Myanmar (Burma) consists of 130 or so big and small ethnic groups including the largest, Burmese and other major ethnic groups Karen, Kachin, Chin and Mon. Like other countries in the area, Myanmar (Burma) suffered greatly with religious and ethnic conflict amid power struggles between the Western nations. Especially Karens, with their own legends and myths, accepted the gospel on their own and were converted in groups and later joined forces with the British and with their history of ethnic conflict, became the traitors to the people of Myanmar.With this historical background, Karens became the ‘West follower’, the ‘betrayers’, and the ‘second class citizens.’ Christians in turn were deliberately or implicitly overlooked for higher positions and were not accepted as members deeper into the community. Moreover, the tyranny of the military regime caused the creation of the rebels from each ethnic group resulting in Myanmar (Burma)’s political, economic and social disturbance.
In these dark times, a young man brought up his identity as a Christian due to a name, Solomon, given to him by his grandfather. He is from a town where the bridge of River Kwai between his country and Thailand was located. Solomon moved around with his mother who was a nurse and felt an invisible wall each time because he was a Christian. But he loved his people from when he was a boy and started contemplating what he can do as a Christian about this problem of the people. Continuing to pray for his country, Solomon experienced the ‘Summer of Myanmar’, the pro-democracy demonstrations against the military dictatorship that spread throughout the country in 1988. Solomon, a university student then, not only participated in the people’s demonstration led by Aung San Suu Kyi but started teaching high school students about the iniquities of the current military regime and became the target of the government. He was politically detained but to help his people by other means he escaped Myanmar (Burma) and applied for refugee status in Thailand. He stayed in Thailand as a refugee and waited 10 years for a new, democratic government to take power in his home country, working to liberate Myanmar through politics and renew his beloved people.
But God was showing him a new path.
It was too lonely and too much for him to endure with just the political beliefs for 10 years in Thailand. He sought out the Lord at each worship and gave his heart out to the Lord. God gave him the idea in Solomon’s heart that He will change Myanmar with the seemingly incompetent cross instead of politics.
Solomon then started feeling the power of the gospel that can lead Myanmar to eternal life and liberate it from sin and his direction slowly changed. He then went to prison as an illegal alien in Thailand and he set his mind on God. “Lord, if I get out the prison, I’ll go to a third country. I’ll no longer stay here trying to change Myanmar politically. I’ll go to a third country and serve you and your people and stay there and ask for your guidance on the work you’ll do and the work you’ll do through me for your kingdom and my country.” After this prayer, he was released from prison in one month. He applied for refugee status to a third country and arrived in Thunder Bay, Canada in 1998.
Although Solomon decided to serve the people of God, words and communication between races presented him with big challenges but they also offered him to seek God in a different direction. People of Myanmar (Burma) he met in Thunder Bay were Karens and everyday communication was impossible. On his friends suggestion, he moved to Toronto and started a Myanmar (Burma) church/community with 4 other families at his house. As the church grew, he kept on doing his work through trials and suffering.
One day he was introduced to a Korean pastor through a Myanmar (Burma) sister who was going to a seminary. With the help of the pastor and the church who understood and loved Myanmar (Burma), they were able to offer first worship service in June, 2005 at Youngnak Church. Youngnak Church loved Myanmar (Burma) Church and helped in many different ways and they always respected the Myanmar (Burma) Church.
“They did not ask for anything. I felt that they were happy for us and they were joyful with our worship. They did not try to control us nor lead us. It was surprising. We would let them know of our needs humbly and they tried really hard to fulfill those needs. Once, we talked about our members having trouble coming to church on public transit and they offered bus tickets on a regular basis. We would just talk about everyday difficulties like going to the airport or getting a cab without expectation and they helped out as if they were their own.
We would tell them that a new member who was a refugee was having trouble getting a job and Youngnak members would call offering a job at their convenience stores. It was so touching. They were helping as if they were waiting for us to tell them our needs. I realized they not only loved us but respected us as well. These small gestures brought big changes.”After associating with CMCA, the church that didn’t look outside of Myanmar (Burma) community has started paying attention to other people and how God was working with them. Each time Solomon participated in the minority group leaders prayer meeting, they listened together to God who loved and filled the needs of each people. By worshipping together, he could experience a bigger God and His bigger kingdom and people.
Studying theology that started in September 2008 was an important stepping stone for Solomon to go from a layman leader to a minister.
Solomon had to work during the day and study at night. He worked at a furniture factory during the day and studied at night and served the Lord during the weekends. The church is standing strong after the youth group was established. Solomon now is helping a sister church for the Karens as well as many Myanmar (Burma) groups in Ontario, other provinces in Canada and in the US. He personally drives to them and do Bible studies and worships together. He’s trying to change the current worldly value in their hearts to that of the Lord. They gather to pray for the Myanmar (Burma) people in Canada and for their home country.
A true fellowship as friends that one church showed became a foundation for the people to grow independently and voluntarily. Thanks to that friend, Myanmar Church was able to develop into a church to plant and support more churches for its people.
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“The church showed example of not leading but helping to lead and we were able to learn a new model in church planting.“
Prayer Request
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To be able to set up a home cell group church wherever Myanmar people can be found.
Now home cell churches of Ottawa and Buffalo have been grown to the independent churches and they have worshiped God with their own leadership in the church facilities.
Continuously we are planting the home cell churches in London, Windsor and Lansing, USA . Please pray for these churches.
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For the next generation of the people of Myanmar Church to grow to become approved worker in this land.
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For the Myanmar people in Toronto. Most of them are Buddhists. For the plans to bring them and share the gospel on Christmas and/or Good Friday.
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To be able to and prepare for the short-term mission trip to our country, Myanmar.