Myanmar's convention goes into recess
Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 07:41 EST
YANGON — Myanmar's constitution-drafting "National Convention," which resumed Oct 10, went into recess Friday after more than 10 weeks of deliberations.
Lt Gen Thein Sein, chairman of the National Convention Convening Commission and secretary of the ruling junta, said the convention will be adjourned until "a time convenient for the delegates," according to one delegate.
© 2006 Kyodo News.
Saturday, December 30
Monday, December 11
Dear Dr. Bacon,
Greetings in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
I received your email for which I thank you very much.
The children are all well and looking forward with great expectations to Yule-tide and the New Year.
Regarding the girl who ran away, she is still missing and Rev. Moses is still looking for her, together with Rev. Joel in India.
The situation and conditions at present here in Tahan can be described as "White Knuckle." So, the answer to your paramount question is: It would be better for you not to come to us yet. We will keep in touch with you and inform you about further developments.
May God bless your ministry.
Waiting for yours reply, I remain
On behalf of NLO MM,
Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus.
Alan G. Richardson.
Greetings in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
I received your email for which I thank you very much.
The children are all well and looking forward with great expectations to Yule-tide and the New Year.
Regarding the girl who ran away, she is still missing and Rev. Moses is still looking for her, together with Rev. Joel in India.
The situation and conditions at present here in Tahan can be described as "White Knuckle." So, the answer to your paramount question is: It would be better for you not to come to us yet. We will keep in touch with you and inform you about further developments.
May God bless your ministry.
Waiting for yours reply, I remain
On behalf of NLO MM,
Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus.
Alan G. Richardson.
It has been a hectic month in Myanmar. On October 30th one of the 15yo girls at the orphanage ran away. She left a note asking that nobody come looking for her.
Rev. Moses is in India looking for her. He and our old friend Joel Raldokhuma are looking together everywhere she has ever been known to be. But so far to no avail.
Please pray for her (Mikali). Burma can be a very dangerous place and this is considered to be a "white knuckle" time.
Rev. Moses is in India looking for her. He and our old friend Joel Raldokhuma are looking together everywhere she has ever been known to be. But so far to no avail.
Please pray for her (Mikali). Burma can be a very dangerous place and this is considered to be a "white knuckle" time.
Friday, November 3
Missing Reformation:
Psalm 74:9-11; Psalm 75:1; Psalm 76:1-2; Judges 16:20
Topics: Church; church government; reformation
Tags:
Delivered: October 29, 2006
Introduction
Psalm 74 is a sort of "brother Psalm" to Psalm 79. However, more likely during Hezekiah’s day than Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem. In vv.9-11 the author asks for God-given tokens of His presence and power.
Three Key Things Missing
The Lord doing great things for us:
Psalm 75:1; 76:1-2
The Word of God preached in power among us.
• Not polished oratory, but to the saving of men’s souls and equipping them for service
• 1 Cor. 2:4
• 1 Thess. 1:5
• 1 Pet. 1:12
• Hebrews 2:4 <-- Key passage for understanding
Powerful answers to prayer
• Psalm 107:1-9
• Acts 4:23ff
• Psalm 28:1
• Note Herod at beginning and then at end of Acts 12, exp. vv. 24-25
The Church Seems Oblivious To This
• Judges 16:20 "and he wist not that the Lord was departed from him."
Our first job is to become convinced that something is wrong
Today most people in the church "wist not"
People in the cemetary commit no actual sins, but their lives are historically irrelevant today. Formality and correctness in the church is not vitality.
We Must Note The Connection Between Family Government And Church Government
• Church Government begins in the family. 1 Tim. 3:1-7
• Church reformation must be based upon family reformation.
• Weak family -> weak elders -> weak church
• The church needs warriors, but these warriors will be trained by masculine, heroic fathers and pastors, not by the seeker-friendly, the feminized, or the fearful (Rev. 21:8).
• Question we must ask ourselves: "What would we do if we were not afraid?"
Samson’s Dalliance With Sin Is Legendary. Judges 16
• Note that prior to v. 20, there were three times that Samson "got away" with flirting with Delilah but did not lose his strength.
• Psalm 66:18. We must live watchful, careful, circumspect lives that arise from daily personal and family worship.
• One reason men compromise at church or at work is that they have already compromised at home.
A Godly And Manly Ministry
• This is something a seminary cannot actually provide
• It requires mature Christian character and virtue
• It requires a man who loves God’s law and directs his life and the life of the church according to that law
• The very concept of ministry needs to be recast in biblical terms, e.g. the pastor has only one of the ministries of the church, and a good part of that ministry is to equip others for their ministries.
The Church Must Stop Placing Itself At Odds With The Family
• The pastor should be primarily concerned with training the men of the church and then they take it to their families and the rest of the world.
• Women’s ministries:
• If the older women can teach the younger women to love their husbands and children (Titus 2:3-5), without becoming busy-bodies (1 Tim. 5:13-15), then fine.
• The primary approach will be for men to teach their wives
The Home Must Not Place Itself At Odds With The Church, Either
• The family elder (husband/father) is not necessarily an ecclesiastical elder and should not attempt to usurp authority.
• A true church (technically) can have the formality of what our reformers required, yet lack the vitality.
• We want healthy churches.
• When women do not respect the office of pastor, it is usually because (or a sign that) they do not respect their husband’s authority either.
Richard Bacon, Sermon File, Ps 74:9-11.
Psalm 74:9-11; Psalm 75:1; Psalm 76:1-2; Judges 16:20
Topics: Church; church government; reformation
Tags:
Delivered: October 29, 2006
Introduction
Psalm 74 is a sort of "brother Psalm" to Psalm 79. However, more likely during Hezekiah’s day than Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem. In vv.9-11 the author asks for God-given tokens of His presence and power.
Three Key Things Missing
The Lord doing great things for us:
Psalm 75:1; 76:1-2
The Word of God preached in power among us.
• Not polished oratory, but to the saving of men’s souls and equipping them for service
• 1 Cor. 2:4
• 1 Thess. 1:5
• 1 Pet. 1:12
• Hebrews 2:4 <-- Key passage for understanding
Powerful answers to prayer
• Psalm 107:1-9
• Acts 4:23ff
• Psalm 28:1
• Note Herod at beginning and then at end of Acts 12, exp. vv. 24-25
The Church Seems Oblivious To This
• Judges 16:20 "and he wist not that the Lord was departed from him."
Our first job is to become convinced that something is wrong
Today most people in the church "wist not"
People in the cemetary commit no actual sins, but their lives are historically irrelevant today. Formality and correctness in the church is not vitality.
We Must Note The Connection Between Family Government And Church Government
• Church Government begins in the family. 1 Tim. 3:1-7
• Church reformation must be based upon family reformation.
• Weak family -> weak elders -> weak church
• The church needs warriors, but these warriors will be trained by masculine, heroic fathers and pastors, not by the seeker-friendly, the feminized, or the fearful (Rev. 21:8).
