by a Pastor in Myanmar
the Missions Banner, (February 2024: Print Edition)
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18)
Two years after the military coup, the crisis in Myanmar continues to grow. The country has sunk deeper than ever into the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis.
Violent internal conflict in the country has been escalating, forcing more than 2.6 million people to be displaced according to the UN report. The crisis is creating a desperate humanitarian situation. More than 3 million people are in need of life-saving aid.
Myanmar’s economy is crumbling down. The currency has devalued so much. As a result, prices are so high – three times higher than before the coup.
The worsening situation also affects the Christians across Myanmar. Christians become the target and victims of the conflict. Nearly 100 religious buildings, mostly churches, were destroyed or damaged in attacks in the Chin State since the 2021 coup, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO).
Most of the BP church members in the north have left the country as refugees. So, the church and its ministry are greatly hampered there. Please pray for their protection and safety.
Our main BP church is in a better situation by comparison. But we also suffer some restrictions and oppressions. Every Saturday we write a request letter to the local authority ahead of the Sunday worship service. If we fail to ask permission, maybe one or two times, the church is in danger of closing permanently.
In fact, the township authority is restricting a new church, planted by a deacon in the past 4 years, from using the deacon’s house anymore as the worship place. If the church keeps using it, the authority will put the deacon into jail. Now the church has been moved to another place, they are using one of the church’s members’ house for the worship gathering.
The mission stations in the center of the country are in a good condition. They keep persevering well so far, but there is a lot of fighting in the north. This war is expanding and it may affect these mission stations too. Please pray for God’s protection.
Please pray that churches would be strengthened with all boldness to share the gospel and to stand for the truth. Pray also that we would have divine wisdom in the midst of incredibly challenging circumstances.
Finally pray that the current crisis be resolved in a way that leads to lasting peace. Pray for Christians to stand firm against temptation to sin. Praise the Lord for how he is using these challenges to refine his bride. Pray for Myanmar’s Christians that they will not put their hope in mortals but in the Lord. (Psalm 146:3-6).