Myanmar 2019

In my role as NOW Asian Liaison, I (along with a man from my church here in Adelaide) was honored to travel to Myanmar and serve alongside the Mang family for 11 days. It was a great privilege to teach a block class in the Bible college and preach in a couple of churches. It was encouraging to experience what God is accomplishing in this repressed country.

I was asked to teach through the book of 1 Timothy to the third-year students. The first day was a bit awkward as I sought for ways to connect to these students entrusted to me. I tried various things and just received blank stares. After one of our breaks, I came back into the classroom and found them singing. You could hear the passion and love for their Lord in the songs that they sang. Sometimes it was in English other times it was in Burmese, yet you could hear the worship in their voices. It was through music and the love we shared of praising our Lord that we were able to connect and bond. Each class we would take some time to sing songs we both knew and a new song I shared with them about the beauty of God’s Word.

The time with the students each day was a remarkable experience. It was encouraging to see their hearts committed to learning about God’s Word. Despite the hot and humid weather, they stayed with me as we made our way through the six chapters of this practical New Testament book. They applied themselves to memorizing various verses in 1 Timothy and preparing for their quizzes each day. Though they are still relatively young (16-20 years old), you can see God shaping and moulding them. As I reflect upon my time with these precious students, my heart is moved to tears of joy. I pray that they will continue to keep their eyes upon Jesus, our means and end.

Another unique opportunity afforded to us was a tour of the Bible translation center that Timothy oversees. Myanmar has seven states and 135 different tribes. Though the national language is Burmese, each of the tribes has their unique dialect. Presently the center is working on 13 different translations. As we spoke with the pastors and translation consultants, we were amazed at the immense detail and care they take to ensure they use the best translation for each word, phrase, sentence, and paragraph.

Those 11 days in Myanmar were such a testimony to me of faithfulness. Despite the challenges and opposition they have faced through the years, Brother Mang and his family have remained steadfast and faithful. As you talk with them, you can see it is their unshakeable faith in God that sustains them and has kept them moving forward. It is this testimony that is being passed on to the next generation of Myanmar Christian leaders. Please join me in praying for and supporting these faithful servants of God.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

 Your Fellow Servant,

Adam Gibbs
Asian Liaison
Currently church planting in Australia