Desperation Spikes in Burma – and Faith Grows
Military conflict in the first three weeks of March increased the number of Internally Displaced Persons in Burma (Myanmar) by nearly 100,000, bringing the total since the 2021 military coup to 1.76 million. Desperation in Burma is growing but, amid opposition and restrictions, in many areas only native workers have the knowledge and networks to meet needs. They are risking their lives to do so.
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After leading a woman and her husband to Christ, church planters helped them in the fields so they could get work done – freeing up time for Bible study. The native Christian workers’ discipleship of their family included helping them overcome their troubled past, along with aiding in health and informal education.
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A Communist Party member had heard the gospel many times, but he opposed it until another party member shared her faith with him. After receiving Christ and returning to his village, his wife and children saw the change in him and also were saved.
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A stagnant house church increased from seven families to 22 families after native Christian workers gave members 10 radios for sharing electronically loaded gospel messages. “They love it very much and listen to it every day, even when going to rice fields to work,” the ministry leader said.
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Unable to work amid military offensives and COVID-19, people are struggling to survive. Native Christian workers are providing rice, cooking oil, beans and basic medicines in several places.
Gospel Interest Grows in Post-Pandemic Philippines
Native Christian workers in the Philippines are taking a more holistic approach than they did five years ago, making gospel outreach even more effective, a ministry leader said. The coronavirus crisis of the past three years accelerated the new emphasis as workers were compelled to meet more physical needs. “Poverty and sickness are prevalent,” the native ministry leader said. “Addressing these needs together with the gospel is effective.”
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After three years of COVID-19 pausing a native ministry from holding seminars, local Christian workers were overjoyed to resume the meetings with 60 pastors and other leaders to advise and encourage them. At another seminar where 106 attended, 46 had been persecuted, including one who was imprisoned for traveling to unreached people.
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New Christians learned to share their testimonies and pray in house churches spread across several villages, with local Christian workers using MP3 players to convey Bible passages to those who cannot read. Workers identified a “person of peace” in each village who helped them make contact with other people.
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Among tribal people attending recent gospel presentations were former communist rebels. Local missionaries also taught witnessing as a lifestyle to church members who then began proclaiming the gospel to many others; one shared Christ with relatives and friends at a graveside vigil during All Souls Day.
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Meeting only during the day because of gunfire and rockets at night, local Christian workers held a six-day event that 100 people attended daily, strengthening their faith. “There were testimonies by people saying, ‘Only now I’ve come to see the real Christian life,’ or, ‘Only now do I know the victorious spiritual life,’” the ministry leader said.