• Question we must ask ourselves: "What would we do if we were not afraid?"
Samson’s Dalliance With Sin Is Legendary. Judges 16
• Note that prior to v. 20, there were three times that Samson "got away" with flirting with Delilah but did not lose his strength.
• Psalm 66:18. We must live watchful, careful, circumspect lives that arise from daily personal and family worship.
• One reason men compromise at church or at work is that they have already compromised at home.
A Godly And Manly Ministry
• This is something a seminary cannot actually provide
• It requires mature Christian character and virtue
• It requires a man who loves God’s law and directs his life and the life of the church according to that law
• The very concept of ministry needs to be recast in biblical terms, e.g. the pastor has only one of the ministries of the church, and a good part of that ministry is to equip others for their ministries.
The Church Must Stop Placing Itself At Odds With The Family
• The pastor should be primarily concerned with training the men of the church and then they take it to their families and the rest of the world.
• Women’s ministries:
• If the older women can teach the younger women to love their husbands and children (Titus 2:3-5), without becoming busy-bodies (1 Tim. 5:13-15), then fine.
• The primary approach will be for men to teach their wives
The Home Must Not Place Itself At Odds With The Church, Either
• The family elder (husband/father) is not necessarily an ecclesiastical elder and should not attempt to usurp authority.
• A true church (technically) can have the formality of what our reformers required, yet lack the vitality.
• We want healthy churches.
• When women do not respect the office of pastor, it is usually because (or a sign that) they do not respect their husband’s authority either.
Richard Bacon, Sermon File, Ps 74:9-11.
Thursday, October 19
It has been some time since I posted anything to this blog (10 months or more). During that time I have made another trip to Myanmar and the hostel was nearly finished at that time. It is likely completely finished by now. Here is a picture of the hostel when it was "mostly finished" last February. The bricklayers were able to show some of the older children of the orphanage the keys behind laying bricks and actually trained them to a certain extent in the art. This is what the Burmese refer to as "brick nogging" construction. The bricks are laid out between 4x4 posts. Then the entire thing is covered with cement or plaster. The person standing on the bridge to the hostel is Rev. Moses Dawnga. The water is illuminated in the evening hours to attract insects. The fish in the pond then eat the insects and the children eat the fish. Extra fish are sold at the market as a "cash crop." The intention is for the mission eventually to become self-supporting.
Thursday, December 1
Tuesday, November 29
A Letter from Rev Moses
A Letter from Rev. Moses Dawnga of the New Life Orphanage:
Dear Dr. Bacon,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Due to your prayers, all the NLO children and those when guide them and look after them are keeping good health. Every Sunday morning, after our prayer meeting and Sunday School, we go to a village (Sometimes 40 miles away or 50 miles away) to serve the lord by preaching and teaching the word of God. All the members of the three or four denominations gather together in one church building and we are given the opportunity to teach and preach the word of God. After the service in the church, they gather together in the home of one of the pastors, and one by one they ask questions about creeds and doctrines and about verses in the Bible which they do not understand, and we take turns answering their questions. In this way we keep up our New Life Ministry and the NLO children’s Gospel team is always active. In fact, we received invitations from other villages, requesting us to spend the Lord’s Day with them.
We have printed and published the Heidelberg Catechism and we are distributing them free. It is very useful, because our children who can read have their own copies; and we teach it and explain it in Sunday School.
The timber and raw materials which we are dered [ordered] is almost complete, and we will be able to start the work of construction in December and finish it by the end of January. We hope to have it ready for you to dedicate it to God when you come to Tahan.
We enclose a financial report for October and November and the expenditure which will be incurred in December. Our own paddy (rice) is sufficient for 3 months, so there is no expenditure for rice.
As usual from the 19th day of December, we will set out to preach the Gospel among the heathens in the dark areas of Myanmar. This is the most convenient for us to proclaim the joyful News of the Birth, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Second Coming of our precious Lord and Savior.
Dear Dr. Bacon,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Due to your prayers, all the NLO children and those when guide them and look after them are keeping good health. Every Sunday morning, after our prayer meeting and Sunday School, we go to a village (Sometimes 40 miles away or 50 miles away) to serve the lord by preaching and teaching the word of God. All the members of the three or four denominations gather together in one church building and we are given the opportunity to teach and preach the word of God. After the service in the church, they gather together in the home of one of the pastors, and one by one they ask questions about creeds and doctrines and about verses in the Bible which they do not understand, and we take turns answering their questions. In this way we keep up our New Life Ministry and the NLO children’s Gospel team is always active. In fact, we received invitations from other villages, requesting us to spend the Lord’s Day with them.
We have printed and published the Heidelberg Catechism and we are distributing them free. It is very useful, because our children who can read have their own copies; and we teach it and explain it in Sunday School.
The timber and raw materials which we are dered [ordered] is almost complete, and we will be able to start the work of construction in December and finish it by the end of January. We hope to have it ready for you to dedicate it to God when you come to Tahan.
We enclose a financial report for October and November and the expenditure which will be incurred in December. Our own paddy (rice) is sufficient for 3 months, so there is no expenditure for rice.
As usual from the 19th day of December, we will set out to preach the Gospel among the heathens in the dark areas of Myanmar. This is the most convenient for us to proclaim the joyful News of the Birth, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Second Coming of our precious Lord and Savior.
Tuesday, November 15
A Letter From Rev. Moses Dawnga
Dear Dr. Bacon
Greetings in the holy name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We received your most welcome e-mail, for which we thank you lavishly. We know fully, wholly, definitely and completely that due to your assiduous and earnest ministry and labours, God is showering blessings upon you who are in Big Texas; and that those blessings are being relayed to us here in little Texas. The same silvery moon, the same sun and stars that shine over you near the Rio Grande shine upon us too, and we thank God for His kindness, love and mercy The best things in life, such as, water, the air we breath , the seasons, the sunrise, sundown and multifarious colour are free; but here in Myanmar, the prices of food, clothing, consumer goods and building materials are all exorbitant. Nevertheless, God is using you, your associates and your church to provide food, clothing and education for the NLO children. Now, they also have new latrines(water closets) and bathrooms.
I believe God has called, chosen and set apart the NLO children for a purpose. The Gospel team these youngsters have formed is still active. To their Faith they have added Goodness, knowledge, Temperance, Patience and Godliness (2Peter1:1-15).
As the building materials arrive, they are being made ready, so that when the materials are complete, they will be joined to form the new hostel. The work the carpenter and bigger boys are now occupied and engaged in, will facilitate and expedite the construction of the hostel. I believe it is God's plan and will that your next visit to Myanmar has been set for the month of February. Because by that time, we hope and pray that there will be a new hostel for you to dedicate to the glory of God.
The preparation of the book for our Sunday School has been completed. Some of the manuscript sheets translated by Mr.Alan Richardson were misplaced by some children who were learning to operate the computer, and we failed to find them; but we approached and turned to Dr. Tiala for help and finally managed to complete the book.
