BREAKTHROUGH IN BURMA
The news out of Myanmar (Burma) is often negative but God has a way of getting redemptive work done even when things are looking bad. After hearing about increased opposition to Christianity in some parts of the country, I paid a visit this once prosperous SE Asia nation which is still known as, "The Beautiful Land." After visiting several ministries that are growing under difficult conditions (the economy is weak, the spiritual atmosphere is heavy and the Buddhist religion and world view is pervasive), a unique opportunity came to meet with a highly placed government official.
While not a believer, this man is like Cornelius from the book of Acts chapter 10. He is a man of peace who fears God and genuinely wants to help people. He has a greburden and spoke with compassion of needs in his nation regarding health care, orphan care and other areas where development and transformation are needed. The health care system faces huge shortages of medicine and supplies with increasing spread of diseases. Regarding orphans, he stated that when poor children and orphans are taken to the Buddhist temple to be raised by the monks it dooms them to a life of poverty and begging with no education or future advancement.
After hearing about Foursquare orphan care, medical teams and development projects in Cambodia and other places, he was genuinely interested to see these things happen in his nation. He said they need the help, offered his assistance and said that many of these projects could be run through local churches--a most unusual opportunity.
After all the negative news--there are powerful players who are actively opposing Christianity-- this was certainly a positive and unexpected conversation! God has a way of arranging divine appointments and opening doors. He is also putting a burden for this nation on the hearts of many people who are banding together for a breakthrough in Burma!
Help is needed and if you are interested in being a part of this project, please contact me at:
fmisea at singnet.com.sg
Thanks!
George Butron
Foursquare Missions International SE Asia
Monday, February 19, 2007
Sunday, February 04, 2007
News from Myanmar
I've found several news articles on this, but it difficult to know the accuracy.
http://english.gospelherald.com/article/asia/959/section/more/1.htm
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/95502.aspx
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/003/1.42.html
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/9490
Dear Friends,
The News from Myanmar recently has been a mixture of both good and bad. On the good side, churches are growing like never before and three is every indication that God is doing something unusual and wonderful in this impoverished nation. The bad news is that there are indications of a severe campaign against Christians that has already resulted in the destruction of several church buildings and caused believers to flee for their lives. According to an official document that was recently published in London, there is a “Program to destroy the Christian religion in Burma,” (Charles Colson, Breakpoint Commentary 1/31/2007).
I travel to Myanmar on Monday Feb 5th and return on Saturday the 11th. Some strong prayer support, intercession and warfare would be much appreciated.
Thanks for caring!
George Butron
Singapore
http://english.gospelherald.com/article/asia/959/section/more/1.htm
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/95502.aspx
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/003/1.42.html
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/9490
Dear Friends,
The News from Myanmar recently has been a mixture of both good and bad. On the good side, churches are growing like never before and three is every indication that God is doing something unusual and wonderful in this impoverished nation. The bad news is that there are indications of a severe campaign against Christians that has already resulted in the destruction of several church buildings and caused believers to flee for their lives. According to an official document that was recently published in London, there is a “Program to destroy the Christian religion in Burma,” (Charles Colson, Breakpoint Commentary 1/31/2007).
I travel to Myanmar on Monday Feb 5th and return on Saturday the 11th. Some strong prayer support, intercession and warfare would be much appreciated.
Thanks for caring!
George Butron
Singapore
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Garissa/Dadaab Ministry Update from Ken Ochieng
Hi Scott
Greetings from a hot and meatless Garissa. Meatless because we have had an animal disease outbreak called Rift valley fever. Mosquitoes transmit the same disease to Human beings. The government slapped a ban on eating meat in this place (the locals love to eat meat). We have learnt to be vegetarians—I think I am enjoying it.
The year is getting busy and you can join me in praying that more laborers will come here and join us in reaching the Muslims with the gospel.
The exciting news to report is that God enabled our school to top 83 other schools in our district in the 2006 national exams whose results came a month ago. This being our fifth consecutive time to top the district has made many parents flock our school to bring their children (majority are Muslims). We decided to increase the number of streams (classes). The school now has >400 students. Continue praying that they will see the light of the Lord.
The year started in a very tough way—what of with the conflict in Somali and the Rift Valley fever. Garissa not being very far from Kenya-Somali border is seen by many people as not a very safe place to live in. many people expected us to leave the place when things were tough in Somali. We thank God that now things are much better.
