Myanmar Mission Report

Thank God for a wonderful trip!  The Church Leaders and Bible College Students' zeal for knowledge never fail to amaze me.  I consider it a privilege to have a part in their ministry and I am always thankful to God for giving me such contacts and opportunity.

The team of 4 (Rev Freddy Yong and Theresa, Bro Ding Yew Soong, and myself) arrived on November 22 at Yangon and took a flight to Mandalay on November 23.  Bro Ding taught Leadership Laws at Mandalay, while Freddy, Theresa and I proceeded to Pyin Oo Lwin.  I started teaching the book of Philippians that night.  Fourty students from Myanmar Reformed Bible College (Chinese) picked up their color pencils and started marking.  First they discovered the background, followed by determining the main theme of every chapter, and finally they were all required to mind map a detailed outline of every chapter.  Below are examples of their hard work.

 

Mind maps of Philippians 1 & 2 by the students

The 3^rd and 4^th year students had learnt this method of studying the Bible on the books of 3 John and Haggai.  I left for Mandalay on November 26, but Rev Freddy took over the task of teaching the 1^st and 2^nd year students on the book of 3 John and the parable of the Prodigal Son.  He did a great job and both Freddy and his wife are eager to go back to teach in Pyin Oo Lwin.  He plans to teach this in Malaysia too.

The class was held at Fundamental Baptist Seminary.  Rev James Biaklain was my interpreter. Forty-five pastors and leaders attended this module.  Due to the lack of commentaries on the book of Revelation, requiring them to do a research would be absurd. I made them read the book ten times and outline the entire book of Revelation both in a chart form and in pictures.

 

These pastors were busy putting Revelation into pictures.

They were made to write and draw the 7 Churches, 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Bowls and 7 Figures.  They were assigned to teach or preach from the Book of Revelation and write a report.  One of the lecturers shared that he dared not teach this book, but after this module, he is now confident to do so.

This is a totally new group.  The principal Moses Liancuh was my classmate in the Doctor of Ministry class at Singapore Bible College.  Moses pastors a church which take care of orphans.  He has 40 students in his Peniel Bible College.  He has the best team of co-workers I have seen in Myanmar so far.  They are young, dedicated and eager to learn. The 40 students were so excited learning how to use both the right and left brain to study the Bible.

 

Using Mind Map to outline 3 John in Peniel BC.               A 4th year student asking how to use both the right & left brains effectively.

 I did what I taught in Pyin Oo Lwin, using 3^rd John.  The senior students immediately saw this method Bible Study as the best substitute for commentaries, which are costly. All the lecturers and their wives sat in for the classes.  Moses’ wife, Sharon, wisely put it across to me that I must come back to teach them again for another 2 to 3 times to help them get a hang of it.  Moses and his team are still young with full of energy and dynamism. I am looking forward to go back to train both the lecturers and students again next year.

All the 3 Bible Colleges lack resources and funds, but the leaders are men and women of faith.  We not only taught but also provide them with all the necessary stationery and extra cash to buy food and petrol.  We took the trouble also to give Christmas gifts to some of the lecturers, whose salaries range from $39 to $100. The cost of living has doubled, but their wages remain the same.  These 3 groups are very conservative, evangelistic and spiritual.  They pray and fast frequently.  It is our privilege to be partakers of their wonderful ministries – by  Beng Shin.