Greetings to all my prayer partners in the name of Jesus Christ. I give a special thanks to God for all of your prayers and faithful financial support. The last couple of years have been hard in ministry, especially with regards to evangelism, due to the covid lockdown and political crisis. The roads are all closed, and fighting has been happening in our area. Therefore, no one can go out and travel to other places and villages. This also means that everyone is struggling for daily food and trying their best to get food. There are no open shops or markets, and we see soldiers on duty everywhere. However, the Lord is feeding us and keeping us safe. Praise the Lord. I had no food to feed my pigs, so I sold them all.
Due to your prayer help, we have been able to conduct our worship services, prayer meetings, and children’s Sunday school classes every Sunday. I visited some non-Christian families who welcomed me and listened as I shared the gospel with them. I did my best to help them with used clothing donations and food. The internet line is completely closed, and the phone line is also closed but sometimes they open it. I was unable to contact my overseer for many weeks.
Pray for the continuation of our weekly programs and outreach ministry. Many people are still fleeing to safer places. However, we put our trust in God alone that we can still meet together and continue our weekly services.
- Give thanks to God for the safety of my members and our weekly services.
- Give thanks to God for the continued support for my church planting work till today.
- Pray for us, for several months now, all shops and roads are closed to all transportation. Getting daily food is becoming increasingly more difficult.
- Pray for our country. Pray for the Lord to provide us peace and freedom.
I am grateful for your continued prayer and financial support which is helpful for my family and ministry. May God continue to bless you all.
Pastor Van Lal Ruat’s Story
In the plains of Chin State in northern Myanmar, past the big cities and small towns rests a simple, quiet village. This mostly agricultural community sits at the end of a single dusty trail (they call it a road). The Government built this village out of the countryside several years ago to provide housing for the Bamar people group (The largest ethnic group in Burma). A place where extreme temperatures can soar to 115º Fahrenheit during the hot season and drop to the low 40ºs during the cold.
A few years ago Pastor Ruat with his family petitioned the government to receive housing in this village. There were no Christians, only Buddhists. The village council agreed but told them they would receive no help, no stipend to build their house or plant their crops as other Buddhists received. Pastor Ruat chose to trust God and moved in. At first, the people didn’t know what to make of these “Christians,” but they soon found out. Pastor Ruat began going house to house sharing the Gospel and telling them about Jesus Christ. The people had never heard of Jesus; they had no reference, no experience, and no background of who He was or why He came to earth. Pastor Ruat began to meet with his neighbors in the village spending several days with each family explaining the Gospel to those who would listen to him. Slowly a change started to happen in the village, first one, then two, then three, then a family of four decided to become believers in Jesus. Within a few months, there was a small group of believers meeting on Sundays singing songs, hearing the Bible preached and spent countless hours in prayer.
But in the midst of these successes opposition lurked. A new monk appointed to the village from a Buddhist monastery stirred up the people. He along with some council leaders voiced accusations against the church. They forbid both Christians and Buddhists from attending the church. The people stayed strong and continued to come and worship the Lord. Opposition comes in waves, but Pastor Ruat and the members of the local church remain steadfast in the Lord and the power of his might.
Thank you for your support and prayers.
