BY PETER DEBAKAR MAZUMDER
When I look back at what God has done through A3 in Bangladesh, my heart is filled with gratitude. For more than 15 years, A3 has been part of shaping leaders here, not just through teaching, but through living examples of Christ-like leadership.
What makes this community so powerful is that we do not simply select leaders; we pray and discern together. Out of that prayer has come a fellowship that reflects the heartbeat of A3: loving God deeply, walking together in humility, and serving as Jesus served.
The Gift of Entrepreneurship in Leadership
In our Bangladeshi culture, leadership requires financial strength to move the mission forward. Ministry cannot flourish without sustainable resources. My own journey has been shaped by this truth. My father was a ministry leader who always invested in mission work, and from him I learned that funding the work is not just a task; it is a ministry in itself.
I believe that being entrepreneurial is essential for spiritual leadership. A good entrepreneur enables the church to move smoothly and to grow, not just for today but for the long term. For me, this is a calling that God has entrusted through my heritage, and I carry it forward with passion. Whether planting new churches in Bangladesh or building partnerships abroad, I see entrepreneurship as a spiritual gift to expand God’s work and bring the lost under the Lordship of Christ.
The Importance of Spiritual Leadership and Charisma
Leadership, however, is not just about strategy or finance, it is deeply spiritual. Jesus is our model. He calls us to live Christ-like lives so that others may follow not just our words but our example. In Bangladesh, people are watching us closely. What they see must match what we say.
That is why charisma, when rooted in Christ, becomes so important. Charisma is not about personality alone, it is the Spirit of God working through us. Leaders must embody the vision with clarity and passion, giving 100% of their time, talent, and energy to fulfill the Great Commission.
In A3, we encourage leaders to live as “little Jesuses”; examples of the gospel in daily life. This kind of spiritual leadership leaves a deep mark on others, and it is what draws pastors and leaders in Bangladesh to join A3.
Serving and Finishing Well
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| Aporna Sarkar, A3/Bangladesh & WIM alumnus and national working team member | Lasar Banargee, A3/Bangladesh alumnus and national working team member |
As Jesus, though Lord of Lords, served His disciples, so A3 has modeled servant leadership. I love that spirit of community, humility, and love.
But leadership is not just about starting well; it is also about finishing well. Many leaders do not end well, and that has always weighed on my heart.
After serving with A3 for 15 years, I am now empowering my successors. Leaders like Aporna Sarkar and Lasar Banargee are already in the pipeline. My prayer is that they will carry forward this vision for another 20 years and beyond, with the same passion and integrity.
Finishing well means raising up the next generation and handing the baton with joy. It means people will say not only, “He followed Jesus,” but also, “He left an example for us to follow.” That, I believe, is what will sustain A3’s ministry in Bangladesh for the future.
The Story of A3/Bangladesh
The story of A3 in Bangladesh is one of God’s grace, entrepreneurship, and Spirit-filled leadership. It is about raising up leaders who live what they preach, who serve as Christ served, and who build sustainable movements that last.
I am proud to be part of this journey, and I look forward to seeing how God will continue to use A3 to transform lives and communities in Bangladesh and beyond.
Rev. Peter Debakar Mazumder is the national director of A3/Bangladesh. He served as General Secretary of Bible Students Fellowship of Bangladesh, but after handing BSFB's leadership over to his successor, he now serves as its National Fundraising Development Advisor. Rev. Mazumder also authored a chapter in Eastern Voices, Volume 1 called Bringing the Bible Back to Life; you can watch Peter here: Why We Lack Good Bible Teachers. Peter and his wife Sylvia, who is the General Secretary of Dhaka YWCA, live in Dhaka and have two adult daughters and one granddaughter.
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Header photo courtesy of Kabiur Rahman Riyad on Unsplash
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