Somali is one country in the world that has very few missionaries reaching them. Because of lacking a government for the past one and a half year, the place is so unsafe to missionaries that many decide to keep off the place yet the God I serve whose ways are not our ways has opened a great door here in garissa and daddab for me to mobilize believers to reach out to them. Somali people are more open to the gospel when here in Kenya as opposed to when they are in Mogadishu. I am planning to organize a football match between Somali and Ethiopia soon in daddab refugee camp. As you are aware, people are so idle in the camp such that they prefer to play football every time the temperatures go down. We have over 150,000 refugees in the camp and many are coming in. I have tried to equip believers especially from Ethiopia and Sudan with skills on how to reach out to there Somali colleagues (they freely mingle in the camp). Pray that the football match I am organizing will be successful and that the believers will use that to connect with Somalis and plant the word of God.
Through out this week, I have been teaching the word of God to our workers—two of them are Muslim. The study is such that even the non believers can attend. These studies are laying foundations that are going to help these two Muslim colleagues know the Lord—in fact one of them came to me asking me to spend more time with him explaining to him some things that are not clear—please, pray that the Lord may bring them to the knowledge of truth.
People that were affected by floods are still in camps although many of there places are dry. We continue to help them with medications and clean water. The government has come to appreciate our work the more through our intervention in this situation. It is true that everything works for good to those that love the lord and are called according to his purpose.
I plan to run training on evangelism and discipleship starting this match here in garissa. We believe many will be equipped. One of the things I will train on is how to do Muslim evangelism.
Keep praying that God will fulfill his purpose in this place through our lives.
We thank God that you are helping us lay foundation of the word of God here where deception has reigned for long. I am looking forward to seeing you in US this April so we can strategize further on how to accelerate the process of reaching out to our friends here.
Blessings
Greetings from a hot and meatless Garissa. Meatless because we have had an animal disease outbreak called Rift valley fever. Mosquitoes transmit the same disease to Human beings. The government slapped a ban on eating meat in this place (the locals love to eat meat). We have learnt to be vegetarians—I think I am enjoying it.
The year is getting busy and you can join me in praying that more laborers will come here and join us in reaching the Muslims with the gospel.
The exciting news to report is that God enabled our school to top 83 other schools in our district in the 2006 national exams whose results came a month ago. This being our fifth consecutive time to top the district has made many parents flock our school to bring their children (majority are Muslims). We decided to increase the number of streams (classes). The school now has >400 students. Continue praying that they will see the light of the Lord.
The year started in a very tough way—what of with the conflict in Somali and the Rift Valley fever. Garissa not being very far from Kenya-Somali border is seen by many people as not a very safe place to live in. many people expected us to leave the place when things were tough in Somali. We thank God that now things are much better.
Somali is one country in the world that has very few missionaries reaching them. Because of lacking a government for the past one and a half year, the place is so unsafe to missionaries that many decide to keep off the place yet the God I serve whose ways are not our ways has opened a great door here in garissa and daddab for me to mobilize believers to reach out to them. Somali people are more open to the gospel when here in Kenya as opposed to when they are in Mogadishu. I am planning to organize a football match between Somali and Ethiopia soon in daddab refugee camp. As you are aware, people are so idle in the camp such that they prefer to play football every time the temperatures go down. We have over 150,000 refugees in the camp and many are coming in. I have tried to equip believers especially from Ethiopia and Sudan with skills on how to reach out to there Somali colleagues (they freely mingle in the camp). Pray that the football match I am organizing will be successful and that the believers will use that to connect with Somalis and plant the word of God.
Through out this week, I have been teaching the word of God to our workers—two of them are Muslim. The study is such that even the non believers can attend. These studies are laying foundations that are going to help these two Muslim colleagues know the Lord—in fact one of them came to me asking me to spend more time with him explaining to him some things that are not clear—please, pray that the Lord may bring them to the knowledge of truth.
People that were affected by floods are still in camps although many of there places are dry. We continue to help them with medications and clean water. The government has come to appreciate our work the more through our intervention in this situation. It is true that everything works for good to those that love the lord and are called according to his purpose.
I plan to run training on evangelism and discipleship starting this match here in garissa. We believe many will be equipped. One of the things I will train on is how to do Muslim evangelism.
Keep praying that God will fulfill his purpose in this place through our lives.
We thank God that you are helping us lay foundation of the word of God here where deception has reigned for long. I am looking forward to seeing you in US this April so we can strategize further on how to accelerate the process of reaching out to our friends here.
Blessings
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