Answers to Prayer

1 Despite the isolation and repression of Christians, there has been considerable growth among some ethnic minorities and a great interest in the gospel among Buddhist monks

Challenges for Prayer

1 Four decades of repressive military rule have isolated the nation and brought it to destitution

2 There has been continual warfare since 1942. Since independence, the central government has sought to crush dissension among ethnic minorities

3 The isolation of the Church in Myanmar has lasted for 30 years

4 The military regime is seeking to marginalize and even eliminate the Church, yet growth continues

5 Challenges facing the Church in Myanmar:

a) Fortitude and faithfulness under persecution

b) Liberal theology in some of the older, ecumenical seminaries is creating a church leadership that scorns evangelicals and the message of new birth

c) Nominalism among third- and fourth-generation Christians

d) Most Christians are from minority groups which are embroiled in military actions against the central government

e) Reconciliation and unity among Christians is a serious need

Geography

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Area 676,577 sq.km. Basin and delta of the Irrawaddy River ringed by a horseshoe of high mountains that isolates the country from India, China and Thailand.

Population (2000) 45,611,177 +1.24%AGR

Capital Yangon 5,000,000.

Peoples

Sino-Tibetan 89.3%; Mon-Khmer 5.7%; Other 5%.

Literacy 83%. Official language: Burmese. All languages 107. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi 10NT 16por.

Economy

Rich in natural resources, but ravaged by the greed of its rulers. HDI 0.580; 128^th/174. Public debt 4% of GNP. Income/person $2,610 (8% of USA).

Politics

The country has known little peace since the Japanese invasion of World War II, in 1942.

Religion

Officially Buddhism is no longer the state religion, but the military regime actively promotes it.

Churches in Myanmar

Missionaries from Myanmar

3,160 in 40 agencies

Missionaries to Myanmar

159 in 32 agencies.

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