Myanmar

The Testimony of Pastor Lun

I was born in Kanpalet Town, Southern Chin State, Myanmar. My parents are Rev. Tin Saw and Daw Lay Thung. I have three sisters and three brothers. My father served as a church planter in our town, supported by White Fields. He always told us about God and the salvation of Jesus Christ since my earliest childhood memories. I helped with my father’s church planting work growing up. I regularly attended children’s Sunday school and education programs from kindergarten to high school in Kanpalet town, Chin State. I am married to Ma Pan Tan and have two children.

Eventually, my conversion and calling by God for His full-time service happened when I was nineteen. After that, I grew up clearly understanding the love of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins by His death on the cross.

After the coup establishing a military government as the regime in our country in February 2021, we were all in a challenging situation. The military suspected many young people of resistance, and they were arrested everywhere in our state. As such, I was also arrested in November 2021 and suffered some torture by soldiers. I thank God that I was released after a short stay in jail. I spent one week in jail. Within that one week, I received the call of God for His full-time service, and I dedicated my life and committed to the church planting ministry in our area. I know that many of our people do not know Jesus and His Salvation story through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That deeply moved me while I spent the week in jail. “I promised God that if I am released from jail, I will serve you as long as I live.” Upon my release, I immediately began serving with White Fields pastors to find an area that needed a new church.

That is when I was introduced to the Auh Mwe Tung village. I was brought to serve the Lord in this village, a very rural and undeveloped village in Kanpalet township. Twenty-seven families reside in the village; only four are Christian. They are Kanpalet tribes, mostly Buddhists and a few Animists. Pastor Tha Khup (A White Fields Regional Evangelist and father of Pastor Solomon) first reached the village with the gospel. At first, only one family had accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Pastor Tha Khup and a group of evangelists from Pastor Solomon’s church continued evangelizing them, so now, these four families need a church.

The village is located on a mountain range. There is no road for vehicles; only a motorbike can go. The village is seven miles from Kanpalet, but it has very rough terrain, and it isn’t easy to get there; we need to travel on foot. Please pray for my family and me.

I have faced many obstacles and difficulties in my ministry. But Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (KJV). This verse encourages me much. 

Recent Ministry:

I would like to give thanks to God for keeping us safe. Though the civil war continues, we can continue our weekly programs. Many times, we meet together in the cultivation fields. Wherever we live or go, we worship God and conduct prayer meetings. Praise the Lord. 

• Give thanks to God for our weekly worship service and prayer meetings. 
• Praise God for His faithfulness in keeping His children. 
• Please continue to pray to complete our church building and my house too. 
• Please pray that God may open more doors for evangelism. 
• Please continue to pray for the peace and freedom of our country.

Ongoing Ministry for Your Prayers:

All members still stay in their fields, which is difficult as the fighting worsens. We could not have gospel training in October; however, we could continue our prayer meetings and worship service. Nowadays, fighting happens from time to time, and many times, fighters bomb villages and towns. Often, we are in unrest. We are always worried about our lives. The civil war causes famines, diseases, and many kinds of difficulties.

• Give thanks to God for our weekly worship service and prayer meetings.
• Praise God for faithful keeping and caring for us. 
• Please pray for the people in our village during harvest so that nothing may spoil their crops.
• Please continue to pray for us to complete our church building.
• Please pray that God may open more doors for sharing the gospel during the Christmas season. 
• Please continue to pray for the peace and freedom of our country.

During September, almost all my members were sick with tropical diseases, but they have all recovered. Our village has no clinic or pharmacy shop, but we trust in God and pray hard for all the sick people, and God healed them.

There was a lot of heavy rain in September, landslides and storms destroyed some tents and houses. However, by the keeping of God, no life was lost. The landslides had destroyed some crops of people from the village. For two days, I conducted gospel training for my people who were in the village. My members and some non-Christians joined us. We hosted about 15-20 people each day. They were happy to hear the gospel. I hope the seed may grow in the life of hearers, and one day, they may come to Jesus Christ and be saved.

Though we are not free to share the gospel openly, I labor my best to share the good news with non-Christian families in their tents. Many like to hear about the story of salvation, but changing hearts and religion (most are lifelong Bhuddists) takes time because all their cultural tradition, religious beliefs, and rules are rooted deeply in their hearts. However, for God, all is possible. I make friends with them and find ways to open the door to sharing the gospel.

• Give thanks to God for the successful two-day gospel training and for keeping us all safe.
• Give thanks to God that though we were facing hardships, God’s love and mighty care were amazing.
• Please continue to pray for us to complete our church building.

Our political situation is not good; the fighting and bombings are getting worse and worse. Many more people run to the jungle fields. We praise the Lord for His protection. Our family is always here to help when the people return to the village.

Most of my members are still living in the fields of cultivation doing planting or harvesting, so I spend most of my time with them in the field. We conduct worship services there in different tents. 

We still regularly conduct prayer meetings and worship services in the village. Our current political situation prevents me from visiting and sharing the gospel with another village or city. I continue to pray to spread the gospel to other mountain regions.

