesh or anywhere - is both a remarkable achievement and a tremendous challenge demanding spiritual wisdom, leadership and partnership.

When we arrived in Bangladesh in early December it was expected that there would be about 600 delegates attending the celebrations. Over the next few days the number grew to 1400. The organisation of the event; the participation of various ethnic groups in colourful cultural presentations; the encouragement for all the delegates to recognise that they were a part of a movement of the body of Christ greater than their own local church was a powerful and encouraging time.

Back to the future ... and its impact on two 'old' missionaries

We have been left quite overwhelmed by the ...

· Development of Bangladesh's infrastructure and the amazing extent of its use of modern technology, including widespread availability of cheap to run mobile phones in villages and cities...by the wealthy and the poor.

· Commitment and spiritual credibility of leaders who were children and young people in our time.

· Vision and planning for the ongoing development of pastoral leaders to ensure the continuing spiritual health of the churches of the BBCF.

· Creative development of the erstwhile NZBMS mission properties and the schools and the hospital in Brahmanbaria, making them greatly valued contributions to the ministry of Christ's gospel in a Muslim nation.

· Demonstration that the power of God through the prayers and sacrificial giving of many people over numerous decades has a continuum in the outworking of the purposes of God and his kingdom today.

· Challenge of the things that the churches of the BBCF must deal with in respect to how they live and witness in a difficult religious and cultural environment.

What of their experiences in this regard should we in NZ Baptist churches seek to learn from? This is a serious question.

To have been part of the 90th celebrations of the BBCF has sparked deep encouragement that all the years of service by many people in Bangladesh and from around the world continues to impact lives for Christ.

Ian and Joy Brown served in Bangladesh with tranzsend /NZBMS from 1965-78