Map of Myanmar

Google Interactive Map of Myanmar

Myanmar Slide Show

Myanmar Current News

Dec 10, 2008--Report from Myanmar

Nov 21, 2008--Report: Buddhist Conversions

Oct 10, 2008--The Pro-Junta Militia: How Can They Do It?

Oct 9, 2008--A New Constitution Needed

Sep 13, 2008--The Need of Myanmar

Aug 22, 08--Note From Yangon

Interview With A Christian Worker in Myanmar

Doulos News Special Report--Anniversary of the 8888 Rebellion

Myanmar is a unique country compares to any South East Asian countries.  As we live in a multi-cultured community, we are facing many social problems, racial problems and political problems.  Above all, though Myanmar is considered rich in mineral resources, poverty is enormous in the whole country. When I say unique, it means that it is difficult to know the real situation of Myanmar. Myanmar government will say that they do not have any restrictions to any religion. But in reality, it is not true.  For instance, Buddhists can build monastery everywhere, but Christians are not allowed to build Churches. So Christians have worship service at homes, and apartments in city.

In Myanmar, no Christian organization is allowed to own building or property. It means no Christian organization is eligible to register in government Religious Affairs Ministry. Only Buddhism is the official religion in Myanmar.  Government has no official rules and regulations. They have only oral rules. For example, some people are arrested and no one knows the reason. For some parts in Myanmar, the government sends Burmese soldiers to oppress locals and to take Christian wife. If they can get married with a Christian wife, they will be promoted. In many parts of Myanmar, Christian leaders are killed and insulted. For instance, there is no justice in their mind. When they rape a local woman, we cannot go anywhere. If we go to the authorities to inform the case, they will not take action. It is painful. They will also take lands, animals if they want. I feel very bad when I was in a village.  A Church leaderʼs wife was raped by a soldier in a village. When he went to the authorities, they arrested him and beat him up. This is what I have seen with my own eyes. But in cities like Yangon, we do not have such kind of situation.

Most of Myanmar Christians are from tribal background. In Myanmar, we have 135 ethnic groups. The majority is called Burmese and they are strong Buddhists, 85% of the whole population. Others are from hill areas, and they are called tribal. Now, the challenge for Christians is to reach the real Buddhists who are Burmese. Christians need to prepare themselves to reach the Burmese Buddhists.

Christians are working only in their own denomination or for their own people group. It is true to say that Christian leaders try to build their own kingdom rather than the Lordʼs kingdom. It means denominational spirit is quite strong and tribalism is also a barrier to break through. We have Bible schools, and orphanages in Yangon, I feel that they are working for their own denomination and their own tribes. As I am from Church of Christ and Lisu tribal background, I cannot go to other denomination church. If I want, I need recommendation from their church leaders. It is our prayer that God will work among church leaders to have non-denominational spirit.  Only when we have denominational spirit in Myanmar, I think we can change the country for Christ, not only spiritually, but even politically.

This is just something about Myanmar. I am curious to have an organization stands for non-denomination. Otherwise, the church will not grow as it should.