During a day of gospel training in my church, an old man, a spirit worshipper, joined us. He said he was very happy to hear about eternal life. Although he was interested in hearing about the gospel, he has not yet received Jesus Christ. Pray with us that he may believe in Jesus Christ soon. 

• Give thanks to God for the daily food that the Lord provides us. 
• Give thanks to God for the success of the gospel training and for keeping us safe. 
• Pray for reaching more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
• Pray for the completion of our new church building. 
• Please continue to pray for the peace and freedom of our country.

The Psalmist said, in Psalm 103:1, 11, 13-14, “Blessed the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust.”

The Lord keeps us safe from all kinds of evils. His love endures forever. Though we are in difficult situations, we all experience the goodness of God intensely. All my members are in the fields of cultivation, so I mostly spend my time with them in the field. We conduct worship services at different tents.

During July, I conducted two days of Bible training for my members, and some new people joined us. I also shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with one Buddhist couple. They listened but have not responded yet. They said good. So, please pray for them that the Holy Spirit may touch their hearts through the gospel so that they may come to know God. 

The Construction of the Church Building has made progress

The last report from Pastor Lun described the problems they are facing that have delayed the construction progress. Through your prayers and financial support, the construction has made tremendous progress. They are not finished, but they have walls now.

(From last Month) We have been constructing our church building since April, and members have worked hard. However, they could not continue because of the war. We still need to make a wall, paint, and decorate. Last May, there was a strong storm and rain. Some tents and houses were destroyed and broken. This natural disaster has added difficulties. Please pray that the Lord may restore us soon. 

The church is the people, but having a place to gather is vital to establishing the permanent church in the village. Keep praying for the construction and the outreach to the whole community.

• Give thanks to God for the success of two days of Bible training and keeping us safe. 
• Give thanks to God for our new church building. Though we have not completed it yet, we hope to complete it within this year. 
• Please pray for reaching more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
• Please continue to pray for our country so that the civil war may cease, and we may have freedom soon.
• Please pray that God may keep us from tropical diseases.

Constructing a Christian House

The believers in the remote villages of Myanmar refer to the place of worship as a “Christian House” because the pastor lives in the same building. Christians are only allowed by law to share the Bible in their own home. The members of this rural village far in the mountains are working diligently to provide their pastor a home so they have a place to gather.

Pastor Tha Khup, the father of Pastor Solomon, joined Pastor Lun’s congregation to celebrate the beginning of the construction of the church house in his village. He read Scripture as part of their service. The church members have been harvesting lumber by hand from the nearby forest. They have gathered to pray and dedicate this building as a place where they will meet for church.

You can help them by providing funds to purchase supplies that they can not gather, like nails, bolts, and materials for windows and doors.

There are currently three Christian families and over seventy families still following Buddhism. The witness and dedication of these church members are stirring a profound testimony among their neighbors. In the face of constant persecution, the believers in this village continue to work diligently and demonstrate love and gracious generosity to their neighbors. Many more people are beginning to listen to the gospel.

Many hands are required to construct this building. The village is remote, and there are no common tools that are usually available in an urban setting. The work is all done by hand. The church members lift the beams into place by hand. Pray for their safety and that this project will draw them into a deeper fellowship and love for one another. Your partnership joins with these faithful believers, working hard to construct a permanent location to gather for worship and to provide a house for their pastor.

Pastor Tha Khup, the father of Pastor Solomon, joined the congregation of Pastor Lun to celebrate the construction of the church house in his village. He is reading Scripture as part of their service. The church members have been harvesting lumber by hand from the nearby forest. They have gathered together to pray and dedicate this building as a place where they will meet for church. You can help them with funds to purchase supplies that they can not gather, like nails, bolts, and materials for windows and doors. https://whitefields.mypaysimple.com/s/myanmar-church-construction

God is faithful in keeping His children safe. Civil war is increasing, and many people are struggling for daily food; some are running to the jungle, refugee camps, and cities. Our situation is worse than before. However, we trust in God and that He will not fail to take care of us. I try to evangelize people in the village and the paddy fields. Our weekly programs are doing well, and we continue our prayer meetings and Sunday services.

I praise God that He answered our prayers to start our church building. We started our church wooden building on March 12, 2024. All members work hard for our church building. Every day, we work together. We hope to complete the whole building this summer. Please pray for us.

Pastor Tha Khup laid the foundation, and Pastor Tin Saw and Pastor Solomon attended our foundation-laying program. They helped us with everything we needed to prepare the building. Praise the Lord.

We thank God for our weekly services, which we could conduct regularly. We thank God for enabling us to start our church-building construction and pray that we may complete it soon. Please pray that the civil war will end soon so we may be free to share the gospel.

Previous ministry:

I want to praise and thank God for protecting us from evil and keeping us safe with all my members. I know that it is because of your prayer assistance. Our situation here is not steady; sometimes, we run to secure places in the jungle, and sometimes, we return home. However, we trust in God that He is in control. I believe that nothing can happen to His children without God’s permission. 