I have been receiving many invitations from various denominations to give speeches on the way of faith; but I have been very busy here in little Texas, so I have been free only on Sunday. On these occasions I take the NLO childrens Gospel Team with me. During the week days, They follow Rev.Joel Raldokhuma.
Since the month of October, my son moved out to live separately with his wife. Rev.Joel Raldokhuma was here and we all had dinner together and Rev. Joel prayed and asked God to bless, guard and guide my son Hmangaihzuala and his family. Hmangaih zuala comes to NLO every day and works for us. I could not buy a house for him, so he and his wife and child have rented a flat (Pad or apartment).
We are very fortunate because God has given us a computer. Some of the NLO children are learning to manipulate it. We would like to produce and publish our booklets, so on your next visit we would be grateful if you would kindly bring some religious literature that are short concise and complete with coloured pictures .Nowdays, comics or cartoons on religious subjects are quite popular. We hope to use our computer and serve God in many and various ways in our NLO ministry.
God is blessing your labours and ministry for the development, growth and progress of NLO Myanmar, All thanks giving, glory, praise and honour be unto the Father , the Son and the Holy Ghost forever and ever.Amen
ON behalf of NLO Myanmar, I remain Your fellow-worker in the Lord's vineyard
Rev. Moses V.Dawnga
Dear Dr. Bacon
Greetings in the holy name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We received your most welcome e-mail, for which we thank you lavishly. We know fully, wholly, definitely and completely that due to your assiduous and earnest ministry and labours, God is showering blessings upon you who are in Big Texas; and that those blessings are being relayed to us here in little Texas. The same silvery moon, the same sun and stars that shine over you near the Rio Grande shine upon us too, and we thank God for His kindness, love and mercy The best things in life, such as, water, the air we breath , the seasons, the sunrise, sundown and multifarious colour are free; but here in Myanmar, the prices of food, clothing, consumer goods and building materials are all exorbitant. Nevertheless, God is using you, your associates and your church to provide food, clothing and education for the NLO children. Now, they also have new latrines(water closets) and bathrooms.
I believe God has called, chosen and set apart the NLO children for a purpose. The Gospel team these youngsters have formed is still active. To their Faith they have added Goodness, knowledge, Temperance, Patience and Godliness (2Peter1:1-15).
As the building materials arrive, they are being made ready, so that when the materials are complete, they will be joined to form the new hostel. The work the carpenter and bigger boys are now occupied and engaged in, will facilitate and expedite the construction of the hostel. I believe it is God's plan and will that your next visit to Myanmar has been set for the month of February. Because by that time, we hope and pray that there will be a new hostel for you to dedicate to the glory of God.
The preparation of the book for our Sunday School has been completed. Some of the manuscript sheets translated by Mr.Alan Richardson were misplaced by some children who were learning to operate the computer, and we failed to find them; but we approached and turned to Dr. Tiala for help and finally managed to complete the book.
I have been receiving many invitations from various denominations to give speeches on the way of faith; but I have been very busy here in little Texas, so I have been free only on Sunday. On these occasions I take the NLO childrens Gospel Team with me. During the week days, They follow Rev.Joel Raldokhuma.
Since the month of October, my son moved out to live separately with his wife. Rev.Joel Raldokhuma was here and we all had dinner together and Rev. Joel prayed and asked God to bless, guard and guide my son Hmangaihzuala and his family. Hmangaih zuala comes to NLO every day and works for us. I could not buy a house for him, so he and his wife and child have rented a flat (Pad or apartment).
We are very fortunate because God has given us a computer. Some of the NLO children are learning to manipulate it. We would like to produce and publish our booklets, so on your next visit we would be grateful if you would kindly bring some religious literature that are short concise and complete with coloured pictures .Nowdays, comics or cartoons on religious subjects are quite popular. We hope to use our computer and serve God in many and various ways in our NLO ministry.
God is blessing your labours and ministry for the development, growth and progress of NLO Myanmar, All thanks giving, glory, praise and honour be unto the Father , the Son and the Holy Ghost forever and ever.Amen
ON behalf of NLO Myanmar, I remain Your fellow-worker in the Lord's vineyard
Rev. Moses V.Dawnga
Saturday, November 12
NEW TRIP PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY
Session of First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett has approved a new trip in February 2006 for Mission to Myanmar. A number of projects will be very close to completion by that time and we will hopefully be able to update this blog from Myanmar this trip.
The Burmese Psalter
All 312 selections have been translated into Burmese and we have already supplied JPGs for the tonic solfa notation. Thus during this February trip we hope to meet with a number of people who are fluent in both Burmese and English in order to smooth out the "metricizing" of the Psalter. It would be good if we had more people who were able to deal with both the Hebrew and Burmese, but the Burmese churches are a long way from having that capability and may not have it even in this generation. We probably will not be able to get to all 312 settings that have been translated, but if we can get to 100-150 by the end of my trip, then we will feel comfortable publishing this as an interim Psalter. We may recall that even the Reformed church at Geneva did not have the entire Psalter for many years after its founding.
Teaching at Reformed Bible Institute
It is my intention to teach a 3 semester hour course in the Pastoral Epistles during the time I am in Myanmar as well. This is made possible by the students concentrating on a single course while I am there. Thus in a period of three weeks we can teach for 4 to 5 hours per day five days a week and make the course material available to the students in a sort of "mini-mester." As an interesting "coincidence" the Aquila Project will be in Myanmar at the same time I am teaching the Pastoral Epistles to a group of (mostly) Baptist ministers there. Hopefully there will be some opportunity for "cross-pollinization" in our classes.
Additionally Dr. Thang Bwee, President of the Reformed Bible Institute has asked me to bring as many copies as possible of Louis Berkhof's Summary of Christian Doctrine published by Banner of Truth. There is an address below for anyone who would like to contribute to this. The books are about $6 each plus shipping. Or the books themselves could be sent to the same address.
The New Life Orphanage
Some of the readers of this blog know already what difficulty we had getting back from Tahan on the last trip (July 2005). During that trip the aircraft that was supposed to pick us up at the Kalemyo airport and return us to Yangon broke down during takeoff from Yangon. We were thus "stranded" in Tahan. However, some brothers were kind enough to take us to Kalewa where we caught a boat going down the Chindwin River to Monywa, where we rode first in the back of a pickup truck and then in an overcrowded bus to Mandalay.
Hopefully the trip to Tahan will not be quite so "eventful" this time, but we do hope to visit the orphanage in Tahan and help dedicate the new hostel to the glory of God. The NLO will use the new hostel not only for sleeping, but also for classrooms upstairs and a dining (messing) area downstairs. The reinforced concrete posts were already poured when I was there in July. The timbers have begun to arrive for the hostel and our carpenter is teaching the older boys how to plane the wood planks smooth.
Please begin praying for this trip. We are thankful for the prayers and generosity of the friends of this mission throughout the world.
