Pray for Myanmar

Myanmar (Burma) is a country in crisis. Strategically located between India and China, the country is ruled by a brutal military junta. One of the poorest countries in the world, Myanmar has very little educational structure and a largely uneducated workforce. The people suffer from poverty, hunger, oppression and human rights abuse. Thousands live their lives on the run or in hiding due to decades-old civil unrest.

The people's desperation escalated on May 3, 2008, when Cyclone Nargis swept across southern Myanmar, killing hundreds of thousands, leaving millions homeless and causing billions of dollars in damage to infrastructure and ruining the fertile farmland of the Irrawaddy Delta.

The problems in Myanmar seem overwhelming, but nothing is impossible with God. Here are some suggestions for ways to pray for the people of Myanmar this March.

The Government

Burma was a province of India until 1937, at which time it became a separate, self-governing colony. A military coup in 1988 drastically changed the country. All attempts to bring democracy back to Myanmar were quashed by the ruling military junta, which continues to control all aspects of life, including the prices of goods and services. There have been dozens of major clashes between the government and the people, including the Saffron Rebellion in 2007, when Buddhist monks led a protest against sharp increases in fuel prices. By the time the protest was over, at least 13 people were dead and thousands were arrested. Many remain in prison today. The junta has also been accused of raiding Buddhist monasteries and private homes to arrest people they believe are active in pro-democracy causes. One popular pro-democracy leader, who has been held under house arrest for 20 years, has brought unprecedented international attention to the country. Humanitarian agencies estimate that there are thousands of political prisoners, including at least one naturalized American citizen, being held in Myanmar prisons.

GFA's Bible College

Gospel for Asia's Bible college in Yangon (Rangoon) is an oasis of hope for the people of Burma. In addition to preparing young men and women for a life of ministry, the Bible college led the post-Nargis relief effort, providing food, water, shelter and prayer for the stunned population.

Cyclone Nargis Survivors

Pray for the cyclone survivors whose lives changed forever that day. Cyclone Nargis struck the Irrawaddy Delta of Myanmar in May 2008, taking an estimated 140,000 lives and leaving millions homeless. The storm also ruined millions of acres of farmland, making it impossible to plant life-sustaining rice crops. In spite of the suffering, many found lasting hope in Jesus after the cyclone.

Pray for God's Provision

Myanmar was once a wealthy country with a plethora of natural resources. However, today, the country is one of the poorest in the world. At least 70 percent of the country's residents work in agriculture, and most live in abject poverty. There is a large garment production industry in the country, which employs millions of people—many of them children—offering unsafe working conditions and meager wages in exchange for 14-hour workdays. On May, 2008, Cyclone Nargis wiped out much of the fertile farmland, and a rare rat infestation swept through the country, stripping away the remaining vegetation. The resulting famine is beginning to claim victims—the majority of them children. The people of Myanmar need miraculous provision from the Lord. Rats Causing Famine in Myanmar

Pray for Open Hearts

The Buddhist faith is strong in Myanmar. The religion's influence reaches beyond hearts and souls and is a source of the country's national pride, as Buddhist monks have been influential in leading the pro-democracy movements. Yet God is moving mightily in people's hearts. Gospel for Asia—supported missionaries are serving as pastors in churches throughout Myanmar. They enjoy good relationships with local officials and are hard at work sharing the Good News that Jesus loves them with the people of Myanmar.

The Refugees

Civil skirmishes between rebel groups and the Myanmar military have displaced millions of people. Thousands have fled into neighboring countries such as Thailand and Bangladesh. These refugees often find themselves confined to camps and mistreated by residents of the nations to which they have escaped. Thousands are deported and sent back to Myanmar. Some refugees are hiding within the country. Most have no homes to return to as they were destroyed during the fighting.

Myanmar's Relationships with its Neighbors

Myanmar is a small country that shares borders with India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Thailand. The reclusive government has contentious relationships with these countries. Their strategic location between India and China has made diplomatic negotiations a top priority for many nations.

An End to Ethnic Conflict

More than 51 million people live in Myanmar. The population is made up of eight major ethnic groups: the native Burmese, and seven tribal groups—the Kachin, Kayan, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan. Ethnic strife is rampant. Villages were burned to the ground and thousands have been killed. The people of Myanmar need the peace of Christ to reign in their hearts.

National Missionaries and Their Churches

Gospel for Asia supported missionaries serve as pastors of about 500 churches in Myanmar. These small congregations are bright lights of hope in the midst of overwhelming darkness. The missionaries who serve in these churches have a deep desire to share the love of Christ with their fellow citizens, and they are willing to endure intense persecution in order to make it happen. One of their chief obstacles in sharing the Gospel is the extreme limitations on travel. Citizens are restricted in their movements from village to village, so there are no opportunities for film teams to work in Myanmar. It is also impossible for missionaries to serve two churches in different villages, which is a common practice in other parts of Asia. In spite of these difficulties, the missionaries continue serving, and thousands are choosing to follow Christ.