Nestled in a valley lies Kalay Township, at the feet of the Chin Hills, one of the last "Restricted Areas" in Myanmar. Nearly 400,000 people live here, with an unusually high percentage of Christians (perhaps 50%) in a land otherwise dominated by Buddhists (90% of Myanmar population). 

 

 

In this lovely setting, Ken and I spent a very profitable week, completely immersed in ministry. We were teaching every day all day long, speaking in church services every night, visiting five different theological schools on Saturday to pray with the principals and faculty members, and speaking in two different churches on Sunday.     

 

The main event for the week was situated at Tahan Theological College, one of many schools in the area actively preparing future pastors. There we held a four day, intensive course for approximately 25 theological faculty and pastors on "Spirit-Led Leadership." This is the second regional event we have conducted in collaboration with the Association for Theological Education in Myanmar. (ATEM Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Lal Tin Hre, is pictured on the left above.) 

 

 

The participants in The Spirit-Led Leadership workshop were very engaged all week long and deeply appreciative for the teaching and various spiritual practices that we introduced. (See "What They Said" below.) Before departing, each participant started making plans to introduce Spirit-Led Leading concepts in their own context. At least one faculty member attending plans to translate the entire workbook into his native Chin-Falam language for his students.   

 

Ken and I returned to Yangon from Kalay weary from the nearly insufferable heat and a packed schedule, but extremely pleased with all we saw God doing through our ministries there. You can find out more about our various experiences by reading Ken's perspective and seeing what he saw through his camera by going to his blog site. You'll love his photos and daily postings with such intriguing topics as "Smiles," "Stranded," and "Thanaka," among others. In addition, you will enjoy looking through four different photo albums that Ken is in the process of posting on Faith, Hope, and Love's Facebook page, each focusing on a different aspect of life and ministry here in Myanmar.   

Tim and Ken meeting with the Principal and faculty of Kalaymyo Theological College (serving mostly Baptists)

 Thank you for your prayers and ongoing support for our very much needed and appreciated leadership development work in Myanmar. Please continue to pray as I continue to serve here in the coming months teaching over 100 theological students each week in three different courses at the Myanmar Institute of Theology.

 

Serving Christ with you,

 

Tim Geoffrion

President and Teaching Minister

 

"What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well."

-2 Timothy 2:2, NRSV

What They Said

  

To give you a taste of the many ways God's Spirit was at work during our time in Kalay, here are a few of the numerous comments we heard or read on the evaluations.  

  

* For most of the week, one pastor's face was almost always frozen
looking. He spoke frequently of how he had failed as a pastor, and how
his failures had made him not trust God. Yet, on the final day, he told the group that the he had visited a village the night before to meet with some people in his parish. While he was there, the people said to him, "Pastor, you've changed. You seem to have more joy." He smiled wryly, in telling us this story. He knew what he didn't tell his parishioners-he had been spending the week in the seminar and God was changing him.

 

 

* "This workshop is very beneficial not only to me but also for my future ministry. There are many, many things that can be used in my context."-Faculty member, Saw Plar Soe

 

* "Before I attended this workshop, I didn't know to take quiet time to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Frankly speaking, this workshop made me different."-Faculty member, Than Zaw Moe     

* This week has been wonderful for me. I am truly spiritually inspired... I [will now] make room in my life for the Spirit to dwell, who will lead me in my teaching, and who will help me teach in a loving, thoughtful, and compassionate way. [This workshop] will make me to listen to the voice of my students. -Faculty member, Tawk Lian

 

* "Most of the facts and information are very new for me I never heard before. Thank you.... I have learned not only this subject but your teaching methodology. Thank you so much." -Pastor and Faculty member, Pausa Gam Ja

 

* "Your words were exactly what I needed to hear tonight." -Young woman after an evening message at one of the churches.... And many others said similar things each night.

 

* The General Secretary for the Chin Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (pictured below) attended one of the evening services, and turned out also to be the preacher the following Sunday in Kalay Myo. In contrast to other foreigners he's met over the years, he told the entire congregation of 300 worshipers, he greatly appreciated our talking with him one on one in such "humble and simple" ways. In thanking us publicly, he also told the congregation that he "learned many things" from our evening message that he can apply to his context and his leadership.   

 

Each comment above illustrates how God is using Faith, Hope, and Love to make our vision a reality by producing "better equipped, spiritually vitalized leaders serving Christ in strategic places of influence around the world." The faculty members participating in the course are now returning to their respective schools highly motivated to bring new teaching on Spirit-led living and Spirit-led leading to dozens of students of their own. The pastors will preach and teach what they learned with hundreds. The denominational leaders will reach thousands.    

As a brand new staff member to Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries, I'm finding out day by day the impact this organization has been having all around the world. On a weekly basis, I read messages of appreciation from pastors, former students, and those who just happen to find us on the web.

A few days ago, in St. Paul, MN, I unexpectedly met a Burmese Ph.D. student. Once he found out I work with Tim and Jill, he couldn't stop talking about all the ways in which they have helped the students at Myanmar Institute of Theology (MIT). This encounter hit home for me the fact that Faith, Hope, and Love is having a deep, real, and global impact.

The scope and effect of Faith, Hope, and Love would not be possible without all those who are partnering with us in this united effort. So on behalf of all those served through this global ministry, I say thank you for your continued support. 

While we celebrate the ways in which God has touched people around the world through Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries, we also know that the work is still not finished. We must press on. Will you please prayerfully consider how you might be able to partner with us in this global effort? Please keep us in prayer, and consider making a one time donation or becoming a sustaining giver. (Click the donate button below for more details.) No one can do this work alone, so let's continue to work together and press on in furthering God's magnificent kingdom.

In Christ,

Josias Hansen
Assistant to the President   

  

THANK YOU! 

Do you ever wish you could sit in on Tim's Spirit-Led Leader lectures? Well, now you can by simply visiting the Resource Library at fhlglobal.org. Click "Listen Now" below to start your first session.