“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My souls shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” KJV (Psalm 34:1-4).
Christmas and New Year’s greetings to you all my prayer partners. May the new blessings be poured upon you all. Due to your prayer help, I continue to serve the Lord as a church planter. I am happy and blessed by your prayers and financial support.
I went to evangelism in some villages in the Htantapyin township three times. I had the opportunity to share the gospel with five households. In Phonatpi village, I shared the good news with Ko Chit Myang and Ma Ohn Tan’s family. I also met and shared about Jesus with Ko Kyaw Oo and Ko Swe Htay. They were happy but have not yet responded. They came to join our Christmas celebration.
I also visited Kichaung village in Htantapyin township and met U (Mr.) Kyaw Htay’s family, U (Mr.) Tun Tun’s family, and U (Mr.) Hla Win’s family. I had the opportunity to share the gospel and invited them to join our Christmas celebration, but only the children joined us. They all were open to the gospel but they need more courage to change their belief.
I went to Donh Kyi village last month and shared the gospel with U (Mr.) Tin Aung’s family, U (Mr.) Khin Hlaing’s family, and U (Mr.) Tin Mya’s family. They listened to m sharing and asked me some questions about Jesus. I answered their questions. They were happy to hear the information. Though they have not yet responded, I hope and pray that one day they may come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Pray for their salvation.
I thank God for one young lady, Khin Suh Wai, fourteen years old, who received Jesus Christ and took baptism on Christmas day at my overseer Pastor Thawng Nei Bil’s church.
- Give thanks to God for my outreach ministry.
- Give thanks for the faith of Khin Suh Wai and pray for her growth as a new believer.
- Give thanks to God for our successful Christmas celebrations. God is faithful in answering our prayers.
- Pray for our country Myanmar and for the political and economic crises.
- Pray for more people to come to faith in Jesus Christ this next year.
Distribution of relief goods, primarily rice.
Pastor Tin Maung Shwe Testimony
I was born in the 1960s and grew up in a Buddhist family. I am the oldest son of my parents, and I am married and have one daughter who is now 13 years old. My wife and I were staunch Buddhists, my wife worked as a middle school teacher, and I owned a small business. In 2005 White Fields Pastor Aih Kham Go came to our neighborhood to share the Gospel, and my wife stopped to talk to him. The Lord gripped her heart, and she decided to become a follower of Jesus. I was agitated when she told me she had become a Christian.
Sometime later I was invited to join the gospel rally and decided to hear about this “living and true” God. But that night as I listened I felt something in my heart. My wife prayed for me and shared the Gospel. This began to cause me to be interested to hear more about the story of God and His salvation.
In April 2005 I joined a gospel camping trip that was organized by the Insein Biblical Presbyterian Church. We were taught about sin, salvation, and the grace of God. It was here that I understood the salvation of Jesus Christ for all men. I joined a church and attended every week; I started learning more about God. After a few weeks, I professed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and was baptized on December 25, 2006.
After my baptism I looked at my friends and neighbors in my community, many of them were bowing down and worshiping idols. I couldn’t sleep at night and thought about their souls and what would happen to them when they died. That thought compelled me to know I have a responsibility to tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they knew the true God, they could worship and adore Him. But, I knew for myself that I needed to understand more about God and His words. From that time I participated in the ministry of God in the church and mission field. I now pastor a church, No. 20 ward of Hlaingtazar town. Praise the Lord for his goodness, power, and authority! I thank the Lord for saving me.