What is God Doing in Myanmar?

Myanmar        

Population: 48 million

Capital: Yangon (Rangoon)

People Groups: 145

Main Religion: Buddhism 83%

All Christians:  8% (almost entirely ethnic minorities)

Zaw, a Buddhist, was diagnosed as HIV positive. One of his father’s Christian employees shared about the healing miracles of Jesus. Zaw immediately borrowed a car and drove 60 miles to visit the EHC office in Rangoon. EHC Director U Zin Hla carefully explained the Gospel. Zaw finally understood that what he needed more than healing was the promise of eternal life from Jesus. "I accepted the Lord as my personal Savior!" Zaw explained. "Even though I am not healed, I am satisfied that I have found the way out of hell." Zaw’s decision to follow Jesus is also having an effect on his family.  "All of my relatives are Buddhists and I want to witness about the living God to them," Zaw shared.  "My mother has destroyed all of her idols!"   Every Home for Christ, E-vangelism Update, November 2003

"Our political situation is discouraging; economically we are at the bottom. Yet transcending this gloom is a spiritual awakening." The speaker was Ronnie Tin Maung Tun, leader of Witnessing for Christ in Myanmar (Burma). He also is the head of The Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Myanmar. I interviewed him at Christian Aid's Gateways Conference in Niagara Falls last week. The chief sign of awakening, Tun said, is the new openness among Christian leaders. Tun, a former British Airways engineer, explained: In the heydays of foreign missions, denominations carved the country into sections. Each denomination would be responsible for evangelizing a certain section and would avoid work in a neighboring section. When the foreign missionaries left in 1965, the national leaders they left behind felt constrained by the same arrangement. Each leader jealously guarded his own work, and emphasis was on growing one's own work rather than on cooperative ventures. However, today a new generation of leaders has arisen. Growing up under the old leaders, these young people were nobodies. So they made friends across denominational and geographic lines and nobody cared. Their evangelical zeal led them to do things together, disregarding the taboos of their seniors. Now they are in leadership positions and are more interested in networking than in maintaining their independent works. Under the old system, if the leaders were ready to move forward in a certain project, but one or two of the brothers weren't sure about it, all would wait until everyone was on board. Now, however, if some aren't ready to join a project, the rest join hands and do what they can. "They will move forward as far and as fast as they can and get off when they want," Tun said. "I am willing to let someone else drive, as long as they go forward." Recently they conducted a five-day training seminar for workers.  They subsidized the workers' transportation, fed them, trained them, and sent them back. Tun said 42 organizations and churches are cooperating together now. "It's a new day in Myanmar," he said.    Christian Aid, Missions Insider Report, October 2003

A national missionary visited an area of Myanmar so hostile to Christianity that many believed it could never be openly evangelized, even by an itinerant missionary. He was surprised to discover small groups of Christians, including some former Buddhist monks, who had come to Christ through gospel radio broadcasts. The believers had been meeting secretly with no guidance from a mature Christian. Thrilled to finally meet someone who could disciple and teach them, they begged the missionary to return to their town as often as possible. Additional workers are planning to help by providing fellowship and teaching, medical care for lepers and the poor, food, and children's evangelism. More radios will be distributed to strategic places. Glorify God for the power of the Word. Ask him to continue to use gospel radio to take the good news of his love to places missionaries cannot reach.   Advance, October 2003

Missionaries in Myanmar (formerly Burma) are effectively serving the Lord even though many of them don't have enough food to eat. A report recently received by Christian Aid indicates that more than 100 companies have shut down, leaving many people without jobs. Prices have doubled while the local currency has devalued 50 percent. As a result, many missionaries are evangelising on empty stomachs. A mission leader said he recently received a call from one of his missionaries saying that his family had no food to eat. Then another missionary called and said the same thing. In each of these instances the mission leader sent additional support. Then he learned that one family in a local church had fasted three days because they had no food to eat. So he sent them some rice. "Whenever I hear that kind of thing, it breaks my heart," the leader said. Even so, the missionaries are working hard and bearing fruit, he said. In one village the local missionary won the local community leader from a non-Christian background to the Lord. "The believers are praying to God," he said. "I am personally confident that God is in control."  Christian Aid, Missions Insider, September 11, 2003

