Update from war-stricken Myanmar

Greetings from Myanmar.

We are facing a significant challenge for our youth. As the number of soldiers in the junta [military] has dwindled, [youth] are being forcibly recruited to serve in the army, with men and women collected in different ways. The airport is strict regarding young people leaving the country, and young people rarely decide to go to prison rather than serve in the military. Now, not only young people but also men aged 40 to 65 must undergo military training and defend their region. I don’t know how it will continue.

Our country is in a deep economic downturn, suffering from inflation and job shortages. Millions face food shortages due to skyrocketing commodity prices. The civil war is becoming more intense and spreading further. As a result, more than 2 million people have left their homes and are displaced.

Because of the civil war, our four Mennonite congregations (236 families) are unable to return to their villages. They suffer from insufficient food and medicine shortages. Our Mennonite church was destroyed by bombing and has not been repaired. Please offer prayers for them.

Although the country is declining, our missionary work is becoming more successful. In December 2023, the government permitted a Peace Concert in Kyone Mangeh Village. More than 2000 people participated. Gospel songs were performed, and peace talks were held. After the concert, 14 Buddhists accepted Christ and received water baptism.

This year we established a new church in a village near Yangon. Seventeen Buddhists converted to Christianity and received water baptism. A temporary tent was built for worship. However, the surrounding Buddhists were angry about the emergence of new Christians and began to persecute them. Although new believers experience stoning and ex-communication, they continue to grow in their faith without fear.

The construction of a BMCM (Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite) church in Kalemyo had been halted due to skyrocketing prices, but due to the hard work of our people, it was rebuilt and today is almost complete. Five other churches have halted construction due to rising prices. We need your prayer support for continued construction.

Our mission is very successful because of God’s presence. It is our prayer that the Anabaptist Mennonite Church will grow in Myanmar and make God’s glory manifest.