Send contributions to:
Mission To Myanmar
c/o First Presbyterian Church
8210 Schrade Road
Rowlett, TX 75088
Session of First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett has approved a new trip in February 2006 for Mission to Myanmar. A number of projects will be very close to completion by that time and we will hopefully be able to update this blog from Myanmar this trip.
The Burmese Psalter
All 312 selections have been translated into Burmese and we have already supplied JPGs for the tonic solfa notation. Thus during this February trip we hope to meet with a number of people who are fluent in both Burmese and English in order to smooth out the "metricizing" of the Psalter. It would be good if we had more people who were able to deal with both the Hebrew and Burmese, but the Burmese churches are a long way from having that capability and may not have it even in this generation. We probably will not be able to get to all 312 settings that have been translated, but if we can get to 100-150 by the end of my trip, then we will feel comfortable publishing this as an interim Psalter. We may recall that even the Reformed church at Geneva did not have the entire Psalter for many years after its founding.
Teaching at Reformed Bible Institute
It is my intention to teach a 3 semester hour course in the Pastoral Epistles during the time I am in Myanmar as well. This is made possible by the students concentrating on a single course while I am there. Thus in a period of three weeks we can teach for 4 to 5 hours per day five days a week and make the course material available to the students in a sort of "mini-mester." As an interesting "coincidence" the Aquila Project will be in Myanmar at the same time I am teaching the Pastoral Epistles to a group of (mostly) Baptist ministers there. Hopefully there will be some opportunity for "cross-pollinization" in our classes.
Additionally Dr. Thang Bwee, President of the Reformed Bible Institute has asked me to bring as many copies as possible of Louis Berkhof's Summary of Christian Doctrine published by Banner of Truth. There is an address below for anyone who would like to contribute to this. The books are about $6 each plus shipping. Or the books themselves could be sent to the same address.
The New Life Orphanage
Some of the readers of this blog know already what difficulty we had getting back from Tahan on the last trip (July 2005). During that trip the aircraft that was supposed to pick us up at the Kalemyo airport and return us to Yangon broke down during takeoff from Yangon. We were thus "stranded" in Tahan. However, some brothers were kind enough to take us to Kalewa where we caught a boat going down the Chindwin River to Monywa, where we rode first in the back of a pickup truck and then in an overcrowded bus to Mandalay.
Hopefully the trip to Tahan will not be quite so "eventful" this time, but we do hope to visit the orphanage in Tahan and help dedicate the new hostel to the glory of God. The NLO will use the new hostel not only for sleeping, but also for classrooms upstairs and a dining (messing) area downstairs. The reinforced concrete posts were already poured when I was there in July. The timbers have begun to arrive for the hostel and our carpenter is teaching the older boys how to plane the wood planks smooth.
Please begin praying for this trip. We are thankful for the prayers and generosity of the friends of this mission throughout the world.
Send contributions to:
Mission To Myanmar
c/o First Presbyterian Church
8210 Schrade Road
Rowlett, TX 75088
Wednesday, July 13
Last Minute Items
We are in the midst of packing for the trip. I would ask that those who pray for us would begin to do so. Lord willing, we shall be leaving next Tuesday morning.
Broadcast or Podcast
Rev. John Owen Butler interviewed me by telephone today regarding the two upcoming Psalters for Burma. You can hear that at this URL. You are looking for Psalmcast 015.
English as a Second Language
Things are really coming together to teach these young men theological English and to spread the Word of God via English lessons. Please pray for God's Word to have free course.
Keeping Up To Date
I will hopefully have internet connections while in MM, and will update this blog frequently while I am in country for the next month. Please check back often.
RB
We are in the midst of packing for the trip. I would ask that those who pray for us would begin to do so. Lord willing, we shall be leaving next Tuesday morning.
Broadcast or Podcast
Rev. John Owen Butler interviewed me by telephone today regarding the two upcoming Psalters for Burma. You can hear that at this URL. You are looking for Psalmcast 015.
English as a Second Language
Things are really coming together to teach these young men theological English and to spread the Word of God via English lessons. Please pray for God's Word to have free course.
Keeping Up To Date
I will hopefully have internet connections while in MM, and will update this blog frequently while I am in country for the next month. Please check back often.
RB
Tuesday, June 14
Great News On Our Visas
This is the first trip we have planned for Myanmar in which the visas actually arrived within a reasonable time. All praise be to God who has provided for this need! There have been times in years and trips gone by in which we have been waiting right up until the last few days before the visas arrived from the MM embassy.
Getting Fit For The Trip
I've been walking between four and five miles a day in order to increase my physical fitness and endurance for the trip to Myanmar. It is the rainy season in the tropics right now. I'm hoping to preach at the Mt. Zion Reformed Church, which is at the top of an eight-story ladder. So, the physical training involved in getting ready for such a trip is taking about two hours a day in physical exercise.
The Orphanage Hostel is Nearing . . .
As the orphans of the New Life Orphanage get older, it becomes increasingly important for many reasons that we have separate hostels for the boys and girls. A hostel is what everyone else in the world calls a dormitory. As some of you know, the orphans and their neighbors just built a large capacity septic field, which will accomodate 10 toilets. Much of the work necessary for the hostel will also be done by the faculty, staff, and older children of the New Life Orphanage. As a result, we expect to be able to build a brick nogging structure for approximately $6.67 per foot. We had the cost estimating done by a firm in Yangon, but we expect the total cost to remain about the same even in Tahan. The materials will be a bit higher, but we expect the labor to be lower due to the lower labor "rates" in the vicinity and because we anticipate a lot of volunteer help from the faculty, staff, and even interested neighbors.
The hostel, which measures overall 58' by 24', will have two stories, each with a wooden floor. Some of the wood will be simple (cheap) "jungle wood" and some of it will be the more expensive teak. The actual living area will be about 50x18x2 = 1800 square feet. The children will not have individual rooms, but will share a large hall and simply roll up their bamboo or cotton mats during the day and use at least one of the stories for class "rooms."
The overall cost of the building will be approximately $12,000 U.S. Of that amount, just over $10,000 has already been raised. But we would really love to be able to turn over the first spade of dirt while I am there next month. To do that, we will need some more contributions to this fund. The regular living expenses are taken care of by First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett and the orphans themselves, though we could certainly use regular help on that count as well.
Readers might be surprised to learn how a small gift can be used mightily in Myanmar. I wish you could all read the letters the orphans have written to us showing the gratitude these little children have to you who have helped in the past. They pray every night for those who have helped them. They praise the Lord for those who have given money so that they might have food, clothing and shelter. And in an act of Christian charity of their own, they, who to us seem to have almost nothing, fast one day a week and give a portion to those more needy than themselves.
Are you carrying 1000 bricks in your pocket? Set out a jar and begin to toss in your spare change each night. Every dollar will buy over 30 bricks. Every brick will help build a wall, which will help build a hostel, which will help build an orphanage, where young souls are being “built” for the kingdom of God.
