On the contrary, a BT scan of officially registered Christians in Bhutan after the Dorokha incident revealed more than 2,500 fresh converts. And sources say the number could be more.

While Samtse dzongkhag has the maximum number of Christians in the country, Mongar has none. And even Paro, Punakha, Trongsa, and Thimphu have registered fresh converts. 

Local pastors, however, refute the allegation of proselytization. They say pastors in Bhutan are not engaged in forced or induced conversions.

“If they (people of other faiths) come willingly then only do we let them come,” said a pastor in Thimphu.

On the other hand, local leaders say people in villages are being influenced by pastors to join the Christian faith. According to the Dumtoe gup, Kamal Singh Rai, who talked to BT earlier, pastors promise prosperity and peace in life to rope in more converts. 

BT sources revealed that foreign nationals were invited by their Bhutanese counterparts to conduct mass and meetings with the pastors of Thimphu and other dzongkhags.

On May 6, senior pastors from Nagaland, Kalimpong, Sikkim, and Jaigaon had come to Thimphu for a meeting with the Bhutanese pastors. The meeting was reportedly initiated by a Bhutanese pastor in Thimphu.

BT also learnt that a Norwegian national, Erik Ringsvold Jensen, and a Pilipino, Santiago L. Largado, had come to Bhutan for a four-day meeting with pastors and converts from Dagana, Samtse, Trashigang, Gelephu, Sarpang, Punakha, and Thimphu.

BT’s sources at the Thimphu Christian Fellowship revealed that the agenda for the meeting was to create Bhutan Evangelical Society, strengthen the Christian base in the country, and form Christian associations.

Bhutanese pastors 

 Most gatherings are conducted in private homes, and the masses are held for the converts at various places all across the country. The masses are conducted by pastors comprising people from all walks of life and different ethnic groups.

To qualify for a pastor, one needs a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from a recognized Christian college. Only after working in the field for some time, one receives an ordination. And only after the ordination can one preside over marriage ceremonies and funerals.

However, in Paro, it is all about love for Jesus.

A woman in Paro said Christianity has helped her family members quit habits like smoking, drinking, and doma-chewing.

“My husband who was very ill was treated by Jesus himself,” she said. “We have all the good health and wealth because of our faith in Christ.”

Churches    

 There are no official churches in Bhutan. And most of the Sunday masses and gatherings are held in the homes of pastors and converts.

The Sunday mass is the most popular service attended by a huge number of Christians. Churches in rural areas are in apple orchards, labor camps, huts, and rented homes.

Organizations and finances

 BT came across two Christian organizations, one in Thimphu and the other in Gelephu.

The Thimphu Christian Fellowship has its headquarters in Thimphu and branches in almost all the dzongkhags. The branches are headed by local pastors who are entrusted with the responsibilities to inform the headquarters the number of converts initiated in their particular areas.

The Bhutan Christian Church has its headquarters in Gelephu and has branches in all the dzongkhags headed by local pastors.

BT couldn’t confirm how the finances are collected and maintained, but unofficial sources say a lot of money is collected from European countries in the name of Bhutan.

Unconfirmed reports say some of the homes built to host Christian gatherings were financed by foreign Christian institutions.

 Home minister worried

 Home Minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji had earlier said Bhutan shouldn’t suffer the ill effect of religions. Today, he is a worried man.

Lyonpo Minjur Dorji said it was absolutely okay if people were born Christian.

“The constitution supports them. But it is unlawful to convert,” he said over the phone from Trashigang. “If we get proof of proselytization in the country we shall definitely take action.”