o f t e n u n d e r t r y i n g circumstances. With the threat of deportation, these workers a r e a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y controlled by their employers to the extent of exploitation. This migrant workforce is reported to be receptive to the gospelto the extent that small church groups have been formed.

Our vision challenge for the month of September, 2010 is to pray for and partner in the ministry to the Burmese, a land of oppressed people who too are loved by Yahweh!

V2M: SEPTEMBER 2010

VISION CHALLENGE....AND GOD LOVES BURMA TOO!

Burma or Myanmar a closed country often in the news only for suppression, persecution and oppression is also a f e r t i l e g round fo r the gospel. Located towards the north east of India and bo rde red by Ch ina and Thailand, the country is the largest in south east asia with a population of around 50 million. The country is ruled by the Military Junta who would suppress any threat to its authority over the nation as in the case of the famous Nobel laureate Aung Sung Soo Kyi.

Buddhism is the dominant religion in the country with several tomb shaped temples called as Pagodas. About 90% o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n a r e Buddhists with the remaining being Christians, Muslims and of tribal religions.

Christianity first reached Burma in the early 1500s and today represents around 5% of the population. Till the early 19th century, the Roman Catholic church was the only active Christian group running missions and schools in the country. The first protestant

work started with the arrival of Rev. Adoniram Judson, a B ap t i s t m i s s i ona r y who traveled to Burma with his wife. Since then the protestant groups have grown with the m a i n s t r e a m B a p t i s t s , Pentecostal and Anglican churches. The Bible Society has successfully translated the Bible into local languages.

As in other totalitarian states, religious persecution has been reported in Burma. In the late 80s and since then there are several reports of Government o r d e r e d c r a c k d o w n o n minority groups particularly Christian churches. The most affected has been the state of Karen and Chin with historic ties to Christian movements and missionary work. There are also passive forms of p e r s e c u t i o n s u c h a s discrimination in recruitment, scholarships and admissions and other areas of life where a Christian identity can be a depravity.

To escape the harsh realities o f Bu rma , a s ign i f i c an t number of migrants have crossed over to Malaysia to work at very low wages and

Buddhism is the

dominant religion in

Burma

The Mission Challenge for the month of September 2010, is the ministry of Brother Salai Lal Lian Thiang or Pastor Silas as he is affectionately known. Pastor Silas works with migrant Burmese workers in Malaysia and has established the Agape Myanmar Mission Center that serves as a skills and learning center while reaching out with the gospel. He writes…

It is our pleasure to introduce our m in i s t r y among the Burmese MigrantWorkers and Refugees in Penang, Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam and Kulim.

At the Agape Myanmar Mission Center in Bukit Mertajam our aim is to reach out to the Burmese refugees with the good news and provide them with an opportunity to learn basic skills in English, computer applications, leadership and scripture for free. At present we have around 160 attending our Mission Center most of them being Burmese Buddhist, Karen, Rakhin, Mon, Shan and Rohinya Muslim. The migrant refugees work in different fields including construction projects, factories and plantations and are a source of cheap labor. Salaries of these workers are

very low and often enough only to survive and are often forced to move from one place to another. They seldom get holidays and work extended hours by their “Boss”.

Our Center is quite small rented by the offering of our members alone.We do not have any local church and any organization to sponsor ourministry among the Burmese people. And as such we are self supporting, self-governing, self-p r o p a g a t i n g a n d w o u l d appreciate any help as the Lord leads. We have formed cell churches at various places so that the Burmese brothers and sisters in the Lord can attend and participate in church. As these believers are not allowed to leave their places of work, we have set up small churches there.

You can get more information on our mission site: www.iammission.org

Thank you so much!Your Brother in the LordPr Silas (Salai Lal Lian Thiang)Agape Myanmar Mission

V2M PREVIOUS ISSUES

• January - Uyghurs of Kazhakstan

• February - Rescue the perishing..Care for the dying

• March- The Good News to the Islamic world

• April - The Nation of Argentina for the Lord

• May- Reaching Home with the Good News

• June- Reach out to those behind bars

• July- Wining the battle for the mind

• August- And from every tribe,

people and language

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Pastor Silas making a

difference through the Agape Mayanmar

Mission

MISSION CHALLENGE....AGAPE MAYANMAR