How You Can Help
To make a contribution to the hostel fund for the Myanmar orphans, you can use either a check or money order and send it by mail to the address below or you can use a credit card or bank account that you have tied to "Paypal." To use paypal, point your browser to this URL: http://www.fpcr.org/missions.htm. Then click on button that says "Make a donation" and follow the instructions. Be sure to comment that your contribution is for the Myanmar orphanage hostel (or "New Life" orphanage). We praise God for any help you can tender.
To make a contribution by check or money order, please send it to:
Mission to Myanmar Hostel Fund
c/o First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett
8210 Schrade Road
Rowlett, TX 75088
It is my intention to leave the DFW area on July 19th, so please try to contribute before I leave if it is in your power to do so.
The Reformed Bible Institute
It is my hope to teach two seminary level courses at the Reformed Bible Institute this trip. I will teach the same hermeneutics course I have taught in the past and will also be teaching a course in New Testament Introduction. It is our hope that some students will also attend from other sems; esp. that of which Rev. Henry Mang is president.
English As A Foreign Language
We will be taking an English teacher with us, DV. Miss Hannah Allie will be spending the month in Myanmar teaching English as a Second Language (or English as a Foreign Language as it is known there). Please be especially in prayer for Miss Hannah. There are already enough students signed up for her to teach at least two classes.
RB
This is the first trip we have planned for Myanmar in which the visas actually arrived within a reasonable time. All praise be to God who has provided for this need! There have been times in years and trips gone by in which we have been waiting right up until the last few days before the visas arrived from the MM embassy.
Getting Fit For The Trip
I've been walking between four and five miles a day in order to increase my physical fitness and endurance for the trip to Myanmar. It is the rainy season in the tropics right now. I'm hoping to preach at the Mt. Zion Reformed Church, which is at the top of an eight-story ladder. So, the physical training involved in getting ready for such a trip is taking about two hours a day in physical exercise.
The Orphanage Hostel is Nearing . . .
As the orphans of the New Life Orphanage get older, it becomes increasingly important for many reasons that we have separate hostels for the boys and girls. A hostel is what everyone else in the world calls a dormitory. As some of you know, the orphans and their neighbors just built a large capacity septic field, which will accomodate 10 toilets. Much of the work necessary for the hostel will also be done by the faculty, staff, and older children of the New Life Orphanage. As a result, we expect to be able to build a brick nogging structure for approximately $6.67 per foot. We had the cost estimating done by a firm in Yangon, but we expect the total cost to remain about the same even in Tahan. The materials will be a bit higher, but we expect the labor to be lower due to the lower labor "rates" in the vicinity and because we anticipate a lot of volunteer help from the faculty, staff, and even interested neighbors.
The hostel, which measures overall 58' by 24', will have two stories, each with a wooden floor. Some of the wood will be simple (cheap) "jungle wood" and some of it will be the more expensive teak. The actual living area will be about 50x18x2 = 1800 square feet. The children will not have individual rooms, but will share a large hall and simply roll up their bamboo or cotton mats during the day and use at least one of the stories for class "rooms."
The overall cost of the building will be approximately $12,000 U.S. Of that amount, just over $10,000 has already been raised. But we would really love to be able to turn over the first spade of dirt while I am there next month. To do that, we will need some more contributions to this fund. The regular living expenses are taken care of by First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett and the orphans themselves, though we could certainly use regular help on that count as well.
Readers might be surprised to learn how a small gift can be used mightily in Myanmar. I wish you could all read the letters the orphans have written to us showing the gratitude these little children have to you who have helped in the past. They pray every night for those who have helped them. They praise the Lord for those who have given money so that they might have food, clothing and shelter. And in an act of Christian charity of their own, they, who to us seem to have almost nothing, fast one day a week and give a portion to those more needy than themselves.
Are you carrying 1000 bricks in your pocket? Set out a jar and begin to toss in your spare change each night. Every dollar will buy over 30 bricks. Every brick will help build a wall, which will help build a hostel, which will help build an orphanage, where young souls are being “built” for the kingdom of God.
How You Can Help
To make a contribution to the hostel fund for the Myanmar orphans, you can use either a check or money order and send it by mail to the address below or you can use a credit card or bank account that you have tied to "Paypal." To use paypal, point your browser to this URL: http://www.fpcr.org/missions.htm. Then click on button that says "Make a donation" and follow the instructions. Be sure to comment that your contribution is for the Myanmar orphanage hostel (or "New Life" orphanage). We praise God for any help you can tender.
To make a contribution by check or money order, please send it to:
Mission to Myanmar Hostel Fund
c/o First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett
8210 Schrade Road
Rowlett, TX 75088
It is my intention to leave the DFW area on July 19th, so please try to contribute before I leave if it is in your power to do so.
The Reformed Bible Institute
It is my hope to teach two seminary level courses at the Reformed Bible Institute this trip. I will teach the same hermeneutics course I have taught in the past and will also be teaching a course in New Testament Introduction. It is our hope that some students will also attend from other sems; esp. that of which Rev. Henry Mang is president.
English As A Foreign Language
We will be taking an English teacher with us, DV. Miss Hannah Allie will be spending the month in Myanmar teaching English as a Second Language (or English as a Foreign Language as it is known there). Please be especially in prayer for Miss Hannah. There are already enough students signed up for her to teach at least two classes.
RB
Friday, April 1
A Letter From Myanmar
In much of the letter that follows, please understand the references to "Dr. Bacon" to refer to the Mission To Myanmar, and its supporters. For many of these orphans, I am the "face" of your generous contributions.
________________________________________________________________
Dear Dr.Bacon,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We acknowledge receipt of the precious gift of $X intact which you sent for the glory of god. No words can express our joy and gratitude. According to your prayers, we will use this offering wisely and economically so that it will be of the greatest benefit for the New life orphans.
We are goaded and stimulated to activity by your love and consideration for our well being, health and happiness. It strengthens us physically and spiritually. In the eyes of New life orphanage and the children, it enhances the grace, glory and greatness of God.
We cannot help glorying in the Lord because though we are the poorest orphan family, God has arranged and given us Dr. Richard Bacon's family and the holy Reformed Churches to be our parents: and the most wonderful thing is that they live for away across the ocean where the stars at night are big and bright, and coyotes wail along the trail, deep in the heart of Texas!
We are completely and fully aware of the goodness and greatness of God. Due to your prayers and the grace of Jesus Christ, we will grow, develop and progress, because we are of the Reformed Church, " of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39).
By the way, our youngest orphan named Isaiah, who is only four years old asked this question: "Is Dr. Bacon God? He can send us o much money!" I answered, " No, he isn't. He is a man God uses."
Matthew who is twelve years old added: "He must be a seed of Abraham in whom all nations are blest; as for us, we are like the man the Good Samaritan helped and gave two pence to the inn keeper for taking care of him."
