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Devastating cyclones, bitter ethnic wars and human
rights abuses have all had a part in contributing to the
poverty and spiritual darkness that characterizes
Myanmar (Burma) today.
Mission News Network reported that more than 4,000
ethnic Karen crossed the border from Myanmar into
Thailand in the past month, reflecting continued
persecution in their homeland. The tribal group, which
is 60-percent Christian, has faced increased violence at
the hands of the military junta’s forces. “Villages are
being surrounded, and rockets are lobbed in,” said
Vision Beyond Borders President Patrick Klein.
Amid this opposition, the church continues to grow.
Christian Aid Missions, which assists with a number of
ministries in the country, employs a variety of methods
to spread the gospel. “I am conducting meetings with the
churches, pastors and workers, exhorting them to stand
firm in the faith,” said one local missionary who asked
not to be identified for security reasons.
“These are fiery times for testing their faith. The
government has put high restrictions on work among the
cyclone victims. They presume that what we are doing is
for political purposes. Even Buddhist monks and laymen,
interested in helping victims, are being persecuted.
Some were caught and sentenced to very long jail
terms—45 to 65 years!”
Another native missionary reported that he and his team
“were able to reach 300 Buddhists. We shared about the
last days and distributed tracts among them. In another
area we were able to distribute rice and used clothing
as well as medicine for the elderly and ailing. This
particular tribe lives in a secluded area, so we were
able to preach the gospel.” The team also sent a mobile
medical clinic, treating 1,130 patients. “Many of them
were elderly, who shed tears of joy. They were so
grateful for this display of Christian love.”
A missionary who focuses on providing theological
training to local believers says the situation is much
improved since the 1970s when there were “no reputable
Bible schools” in the country.
“We began with only four faculty members and 77 students
our first year,” he said. “Despite opposition to the
Bible, the Lord and Christians in general, this ministry
is going forward. With help received from Christian Aid
recently, we assisted 20 more Bible students from the
scholarship fund. We also have a Bible correspondence
course for those wanting to learn more about Jesus, or
who find it difficult to leave their current ministry
for an extended period.”
Another Burmese leader employs week long evangelistic
camp meetings in remote towns and villages are held
wherever the Lord opens the door. “Relationships are
built by providing for some of their needs such as food,
medicine and nursing care,” he said. “The Word is
preached and Bibles are given out. When our evangelistic
team leaves the village, we leave behind a church
planter. In time, he will disciple [a tribal member] to
become the church leader. This new disciple is then
brought back to our training center for three months of
training. When he returns to his village, he will take
over as pastor. Our original worker is then rotated into
another unreached area.”
Sources: Christian Aid Mission, Religion Today
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