In her area, the woman had been known as a witch for a long some. As she watched the Jesus film in her own language, she began to understand that the magical forces with which she worked could not compare with that which God had to offer. She decided to become a Christian and was baptised, but God had greater plans for her. All her life, she had wanted a child, but was sterile. She prayed to Jesus, and became pregnant soon after. She gave birth to a healthy son, even though she was already 52 years old. Inspired by what happened to her, 17 other members of her family have also decided to become Christians. Frontiers Missions Network, October 1998

"In Myanmar (previously Burma) a while ago, there was a demonstration of power similar to the Biblical report of Elijah on Carmel", according to reports from a mission group. A local evangelist had been working in a particular people group for 10 years; through his work, 3,000 people had become Christians, meeting in some 50 churches. The surrounding people groups were far harder to reach with the Gospel. One day, Y., the evangelist, was sitting at home together with 4 Christians when a woman ran up, saying "Come quickly, a woman is possessed by an evil spirit. She is the army captain's wife." Y hesitated, thinking, "If I can't drive the demon out, the captain will be angry." Finally, though, he went. The possessed woman was known as a Christian, but her husband had forbidden her to go to church and locked her Bible away. Recently, he had even forced her to sacrifice to the 'Nats' (spirits), and it was this which caused her 'attack'. She then became so violent that it took several soldiers to hold her somewhat still on the ground. Now, she had lost her senses and become completely stiff. Some 100 people had gathered, all wondering what would happen. In the crowd were three Buddhist monks and three spiritists, including the region's most powerful medium; all had tried and failed to drive the spirit out. Y explained that he himself had no power over demons, but that Jesus does. The Christians prayed a simple prayer, and told the captain that he should give his wife something to eat and drink when she regained her senses. After a little while, she woke up, completely normal, then ate and drank. That evening, every tribe in the area had heard of this wonder, how the "Christian God" had driven out the evil spirit over which even the most powerful Nats medium had no power.   May 1999

"In 1998, a Buddhist monk died. A few days later, his funeral was held, at which he was to be cremated. From the smell, it was obvious that his body had already started to decompose - he was very clearly dead!" according to the report from missions agency Asian Minorities Outreach. "We have attempted to verify this report which reached us from a number of sources, and are now convinced that it is accurate," they write. "Hundreds of monks and relatives of the dead man attended the funeral. Just as the body was about to be burned, the dead monk suddenly sat up, shouting 'It's all a lie! I saw our ancestors burning and being tortured in some sort of fire. I also saw Buddha and many other Buddhist holy men. They were all in a sea of fire!' 'We must listen to the Christians,' he continued emphatically, 'they're the only ones who know the truth!' The events shocked the whole region. Over 300 monks became Christians and started to study the Bible. The resurrected man continued to warn everyone to believe in Jesus, because he is the only true God. Tapes of the monk's report were distributed throughout Myanmar. The Buddhist hierarchy and the government were soon alarmed, and they arrested the monk. He has not been seen since, and it is feared that he was killed to keep him silent. It is now a serious crime to listen to the tapes, because the government wants to dampen the sensation." Asian Minorities Outreach, February 2000

Miss Naw Hsa Phaw writes, "I'm employed by the government as a school teacher: My station is far up on the Thailand border. When I arrived, I was the only Christian in the entire area. There is a large group of military stationed in my zone... I've had the privilege of meeting many of the officers. All of them were non-believers, but many of them have become friends. This is a very dangerous area, and there have been many mines planted underground. Because of the danger; it is common for these officers, and their men, to seek safety from Buddha and other Hindu gods. One day, the army major came to speak to me, asking for my God's protection. I gave him a Bible, encouraged him to read Psalms, especially #23, 91, and 121, and told him if he will trust the God of the Bible, that He will protect him every day... One time the major was in an area where there were many enemy. They ran out of food 5 days later, he remembered his Scripture, and he read repeatedly each chapter. He...began to pray to God that they would be freed from all of their enemies, and God answered that prayer. Immediately after he returned to base, he accepted Christ and began to witness that the Christian God is really alive, that He protected him...he told everyone he met that the Christian God has power. That you should follow Him. Because of this witness, others heard about God and began to come for prayer...God has done so much in my village where he have never had believers before. Now there are many who seek Christ. One time when I used [an audiovisual Gospel presentation] over 500 came to watch, and I now count 50 in my village who are believers."  DAWN Friday Fax, December 1996