On the last Saturday of each month we keep a vigil and pray all through the night. Every Monday we fast and pray; and we give our breakfast, lunch and dinner to poor families. We preach the Gospel in their homes and pray for them. Job, who is 5 years old, said to them.
" These gifts are not from us. They are from Dr. Bacon, a man God uses. Please pray always for Pu Bacon."
Seven year old Joshua said, " If there was no Dr. Bacon, we wouldn't be living here together ; we wouldn't have any schooling or Bible study. Maybe we would have died of hunger and ended up in the lake of fire!"
Isaac, who is 15 years old and temperamental, said: "We are used to seeing only eight cups of rice at one time; but now, due to Dr. Bacon we can feast our eyes on thirty bags of rice!" With tears flowing down his cheeks, he hugged and caressed a bag of rice. "It is due to Mr.Bacon that I am now learning to drive a car."So saying, he knelt near the bags of nice and prayed, fervidly praising and glorifying the Lord.
Forgive me for writing some of the words and questions which came out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. Most of the mail we receive from you regarding the New life children is read before them and explained discreetly. It fills them with unspeakable joy. We pray often for the wherewithal to build their new home. It has caused a turning point in the life of Joseph, a five year old boy. We heard him saying to some of the other children, " Don't be snobbish! take care of your books and clothing. We are going to live in a new building."
We have to thank you for multifarious things. If what we have mentioned is not complete we hope you will understand our speechless joy and gratitude by reading between the lines.
May the Lord bless you all, and may He bless your ministry always.
On behalf of New life ministry and the children I remain,
Your fellow-worker in the Lord's Vineyard
Rev. Moses.
___________________________________________________________
A Direct Appeal
Rev. Moses refers in this letter to a "new building." On my last trip to Myanmar, we arranged for an architect to design and "cost-estimate" the building of a two-story hostel for the orphanage. Many of them, as is evident from their stories above, have reached an age where we simply must separate the boys from the girls. A two-story "brick nogging" hostel is estimated to run about USD 12,000. I do not ordinarily make such direct appeals on the Burma Blog, but this is a pressing matter. The older children are themselves already digging and leveling for a foundation to be laid. If it would be possible for the readers to help in any amount, it would abound to the glory of the Lord Jesus in that far away land.
Please send any contributions to :
Mission To Myanmar
c/0 First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett
8210 Schrade Road
Rowlett, TX 75088
In much of the letter that follows, please understand the references to "Dr. Bacon" to refer to the Mission To Myanmar, and its supporters. For many of these orphans, I am the "face" of your generous contributions.
________________________________________________________________
Dear Dr.Bacon,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We acknowledge receipt of the precious gift of $X intact which you sent for the glory of god. No words can express our joy and gratitude. According to your prayers, we will use this offering wisely and economically so that it will be of the greatest benefit for the New life orphans.
We are goaded and stimulated to activity by your love and consideration for our well being, health and happiness. It strengthens us physically and spiritually. In the eyes of New life orphanage and the children, it enhances the grace, glory and greatness of God.
We cannot help glorying in the Lord because though we are the poorest orphan family, God has arranged and given us Dr. Richard Bacon's family and the holy Reformed Churches to be our parents: and the most wonderful thing is that they live for away across the ocean where the stars at night are big and bright, and coyotes wail along the trail, deep in the heart of Texas!
We are completely and fully aware of the goodness and greatness of God. Due to your prayers and the grace of Jesus Christ, we will grow, develop and progress, because we are of the Reformed Church, " of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39).
By the way, our youngest orphan named Isaiah, who is only four years old asked this question: "Is Dr. Bacon God? He can send us o much money!" I answered, " No, he isn't. He is a man God uses."
Matthew who is twelve years old added: "He must be a seed of Abraham in whom all nations are blest; as for us, we are like the man the Good Samaritan helped and gave two pence to the inn keeper for taking care of him."
On the last Saturday of each month we keep a vigil and pray all through the night. Every Monday we fast and pray; and we give our breakfast, lunch and dinner to poor families. We preach the Gospel in their homes and pray for them. Job, who is 5 years old, said to them.
" These gifts are not from us. They are from Dr. Bacon, a man God uses. Please pray always for Pu Bacon."
Seven year old Joshua said, " If there was no Dr. Bacon, we wouldn't be living here together ; we wouldn't have any schooling or Bible study. Maybe we would have died of hunger and ended up in the lake of fire!"
Isaac, who is 15 years old and temperamental, said: "We are used to seeing only eight cups of rice at one time; but now, due to Dr. Bacon we can feast our eyes on thirty bags of rice!" With tears flowing down his cheeks, he hugged and caressed a bag of rice. "It is due to Mr.Bacon that I am now learning to drive a car."So saying, he knelt near the bags of nice and prayed, fervidly praising and glorifying the Lord.
Forgive me for writing some of the words and questions which came out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. Most of the mail we receive from you regarding the New life children is read before them and explained discreetly. It fills them with unspeakable joy. We pray often for the wherewithal to build their new home. It has caused a turning point in the life of Joseph, a five year old boy. We heard him saying to some of the other children, " Don't be snobbish! take care of your books and clothing. We are going to live in a new building."
We have to thank you for multifarious things. If what we have mentioned is not complete we hope you will understand our speechless joy and gratitude by reading between the lines.
May the Lord bless you all, and may He bless your ministry always.
On behalf of New life ministry and the children I remain,
Your fellow-worker in the Lord's Vineyard
Rev. Moses.
___________________________________________________________
A Direct Appeal
Rev. Moses refers in this letter to a "new building." On my last trip to Myanmar, we arranged for an architect to design and "cost-estimate" the building of a two-story hostel for the orphanage. Many of them, as is evident from their stories above, have reached an age where we simply must separate the boys from the girls. A two-story "brick nogging" hostel is estimated to run about USD 12,000. I do not ordinarily make such direct appeals on the Burma Blog, but this is a pressing matter. The older children are themselves already digging and leveling for a foundation to be laid. If it would be possible for the readers to help in any amount, it would abound to the glory of the Lord Jesus in that far away land.
Please send any contributions to :
Mission To Myanmar
c/0 First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett
8210 Schrade Road
Rowlett, TX 75088
Tuesday, March 15
A Bit of Rehearsal
I have been a visitor to Myanmar eight times since November 2000. One of the visits was for a period of eight weeks when I went there in the Rainy Season of 2003 with my wife and son. Most of the visits, however, have been for periods ranging from one week "on the ground" to four weeks "on the ground."
My first visit to Myanmar was on a sort of "fact-finding" mission. Would there be significant interest in the gospel in this country to justify further time and monetary resources being allocated to the project? We determined at that time that we would stay in contact with the people we met, but would not expend great amounts of money by sending it to the nationals with whom we were in contact at that time.
Our greatest concern at the time was over a phenomenon known variously as "rice Christianity" or "the old system." John L. Nevius wrote works variously known as Methods of Mission Work or available in print form as The Planting and Development of Missionary Churches from Monadnock Press.
