[09.0908] Despite media reports last week portraying Myanmar’s military government as
possibly more helpful than previously considered, an underground church leader
in Yangon is telling Charisma that behind the scenes it is Christians who
continue to be the main source of help to victims of Cyclone Nargis—a deadly
storm that struck the impoverished nation May 2.
“We Christians are the only ones helping on the front lines and the most
suffering people,” said Brother Bo Min (not his real name), the pastor of a
large underground church in Yangon.
suffering people,” said Brother Bo Min (not his real name), the pastor of a
large underground church in Yangon.
“Whenever we are on the front line, we never see any other religious groups
or soldiers helping,” he said. “Only Christians and mission organizations are
helping. Our Buddhist friends and government were not happy to hear this, but we
Christians took an opportunity to share the gospel by helping them and showing
the love of Jesus Christ.”
or soldiers helping,” he said. “Only Christians and mission organizations are
helping. Our Buddhist friends and government were not happy to hear this, but we
Christians took an opportunity to share the gospel by helping them and showing
the love of Jesus Christ.”
Min said after one of Myanmar’s worst cyclones in recorded history, he was
surprised to hear the government estimate that only about 130,000 people died.
“I’ve been down there many times,” he said. “The local people estimate 1 million
people died. All of these people and cows and buffalos and goats and all kinds
of animals were killed.”
surprised to hear the government estimate that only about 130,000 people died.
“I’ve been down there many times,” he said. “The local people estimate 1 million
people died. All of these people and cows and buffalos and goats and all kinds
of animals were killed.”
He said he knows of 87 towns that were wiped out by the cyclone and that
2.6 million people remain homeless.
2.6 million people remain homeless.
A disaster-relief expert and missionary pilot based in the U.S. recently
told Charisma a similar story after returning from a humanitarian mission
to Myanmar. Joe Hurston, founder of Air Mobile Ministries, said Myanmar’s
government hasn’t taken a census in years and has no idea how many people live
in the Irrawaddy Delta—finger-like stretches of land in southern Myanmar that
are at or below sea level.
told Charisma a similar story after returning from a humanitarian mission
to Myanmar. Joe Hurston, founder of Air Mobile Ministries, said Myanmar’s
government hasn’t taken a census in years and has no idea how many people live
in the Irrawaddy Delta—finger-like stretches of land in southern Myanmar that
are at or below sea level.
“For them to say the death toll is 133,000—I absolutely don’t believe it,
not for a second,” he said in June. “The storm had no resistance. There were no
structures [nor] mountains to stop” the nearly 20-foot walls of water driven by
120 mph winds.
not for a second,” he said in June. “The storm had no resistance. There were no
structures [nor] mountains to stop” the nearly 20-foot walls of water driven by
120 mph winds.
Because of the restrictive military junta in Myanmar, peasants and rice
farmers near the Indian Ocean who managed to survive the storm were apparently
shut out from international aid during the days and weeks following the storm.
farmers near the Indian Ocean who managed to survive the storm were apparently
shut out from international aid during the days and weeks following the storm.
Min, who oversees 158 underground churches in Myanmar, said the government
is too ashamed to allow foreigners in because they’re afraid the world will see
how little has been developed in Myanmar since 1962, when the military junta
began its rule.
is too ashamed to allow foreigners in because they’re afraid the world will see
how little has been developed in Myanmar since 1962, when the military junta
began its rule.
But unimaginable damage and suffering after Cyclone Nargis has opened many
doors for Christians to not only share their clothes or food—including potatoes,
onions, garlic and rice—but to also share the gospel, he said.
doors for Christians to not only share their clothes or food—including potatoes,
onions, garlic and rice—but to also share the gospel, he said.
“Myanmar churches are not rich. But, as much as they have in their hands,
they donate it to the church and the church brings it to the [village] center,”
he said.
they donate it to the church and the church brings it to the [village] center,”
he said.
One church planter whom Min referred to as “Maung
Din” has already baptized
123 new believers since the storm. “This is the fruit of helping to meet the
needs of our Buddhist brethren,” he said. “We believe helping them is a bridge
and partnership for evangelism, so we’ll keep on doing it.”
Din” has already baptized
123 new believers since the storm. “This is the fruit of helping to meet the
needs of our Buddhist brethren,” he said. “We believe helping them is a bridge
and partnership for evangelism, so we’ll keep on doing it.”
Min said that just days after the devastation of Nargis, Din reported 62
people accepting Christ in the village he was working. Cyclone victims who had
never even heard the gospel even claimed to meet Jesus in their dreams prior to
accepting Christ, he said.
people accepting Christ in the village he was working. Cyclone victims who had
never even heard the gospel even claimed to meet Jesus in their dreams prior to
accepting Christ, he said.
“They said Nargis killed many, but Nargis also brought many people to
Christ,” Min said happily. “Young people are even composing songs like that.”
Christ,” Min said happily. “Young people are even composing songs like that.”
As Christians in Myanmar continue meeting the spiritual and physical needs
of their countrymen, a Virginia-based ministry is also aiming to assist relief
efforts, even if only by raising awareness in the West.
of their countrymen, a Virginia-based ministry is also aiming to assist relief
efforts, even if only by raising awareness in the West.
“The Christian community in Myanmar has been the primary vessel God has
used to go down in that area,” said Court Wood, founder of In Jesus’ Name
Ministries (injesusname.org), which advocates for persecuted Christians
worldwide.
used to go down in that area,” said Court Wood, founder of In Jesus’ Name
Ministries (injesusname.org), which advocates for persecuted Christians
worldwide.
“It’s been wonderful to see what the Christian community is doing there
with what little resources they have.” —Paul Steven Ghiringhelli
with what little resources they have.” —Paul Steven Ghiringhelli