In 10 years, a national evangelist in Myanmar has led about 3,000 people to Christ among a certain tribal group. One day, as the evangelist and four Christian friends were gathered at his home, a woman rushed in to tell them another Christian woman had come under demonic attack. Apparently her husband, an army captain, had forced her to make an offering to spirits. Arriving at the house, the evangelist found about 100 people crowded in, including army officers, three Buddhist monks and three spirit mediums who had been trying to cast out the demon. The woman herself was lying stiff and silent, as if dead. The army captain explained in great anguish that mediums and sorcerers had been unable to cast the demon out and pled with the evangelist to help her. The evangelist explained that only Jesus could do it, and he shared the Gospel and read the Bible. After a simple hymn, he told the captain to give his wife food and drink after she recovered, then left to go home. Soon word came that the woman had recovered completely. News that Jesus had delivered the woman -- when mediums and sorcerers had failed -- quickly spread to surrounding villages. The captain, who previously kept his wife's Bible under lock and key, gave her complete freedom to worship God. Praise God for this demonstration of his power over sin and death and the forces of darkness. Pray that hearts in surrounding villages and neighboring tribes would be drawn to Christ because of this wonder.    Joel News International, February 1999

In Myanmar, a man heard the 'Jesus' film was about to be shown across the river from his village. He couldn't find a boat making the crossing -- so he swam. It took 30 minutes, but "it was worth the swim, because I came to know who Jesus Christ is," he said. He decided to follow Him as Savior and Lord.   Jesus film, May 1999

“I am a Buddhist monk from Kyaik Kaw. My name is U Warathami. I received the gospel booklet 'Are You Happy?' from your organization. I am searching for happiness in my life and I have a desire to know more about your God." A simple presentation of the Gospel in a pocket-sized gospel booklet is having a dramatic impact on hearts of men and women throughout the nation of Myanmar, which is nearly 90 percent Buddhist.  Buddhist monks like U Warathami often show up on the steps of the EHC office in Rangoon, wanting to talk to the staff about Jesus. Some become Christians, then returned to the monastery to share the Good News with their friends. EHC Director U Zin Hla recently led an open-air outreach to illiterate animists in two remote villages, drawing more than 100 people to Christ. In another village, 16 former Hindus believed and formed a Christ Group fellowship. Another set of open-air outreaches and Seekers Conferences for new believers and people who had an interest in the Gospel drew nearly 2,000 people to salvation. And still another team of EHC workers has been dispatched to take the Gospel home to home in 80 isolated villages where there are no known believers. U Zin Hla is coordinating efforts to reach the last home in Myanmar by year-end 2000.   Joel News International, June 1999

 

In her area, the woman had been known as a witch for a long some. As she watched the Jesus film in her own language, she began to understand that the magical forces with which she worked could not compare with that which God had to offer. She decided to become a Christian and was baptised, but God had greater plans for her. All her life, she had wanted a child, but was sterile. She prayed to Jesus, and became pregnant soon after. She gave birth to a healthy son, even though she was already 52 years old. Inspired by what happened to her, 17 other members of her family have also decided to become Christians.  Frontiers Missions Network, October 1998

Long years have passed since Adoniram Judson first brought the gospel of Christ. High mountains separate this isolated country from India, China, and Thailand. Most people groups follow animistic forms of Buddhism, but in spite of persecution, Christianity has slowly grown stronger among the Burmese majority and many of the minority tribes such as the 600,000 Palaung. Only one of every 1,000 from the Palaung people is Christian, and they suffer severe opposition. Powerful shamans dissuade their people from following Christ. Thirty new believers among the Palaung tribe were driven from their village. For a time, they subsisted in a make-shift shelter by the side of the road, hungry and destitute. They were taunted: "See if your God can help you now!" It was then that a missionary agency, The Asian Minorities Outreach, heard of their plight and enabled them to buy land and to build their own Christian village. Now this group of Christians has their own church and training center and believers are coming from the Chin, Burmese, and Han Chinese groups. They send out evangelistic teams to reach other minority groups and villages. Because of import restrictions, there is a shortage of Bibles and other forms of Christian literature. Pray for Bible Translators and missionaries to ensure that they have Christ's Word.  Global Prayer Digest, October 1998