Last week, BTJ was able to connect with Chadak (not his real name) at the base of the Himalayan mountains to meet with his daughter who has applied for the BTJ Martyrs Scholarship this year.
Chadak comes from a line of ‘flying monks’ – Buddhist monks who are said to levitate off the ground using demonic power. When we met with him, he had one single request: “help my daughter.” When he decided to follow Christ more than two decades ago, he faced a string of challenges, but nothing like what his daughter is facing today.
“I have been arrested and persecuted for my faith,” Chadak shared before he made his request. “The government has threatened to kick me out of the country for my faith.”
But even worse than suffering persecution, Chadak admits, is that his daughter cannot get an education because the government knows that he is a Christian. Chadak is asking BTJ to help his daughter go to school.
Chadak lives on the run and drags his family with him in hiding. Chadak and his family live under the threat of constant persecution from the Buddhist government that wants them dead.
Chadak’s daughter applied for the 2025 BTJ Martyrs Scholarship that was launched to help children of persecuted parents to receive an education and she has been accepted. This year, BTJ is sending her $2,000 USD to help pay for her education at a private school that will allow her to study without being persecuted for her or her father’s faith.
Chadak’s daughter is not alone. Thousands of nameless persecuted believers suffer for their faith and their families are often forgotten. Children of these precious believers suffer too, in their own way. Fear, uncertainty and social isolation are just a few of the things they face. We can do very little to change that, except holding them up in prayer, but there is one thing we can do.
We can support their children. Children of persecuted church members often drop out of school, are forced out, or there is no money for uniforms, books or bus fees. When a family flees to another country, children may need special help to learn a new language, or they may have to enroll in private institutions rather than government schools.
It is for these children of persecuted believers our Martyrs Scholarship Fund was started several years ago. Every year BTJ supports between 10-30 children. You can help us to increase that effort by donating now.
Click below to learn more.
