MINISTRY IN MOTION

Each week I look forward to receiving the various e-mails from our partners around the globe.  I am always amazed at how the Lord is working in and through the different partners and their ministries.  One of the most active ministries is that of our partner in Myanmar – each month I get a series of reports on each of the ministry activities and generally there are at least five reports with great pictures.  I’d like to share a few of those stories from the June activities with you here.

As you may remember, Ed Hirshman and J Lucarelli went to Myanmar for the dedication of the new Bible School at the end of May.  The Bible School was started on faith, and this past month the students were able to see God’s hand in answering prayers that were offered to Him in faith.  When the school opened there was a need to English Bibles for the each student, and prayers were sent up for this need, which has now been met.  This was a huge encouragement to the students and gave them a personal testimony of how the Lord answers prayers. They now see that the Lord is not only the way to heaven but also the way to people’s hearts and minds as He shows His love and compassion to His people.

Another story that really touched my heart was how a Western tradition was used to impact ministry.  Generally our position is that we do not want to impose the Western culture on our ministry partners as we want them to blossom where the Lord has put them and to grow within the environment they are called to serve.  This story, however, shows how our partner was able to turn Mother’s Day, which is not celebrated in Myanmar into a special time of ministry outreach.  Pastor “Benjamin” wanted to reach out to the many widows who had never heard the Gospel message.  Carefully reviewing scripture, the pastor assembled a group to respond to the command in James 1:27 to reach out to the widows.  The group went to a heavily Buddhist area and washed the feet of the widowed mothers.  The impact on the widows was to not only hear the message of the Gospel but also to understand the humility of Christ and His servants.  One widow said, “I am elated to experience being honored in this way.”  Many of these women accepted Christ and the group offered a large meal after to foot washing as a celebration for those who had professed Christ as their Savior and Lord.  It was wonderful to hear how a day that we often take for granted or as a time to take Mom out to dinner or to buy her a flower had such a profound impact on the ministry team in Myanmar to turn the day totally to the Lord and show His love in action with great results.

If you would like to read more of the ministry reports from Myanmar, they are posted elsewhere on this website.  You will find reports on the home cells, water supply and baptisms.