American Baptist missionaries brought the Gospel to the Chin Hills  in 1899, the first significant effort to introduce Christ to the region. (Chin State is located in the northwestern part of Myanmar, bordering on India.) For nearly 70 years, these men and women played an integral role in helping to establish and develop the church, sacrificing greatly to serve the Chin people.
Since 1966,  when all missionaries were expelled from the country, the church in Chin State has flourished under indigenous leadership, while deep love and appreciation for Americans persist to this day. And we truly were beneficiaries of this love.

All week long, in both Hakha, the capital of Chin State, and in Falam where we spent the bulk of our time, we were touched by the warm, generous hospitality we experienced. Then, as the week unfolded, our joy went deeper and deeper as we saw God bless our ministries in ways that far exceeded our expectations.

Tawk Lian is a former MIT student of Tim, now faculty member at Chin Christian College

In addition to our primary responsibilities, we met and prayed with college faculty, staff, and students in both Hakha and Falam. While touring the Hakha Baptist Association compound, we visited the cemetery where several American missionaries and first Chin Christian converts were buried.
Hearing stories of the great sacrifices made by these individuals for the sake of Christ and the Gospel was deeply moving and inspiring. Jill and I knelt to pray on one of the stone slabs, where many had prayed before us. There we rededicated our lives to serve Christ in whatever ways he may lead us. In just eight days, we were able to serve over 1300 individuals. Through preaching, approximately 1000 of these individuals responded to an invitation to ask God for forgiveness during two different Sunday worship services.
For the Spirit-Led Leadership training, 70 pastors, faculty members, church deacons, and theological students participated in a four-day workshop. The Holy Spirit's presence was evident, with life-changing results for the vast majority. (See snippets from  the participants' testimonies below.)

 

Serving Christ with you, 

  

Tim Geoffrion

President and Teaching Minister

 

P.S. Join us in Yangon, January 21-24, for Faith, Hope, and Love's 2014 Inspire Trip. The new deadline for registration is now November 1. (See below for details.) 

  

"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

Sometimes the best ministry takes place on the fly, in the midst of other activities, when suddenly a door opens for a meaningful interchange. Especially with kids, it's often the unplanned "teachable moment" or the life crisis that provides an opportunity to listen or speak a word into their lives in ways that they can receive.
A couple of weeks ago, one such opportunity arose. We had just returned to Myanmar. The teenagers were so happy to see us again after several months of absence. As usual, we held our return "home" celebration dinner on the street, feeding some of the poorest of the street sellers and beggars. Then, when the rainfall turned to a torrent, one boy and I made a dash for Bo Gyoke Market.

Huddled under one umbrella, while running through the crowds, I raised a question about something he told me about the day before. His "good" visit to his father (the man who left the boy's mother to marry his friend's mother, and then moved away) didn't seem that good to me when I was observing his nonverbal communication. "M. I don't think your visit to your father was very good, was it?"

Still running through the crowd, M. confirms my suspicions. "No, it was not good.... Thank you for talking to me like this... They don't want me there. I'm never going back again." Now, nearly soaked, we arrive at the market. About to rejoin the others, he gives me a quick hug.

Working with Muslim and Buddhist youth on the streets of Yangon is full of many challenges, but when we focus on loving the kids from our hearts and making ourselves available, there is so much good that we can do. In just this one case of many we could share with you, simply listening carefully to what M. was not saying opened the door to get down to what he needed to say to someone. Our prayer is that some day M. and the others will come to see that our love flows from Christ's love, and that they will come to know Christ for themselves.