Nevius stated (this is an 1895 work) the old system and the new, "may be distinguished in general by the former depending largely on paid native agency, while the latter deprecates and seeks to minimize such agency. Perhaps an equally correct and more generally acceptable statement of the difference would be, that while both alike seek ultimately the establishment of independent, self-reliant, and aggressive native churches, the Old System strives by the use of foreign funds to foster and stimulate the growth of native churches in the first stage of their development, and then gradually to discontinue the use of such funds; while those who adopt the New System think that the desired object may be best obtained by applying principles of independence and self-reliance from the beginning." [p. 18]
How This Applies To Us
When the derisive term "rice Christianity" is used, it may raise the specter of people becoming Christians simply because they are paid to become Christians. Thus they would become Buddhists if the Buddhists were proselytizing with funds; or Muslims or Hindus, or any other religion. While there is some of that going on, just as there is in this country (think "Word of Faith"), that is not precisely the difficulty of the mission field that Nevius was trying to address.
Nevius himself acknowledged that the "Old System" or "Old Method" was a natural one that would occur to most people. He stated, "It is only natural that missionaries should at first seek and employ many native agents. They are anxious for immediate results, and home societies and the home churches are as impatient to hear of results as missionaries are to report them" [p. 21]. Not impatience alone, however, but practical considerations as well, may contribute to this approach. After all, it takes many years to become proficient in a new language, even when living among the native speakers of that language. And the plain fact is that most missionaries isolate themselves from the native speakers for the first part of their term on the field.
There is another motive that conspires with the first to bring about the method about which Nevius complained. China, which was Nevius' field, and Burma (Myanmar) both suffer from extreme poverty. Further, it is no secret that it is generally amongst the poorest of a region that the gospel finds its quickest acceptance. The native population is generally willing to work for far less money and will require far fewer resources than would a western missionary. Thus it is that the desire for rapid results and the fact that native agents will work for far less money than the foreign missionary work together to bring about a system in which foreign funds become the determiner of where and how the gospel will be preached. This is not to say that native workers should never be employed. Nevius went on to say, "I fully recognize the fact that the employment and pay of native laborers is under suitable circumstances, legitimate and desirable, as much so as the employment and pay of foreigners. Here, however, the important questions arise, who shall be employed, and when and how shall they be employed" [p. 22].
What We Found
Much of the difficulty in the Myanmar churches -- at least in the Evangelical and Reformed denominations -- was a problem of western missionary zeal. Ministers in the churches regarded manual labor and even intellectual labor to be unbecoming of a minister of the gospel. Working a "day job" was regarded as somehow beneath someone who was called to be a minister. They let their wives and children support them financially; but supporting themselves by becoming or remaining bivocational was considered as spiritually unfitting. This had a number of harmful effects on the churches in Myanmar.
First, it confirmed a tribal system of church polity. The founder and president of a denomination could control the funds coming to his denomination from a foreign church. This led in the space of just a few years of the churches becoming tribes under the benevolent care of their chiefs (presidents and founders). Church boards, sessions, classes, and so forth were made mere "yes-men" because the founder and president was the controller of the funds, the salaries, stipends, and eventually even of ordination.
Second, there is a harm to the paid agent himself. He is placed in a position of tremendous temptation. This is a temptation that few mature Christians could consistently withstand; much less a Christian of only a few years. These men may originally have been farmers, shopkeepers, laborers, or even professionals; but they now find themselves in a calling for which they are ill suited and poorly prepared. Those who were quite capable in their original callings become little more than toadies to the foreign missionaries in order to secure foreign funding for their projects.
Third, the system makes it difficult or impossible to distinguish the true from the false. Money tends to turn people generally into dissemblers, and this is no less true of the Myanmar than it is of Americans or any other nationality. It is not surprising to those who believe in total depravity the extent to which not only allegiances, but even theology, becomes flexible when in search of funds. Arminians become Calvinists and then Arminians again as first one denomination and then another bids for their faith. This is not to say that every person who participates in the system is a hypocrite; but a good tribal chief does what he can to provide funding for his tribe. This again, is as true in the USA as it is in Myanmar. We have simply exported our version of church membership to the highest bidding church to the mission field.
Fourth, by distinguishing native agents with pay, we lessen the number of volunteer evangelists. Again, this is often as true in the USA as it is elsewhere. "It is the preacher's job" is as much a problem here as it is elsewhere. We exasperate the problem, however, when it is not the local group that is making the minister's stipend, but a foreign mission board or church that is guaranteeing it. The work is then seen not so much as the work of the local church or national denomination, but the work of the foreign missionary who has hired the locals to help.
Finally, the testimony to the surrounding unbelievers is that Christianity is a religion in which the native population is "undermined" by foreign monies. It is little wonder that the native population cannot see missions as a spiritual enterprise, when the local Christians and foreign missionaries do not treat it as a spiritual enterprise, but as a commercial one.
What We Were Looking For
The Scripture speaks regarding one who would enter office in the church. Among other qualifications, we read that he is to be "not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil" [1 Timothy 3:6]. The first thing we were looking for, then, was someone who had been a Christian for a number of years and who had some experience, education, and could present a convincing testimony of a calling to the minstry of the gospel.
Another important thing we were looking for was someone who had a spiritual understanding of the mission of the church. No doubt, diaconal enterprises are important. But they should flow from the spiritual understanding and not from a physical understanding. The diaconal enterprise can very quickly become a bribe in the hands of the inexperienced or unscrupulous.
The third thing we were looking for was a reformed understanding of church polity. This does not mean that we believe that polity is at the center of the gospel message (though it is far more important than many realize). Rather, the importance of this item lay in the fact that it is necessary to renounce the tribal chieftain form of church polity (the "founder and president") in order to overcome the harmful effects of the paid agency form of foreign missions. This is an application of the gospel principle of 1 Corinthians 9:14, that the gospel preacher should ordinarily make his living by the preaching of the gospel.
We Found Such A One On The Fourth Trip
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that someone found him for us. During the rainy season visit of 2002, I made arrangements to spend a few days with a Korean pastor named Rev. Changwon Shu (pronounced "Saw"). Before arriving in country, I had opportunity to correspond with Rev. Shu a number of times by email. We made arrangements to meet one another in Yangon and there he introduced me to Rev. Thang Bwee.
Rev. Thang Bwee was a man in his 40s who was altogether intent upon developing a "three-self" church in Myanmar. Thang Bwee became familiar with the three self concept while studying in Korea. The three self church refers to an indigenous church that is "self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating."
More on this in the next Blog entry.
RB
I have been a visitor to Myanmar eight times since November 2000. One of the visits was for a period of eight weeks when I went there in the Rainy Season of 2003 with my wife and son. Most of the visits, however, have been for periods ranging from one week "on the ground" to four weeks "on the ground."
My first visit to Myanmar was on a sort of "fact-finding" mission. Would there be significant interest in the gospel in this country to justify further time and monetary resources being allocated to the project? We determined at that time that we would stay in contact with the people we met, but would not expend great amounts of money by sending it to the nationals with whom we were in contact at that time.