I reached out to U Ha Naing, who lives in a tent at the paddy field with his family. I thank God they accepted my sharing of the gospel of salvation. But they have not decided yet; they said they need to take time to hear more about the salvation story. Please pray that they may be touched by the Holy Spirit and come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Our political situation limited my evangelism to villages. Please pray for us. 

I also participated in the three-day training program in Saw Myo, which Solomon and Tha Khup conducted from February 22-24, 2024. I am encouraged by the teaching. Our weekly programs, such as worship services and prayer meetings, are done regularly. I also visit church members every Saturday, give encouragement, and pray for their family needs. 

Due to your prayer help, we could have worship services, prayer meetings, and visit new people in January. I am sorry that we cannot start our church building at present.  Civil war has been happening in our area, but we are collecting funds for workers’ charges in preparation.  Therefore, please pray that the Lord may give us enough funds and opportunity to build. We pray that we may be able to start the construction work soon.

Almost all villagers stayed at their cultivating fields until the end of January. We also stayed in Tents and used them for worship services, prayer meetings, and Bible reading programs. At the end of January, everyone was allowed to return to the village. Thus, I built a small bamboo house for my family’s temporary residence and worship service. Please pray for us.

Thanks to God for our weekly services, which we could conduct regularly in February 2024. Give God thanks for the contribution we received from Whites Fields for our church building. We will try to build it as soon as possible. Please continue to pray to cease the civil war so that we may have the freedom to share the gospel and to have peace. 

Prayer Request:  

Give thanks to God for our weekly services; we continued gathering at a tent in the field. Pray for funds and permission from the present government. Pray that the Lord may open many more doors for ministry. Pray for our weekly services and evangelism outreach. Continue to pray that the civil war may cease and that we may have freedom and peace.

Your prayer help is very effective in my ministry. We are often limited in gathering for worship and cannot conduct the programs because of the political crisis. We often run to safe places, as fighting has been happening from time to time in our area. However, we conduct prayer meetings and Church worship services whenever we can.

During the Christmas season, the Lord provided an opportunity to conduct three days of gospel training; 18-20 people came and joined us. They were happy to hear the good news of salvation. Our Christmas and New Year celebrations were also conducted successfully. We invited everyone in our village, but some were in the work fields. Pastor Solomon helped me in teaching. It was very effective.

Thanks to God for the success of our training and Christmas and New Year celebrations! Continue praying for our new church building; we have collected materials but need more. Pray for my New Year 2024 ministry and our weekly services and evangelism work that the Lord may open many more doors in my field. Continue to pray for our country; we need peace and freedom. 

Conflict, Fellowship and Prayer

Due to your prayer help, my weekly ministry has been continuing but with limitations due to the fighting and we were unable to conduct the programs. However, we were able to have prayer meetings and Church worship services for three weeks last month. Praise the Lord!

I am encouraged so much by hearing that many people are praying for my church planting ministry. God is faithful in keeping His children all the time. The fighting has been happening in our area, but I thank God that the Lord has surrounded us with His angels, so we are all safe and sound. Sometimes we run for our lives to the jungle and then we come back home to the village.

We are working to get wood for our church building. My members and I hired some people to cut and prepare the logs to lumber wood for the floor, and wall. We will cut the pieces for the posts, etc. and also to frame the doors and windows. Our church building will be thirty-eight feet long, eighteen feet wide, and twelve feet high.

As we have prayed hard, the Lord provided us with land for the church building, the owner is one of my members, U (Mr.) Thang Mana’s family. He gave us the land for less than half price, five hundred thousand kyats (MMK), about two-hundred and thirty-six dollars. The church land is fifty feet by one hundred and in the middle of the village. Praise the Lord! We give all our thanks to God.

Several times we have run to safer places, our people could not work in their fields properly, so everyone is facing difficult situations surviving and providing for their families.

Pray that we can build our church building. We did our best to get the wood and the gathering was completed. But when we tried to build, the chief and authorities of the village have forbidden it. Please pray that we will have permission to complete our church building.

• Give thanks to God for the purchase of the land for the church and for the building materials.
• Pray for building permission from the authorities so we may be able to start the work soon.
• Pray for our weekly services and evangelism work that the Lord may open more doors in my field of ministry.
• Pray for our country; we need peace and freedom.

God is faithful in keeping His children all the time. Just like the Scripture says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7). Though fighting has been taking place in our area, God protects us from all evil. Praise the Lord.

The latest update from Pastor Lun is that the military has shut down the movement for all village members. They may not travel to their fields; they must stay in the village. White Fields was able to send funds to provide payment to purchase a plot of land for Pastor Lun. Now, we are praying to gather about $5,000 to get materials to build a simple wood slat house for the family with a room large enough to host the church.

We will live in the village. We have no house, but the village leaders will allow us to stay in the schoolhouse until we can build our own home. We pray to build a house for my family and a worship house for the church.