The ISA Project

Bangladesh...

a place where the oppressive presence of Islam is powerful and pervasive

where abuse of women is as expected as it is accepted

where women break bricks or work in sweat shops to earn less than enough to take care of themselves and their children

a place where, one woman at a time, earthly and eternal destinies are being altered by The ISA Project, which combines the efforts of

a ministry called Women of Himfluence,
a fair trade company called Motif,
and a missionary named Chelle...

As the old proverb goes, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” In my case, a single step of faith led me to a place thousands of miles away from home, to the impoverished third-world country of Bangladesh, and straight into the lives of economically and socially oppressed Bengali women, for whom educational opportunities are rare and employment opportunities are limited to domestic help (with sexual abuse as part of the “benefit” package), brick-breaking, prostitution, textile sweatshops and begging.

However, a businesswoman/artist and a missionary/designer are working to change all that, one woman at a time. Jackie and Shelly have partnered to provide Bengali women - Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu – with the opportunity to work in a clean and safe environment where, as they stitch bags and Bible covers together, their lives and wounds are slowly mended through the support the money they earn brings, the encouragement the community of women provides, and the hope of life abundant and eternal that the gospel of Christ promises.

It was over a hundred degrees the day I stood in the cramped, second-story production room of Motif, Jackie’s fair trade company, listening to the whir of foot-operated sewing machines (electricity in that part of Dhaka is unreliable, at best) and the chatter and laughter of the women as they sewed together. The sweltering heat that filled the air was nothing compared to the burning desire that filled my heart – a desire to help Jackie and Shelly help as many Bengali women as possible.

Within moments, the ISA (Arabic for Jesus) Project was born as Haven Parrott, my traveling companion and founder of Women of Himfluence, and I launched a simple plan: offer the Bangla bags and Bible covers to women who come to Haven’s speaking engagements and ministry-sponsored conferences, and send all the proceeds back to Bangladesh, where Jackie and Shelly could continue expand their investment into the lives of Bengali women. Haven and I had no idea if the plan would work, and no money to make it work, but God did. We held our breaths, trusted His leading, and placed an order for 800 bags.

To date, over $25,000 in “bag money” has been sent back to Bangladesh. Motif has doubled their labor force and moved into a larger facility, a missionary family is being supported, as well as a Christian radio ministry. It’s been two years since we returned home from Southeast Asia, but our journey continues as God faithfully multiplies our efforts to help and to Himfluence the women of Bangladesh.

Click here if you’re interested in purchasing a Bangla bag, scarf, or Bible cover; or would like more information about the ISA project.

Did You Know...

...that Bangladesh is the size of the state of Arkansas, and is home to 141,822,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated places on earth?

...that Bangladesh is one of the poorest nations on earth (average per capita income is $300 annually)?

...that 86% of the population of Bangladesh are Muslim; 13% are Hindu; less than 1% are Christian?

...that Bangladesh is the rickshaw capital of the world?

...that in South Asia, which is home to one-fourth of all the world’s lost people, 250,000 people die weekly (the same number of lives claimed by the Dec.’05 Tsunami)?