In February, ministry leaders in northern Bangladesh received their first ARK, a 5- by 7-meter portable building made of long poles and special canvas fabric, useful for a variety of ministries from JESUS Film showings to pastoral education to compassionate ministries.

Leaders in Bangladesh will test the ARK to see if it works in their various ministry contexts. If it does, they may request more, said Field Strategy Coordinator Ron Gilbert, who assists ministry leaders in several South Asia districts, including Bangladesh.

“We’re organizing a church almost every day in Bangladesh,” he said. “They did 356 this year. Because of that we are so short of buildings. So we’re experimenting with this to see how useful it can be in starting up new ministry centers.”

The ARK features skylight flaps, open and closable air-vents on the sides, and a removable rubber floor. It can be carried in eight suitcase-sized bags and assembled in less than two hours.

The district requested the ARK from JESUS Film Harvest Partners because it may fit well with the strategy in Bangladesh to enter new villages first with compassionate ministries, said District Superintendent Nathan Biswas.

“There are several reasons we can use that: during the week child development centers, then Sunday school, then community meetings, self-help meetings,” he said. “We can use it as a disaster response office. For integrating (ministries), the ARK will be very unique for outreach ministry. I’m really excited to have some more.”

Bangladesh, a low-lying country, is hit almost annually with destructive storms and floods. The tent is designed to resist powerful winds and rain – a highly valuable feature.

For instance, during monsoon season JESUS Film teams could set up a projector and generator inside the ARK and project the film on one of the transparent walls; viewers could sit outside and see the film displayed on the wall. The ARK could also shelter small groups of viewers during a sudden rainstorm, Gilbert said.

The structure could also be carried to a village and set up for a week of pastoral education to existing leaders, then move to another village to conduct more training.

“We need many more than one, but it’s a beginning,” said Gilbert.

The Bangladesh District has received 12, 238 new members so far this year.

For more information on the ARK, visit www.jfhp.org