17,000+ helped; 500+ accept Christ
Despite the violence, God has been opening what our local partners describe as “pockets of opportunities,” to reach believers in Myanmar.
“We are able to implement training online, and we are able to go and visit the persecuted church and internally displaced people in the midst of unrest in the country,” Brother Lwin shares, adding that they are also able to reach refugees to provide relief.
As of September 2021, your support has enabled Open Doors local partners to help 17,135 believers in Myanmar, including emergency relief aid and discipleship support.
Given the challenges of distribution, that number is even more remarkable. “We have to be careful with our relief work because sometimes, a truck full of supplies for believers can be misconstrued as supplies being provided to rebel groups,” Brother Lwin explains. “We have to be careful, but we believe the Lord is in control.”
During one of the distributions, our partners met Hayma Aye, who was forced to flee from her home in Chin State. She and her daughter have been living in the forest. Hayma shared with our team: “Praise the Lord for the food relief distribution. Me and my daughter have been able to sustain our lives so far. It’s been three months for us in the forest. You are our life savers.”
Lwin says that even in the helplessness, “God is still bringing people unto Himself.” Our local partners are aware of 544 people giving their lives to Jesus this year in Myanmar, with 166 of them making decisions to be baptized.
“Praise God! Even if there is helplessness, we are seeing a lot of people coming to Christ at this time.”
Of that number, 50 new believers were children who have dedicated their lives to Jesus in an Open Doors training last month. “By partnering with local churches, we are reaching the unreached children, assuring salvation in their young age, strengthening their faith, building good character, and helping to develop a Christlike attitude in their lives.
“Amidst the backdrop of intense strife and violence, God is working mightily!”