6 Theological education is of vital importance

7 Buddhism is strongly entrenched among the Burmese majority, the Shan and the Mon, and of deep influence in more animistic peoples

8 The least evangelized peoples:

a) The Bama (Burmese) peoples

b) The Shan are Buddhist, related to the Thai and live in the Golden Triangle

c) Other Buddhist minorities have few Christians

d) The more animistic peoples

e) The Chinese

f) The Chettiyars, an Indian minority, who originated from the former French enclaves in India, and other Indians from many states in India

g) The Rohingya of Arakan, Muslim descendants of Arabs, Moors, Moghuls and Bengalis who settled in Arakan 1,000 years ago

h) The Hindus and Nepalis were long neglected

i) AIDS victims. AIDS is a major disaster with over 530,000 infected

9 The missionary vision of the Church has led to new peoples opening up to the gospel

10 Christian help ministries

a) There is a shortage of Bibles and all forms of Christian literature in Burmese and minority languages because of import restrictions

b) Bible translation is a major challenge

c) Christian radio has been effective with broadcasting in 17 languages

d) The JESUS film has been widely shown

e) GRN has made recordings available in 149 languages, but importation and distribution problems limit their usefulness

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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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).

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