Our greatest concern at the time was over a phenomenon known variously as "rice Christianity" or "the old system." John L. Nevius wrote works variously known as Methods of Mission Work or available in print form as The Planting and Development of Missionary Churches from Monadnock Press.
Nevius stated (this is an 1895 work) the old system and the new, "may be distinguished in general by the former depending largely on paid native agency, while the latter deprecates and seeks to minimize such agency. Perhaps an equally correct and more generally acceptable statement of the difference would be, that while both alike seek ultimately the establishment of independent, self-reliant, and aggressive native churches, the Old System strives by the use of foreign funds to foster and stimulate the growth of native churches in the first stage of their development, and then gradually to discontinue the use of such funds; while those who adopt the New System think that the desired object may be best obtained by applying principles of independence and self-reliance from the beginning." [p. 18]
How This Applies To Us
When the derisive term "rice Christianity" is used, it may raise the specter of people becoming Christians simply because they are paid to become Christians. Thus they would become Buddhists if the Buddhists were proselytizing with funds; or Muslims or Hindus, or any other religion. While there is some of that going on, just as there is in this country (think "Word of Faith"), that is not precisely the difficulty of the mission field that Nevius was trying to address.
Nevius himself acknowledged that the "Old System" or "Old Method" was a natural one that would occur to most people. He stated, "It is only natural that missionaries should at first seek and employ many native agents. They are anxious for immediate results, and home societies and the home churches are as impatient to hear of results as missionaries are to report them" [p. 21]. Not impatience alone, however, but practical considerations as well, may contribute to this approach. After all, it takes many years to become proficient in a new language, even when living among the native speakers of that language. And the plain fact is that most missionaries isolate themselves from the native speakers for the first part of their term on the field.
There is another motive that conspires with the first to bring about the method about which Nevius complained. China, which was Nevius' field, and Burma (Myanmar) both suffer from extreme poverty. Further, it is no secret that it is generally amongst the poorest of a region that the gospel finds its quickest acceptance. The native population is generally willing to work for far less money and will require far fewer resources than would a western missionary. Thus it is that the desire for rapid results and the fact that native agents will work for far less money than the foreign missionary work together to bring about a system in which foreign funds become the determiner of where and how the gospel will be preached. This is not to say that native workers should never be employed. Nevius went on to say, "I fully recognize the fact that the employment and pay of native laborers is under suitable circumstances, legitimate and desirable, as much so as the employment and pay of foreigners. Here, however, the important questions arise, who shall be employed, and when and how shall they be employed" [p. 22].
What We Found
Much of the difficulty in the Myanmar churches -- at least in the Evangelical and Reformed denominations -- was a problem of western missionary zeal. Ministers in the churches regarded manual labor and even intellectual labor to be unbecoming of a minister of the gospel. Working a "day job" was regarded as somehow beneath someone who was called to be a minister. They let their wives and children support them financially; but supporting themselves by becoming or remaining bivocational was considered as spiritually unfitting. This had a number of harmful effects on the churches in Myanmar.
First, it confirmed a tribal system of church polity. The founder and president of a denomination could control the funds coming to his denomination from a foreign church. This led in the space of just a few years of the churches becoming tribes under the benevolent care of their chiefs (presidents and founders). Church boards, sessions, classes, and so forth were made mere "yes-men" because the founder and president was the controller of the funds, the salaries, stipends, and eventually even of ordination.
Second, there is a harm to the paid agent himself. He is placed in a position of tremendous temptation. This is a temptation that few mature Christians could consistently withstand; much less a Christian of only a few years. These men may originally have been farmers, shopkeepers, laborers, or even professionals; but they now find themselves in a calling for which they are ill suited and poorly prepared. Those who were quite capable in their original callings become little more than toadies to the foreign missionaries in order to secure foreign funding for their projects.
Third, the system makes it difficult or impossible to distinguish the true from the false. Money tends to turn people generally into dissemblers, and this is no less true of the Myanmar than it is of Americans or any other nationality. It is not surprising to those who believe in total depravity the extent to which not only allegiances, but even theology, becomes flexible when in search of funds. Arminians become Calvinists and then Arminians again as first one denomination and then another bids for their faith. This is not to say that every person who participates in the system is a hypocrite; but a good tribal chief does what he can to provide funding for his tribe. This again, is as true in the USA as it is in Myanmar. We have simply exported our version of church membership to the highest bidding church to the mission field.
Fourth, by distinguishing native agents with pay, we lessen the number of volunteer evangelists. Again, this is often as true in the USA as it is elsewhere. "It is the preacher's job" is as much a problem here as it is elsewhere. We exasperate the problem, however, when it is not the local group that is making the minister's stipend, but a foreign mission board or church that is guaranteeing it. The work is then seen not so much as the work of the local church or national denomination, but the work of the foreign missionary who has hired the locals to help.
Finally, the testimony to the surrounding unbelievers is that Christianity is a religion in which the native population is "undermined" by foreign monies. It is little wonder that the native population cannot see missions as a spiritual enterprise, when the local Christians and foreign missionaries do not treat it as a spiritual enterprise, but as a commercial one.
What We Were Looking For
The Scripture speaks regarding one who would enter office in the church. Among other qualifications, we read that he is to be "not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil" [1 Timothy 3:6]. The first thing we were looking for, then, was someone who had been a Christian for a number of years and who had some experience, education, and could present a convincing testimony of a calling to the minstry of the gospel.
Another important thing we were looking for was someone who had a spiritual understanding of the mission of the church. No doubt, diaconal enterprises are important. But they should flow from the spiritual understanding and not from a physical understanding. The diaconal enterprise can very quickly become a bribe in the hands of the inexperienced or unscrupulous.
The third thing we were looking for was a reformed understanding of church polity. This does not mean that we believe that polity is at the center of the gospel message (though it is far more important than many realize). Rather, the importance of this item lay in the fact that it is necessary to renounce the tribal chieftain form of church polity (the "founder and president") in order to overcome the harmful effects of the paid agency form of foreign missions. This is an application of the gospel principle of 1 Corinthians 9:14, that the gospel preacher should ordinarily make his living by the preaching of the gospel.
We Found Such A One On The Fourth Trip
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that someone found him for us. During the rainy season visit of 2002, I made arrangements to spend a few days with a Korean pastor named Rev. Changwon Shu (pronounced "Saw"). Before arriving in country, I had opportunity to correspond with Rev. Shu a number of times by email. We made arrangements to meet one another in Yangon and there he introduced me to Rev. Thang Bwee.
Rev. Thang Bwee was a man in his 40s who was altogether intent upon developing a "three-self" church in Myanmar. Thang Bwee became familiar with the three self concept while studying in Korea. The three self church refers to an indigenous church that is "self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating."
More on this in the next Blog entry.
RB
Friday, March 11
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