Pray for Myanmar

I received this from a couple who are former students and colleagues at Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon. They are currently leaders in the Asian ministries of WorldVenture, formerly the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society.

Please pray with us.

Pray for Myanmar

We have all seen pictures of the 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28^th which has killed well over 2000 with the death toll expected to be much higher.  The quake wreaked damage even in Bangkok Thailand, over 600 miles away.  The damage is especially great because of the poor infrastructure in Myanmar.  That along with the current civil war will also impact the relief and rebuilding efforts. 

Issakar Mang, a national partner with our sister organization, Myanmar Ventures, writing from within the country wrote, 

“Nearly all houses in Sagaing and Mandalay have collapsed, trapping many people inside. Roads are impassable, and one of the longest bridges has been destroyed, halting food transportation to Sagaing for the foreseeable future.” 

“I spoke with a missionary friend in Naypyidaw three minutes before the landline went down. His home was destroyed, his two children were injured, and they lost all their possessions. The entire community has fled, leaving only his family and the orphans he cares for behind. I am attempting to reach other regional missionaries, but the situation is dire. Our country is in mourning, and the suffering endured by our people is unbearable.”

“He reported that the entire town has fled to perceived safe areas, but he cannot leave his orphanage. His house and the orphanage have been destroyed. The roads are impassable, and there are no cars or food available. They are out of water; tonight, they will use the last of their supplies to cook, but after that, they will have nothing.” 

“We urgently need prayers for two critical things: first, for the safety of those trapped and for those who have lost their homes; second, for the missionaries affected and for the funds we need to assist them during this crisis.”

Timothy Mang, another global partner on the ground said, 

“Despite this horrific natural disaster, military jets bombed seven towns today, making life even more unbearable for civilians—it feels like hell on earth.”

“There is no food, no drinking water, and no electricity.”

Myanmar Ventures runs a Bible school, elementary school, high school, missionary training school, orphanage, and churches.  They have 120 national missionaries spread across the country and over 100 churches.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for our national partners with Myanmar Ventures to have wisdom in how to respond to the overwhelming needs in a way that will make Jesus known. Pray for local Christians as they respond in love to needs around them.
• Pray for those who have lost loved ones that they will find peace only in Jesus.
• Myanmar is about 80% Buddhists and only about 5% Christian. About 85% of the country is untouched by the gospel. Pray that this disaster will make people hungry for Jesus.
• Myanmar’s military junta (1962-2011, 2021-) is a ruthless power.  Pray that God will remove them from power and bring healing to the nation.
• Christians are routinely persecuted and the military has tried to remove Christianity from the nation.  Pray for protection and boldness for local Christians to give a reason for the hope that is in them.
• Pray for aid to quickly reach those who need it most instead of being siphoned off to the military government.
• Please pray for safety for the various pastors, church planters and missionaries as they act as the hands and feet of Jesus in affected communities. Pray that they will be ready to speak truth to those who need to hear the good news. 
• Pray against attacks of the enemy: unity among the believers, no jealousy, envy, or strife, and for them to stand strong wearing the full armor of God.
• Pray for Jonathan Stone, missionary in Myanmar, (leader at 1for50 ministry, his work is training leaders who teach children) to know how to minister to the leaders and children he serves. He lost a good friend Htun Myint and his family in the earthquake except for an infant son who is now an orphan.
• Pray for our WorldVenture missionaries in Thailand to be wise in how they respond to the devastation in their own country. 

As believers, we who have been blessed have a responsibility to bless others.  If you are not contributing in other ways, please pray about contributing to WorldVenture’s relief work in Myanmar you may donate at https://worldventure.com/giving/ to the “Good Sam Myanmar Earthquake Relief.” Myanmar Earthquake Relief Project #6440-910.  Many secular & Christian relief organizations come in for the immediate relief needs and then are gone within days. WorldVenture focuses more on the rehabilitation and redevelopment portions with the distribution percentages as:

30-35% for relief efforts (food, water, immediate shelter, medical)

40-45% for rehabilitation (rebuilding damaged or destroyed buildings and homes)

20-30% for redevelopment (helping restore lost businesses and evangelism & church planting efforts)

James 1:27 reminds us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

You are welcome to pass this information along to others who may be interested.