Meet the Leaders being developed across Asia-Pacific
Myanmar - Sometimes the gift of 'being' outweighs what we 'do' for others
25-Jan-2019
Langham Preacher Training 'grows up' as the team of local leaders take the programme further - without any input needed from Westerners. Kiwi volunteers Phil and Anthea Fairbrass were there in November to celebrate the growth with Sein Kyi (pictured) and his team.
Phil shares:
Our love affair with the Myanmar people really began when in 2005 Anthea saw an email from Leadership De.. Read more
Langham Preacher Training 'grows up' as the team of local leaders take the programme further - without any input needed from Westerners. Kiwi volunteers Phil and Anthea Fairbrass were there in November to celebrate the growth with Sein Kyi (pictured) and his team.
Phil shares:
Our love affair with the Myanmar people really began when in 2005 Anthea saw an email from Leadership Development International inviting volunteers to apply to teach English language and study skills at MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) in Yangon, one of LeaDev-Langham's Partner Schools.
She went for four weeks and was hooked. Her appeals for me, a pastor, to join her in teaching English (“Come on, Anthea, how in the world could I teach English?") finally persuaded me to volunteer, and thus began a total of ten years of annual trips between us to teach English and study skills to students who were preparing for their master’s degrees in theology.
I know we helped in the English department. But I think the real purpose we were there was revealed when more than one person said to us, “We are so happy you are here, because we feel forgotten by the rest of the world.” I think just being there - listening, empathising (in a limited way) praying and loving - was worth far more that what we ever did. We tried to spend personal time with each student we taught, listening to their stories which often included hardship and persecution.
I think just being there -
listening, empathising, praying and loving - was worth far more that what we ever did.
Three years ago, while in Yangon, we felt the Spirit gently urging us to leave teaching English and look for ways where perhaps our pastoral background might be more useful. This was the prompting that resulted in us to become involved with the Langham Preaching program in Myanmar.
From 29 Oct to 2 Nov last year we were invited to attend as observers at a combined level 1 and 2 seminar being taught by Sein Kyi and his team of teachers in a place not far from Mandalay. Several of the teachers are former MEGST students of ours with whom we have formed lasting friendships.
It was a joy to observe this team of competent teachers now teaching others what they themselves have been taught, with enthusiasm and lots of class participation. Joy and laughter often filled the classrooms. Testimonies at the end of the week were positive.
It was a joy to observe this team of competent teachers now teaching others what they themselves have been taught
But what really impacted me were comments from two of the teachers we have known for some years. One sat with me at lunch one day and said, “It is so encouraging to have you here.” When I asked him why, he said, “Well, just your being here encourages us.” How humbling is that?!
The other told me that when I taught him English at MEGST he was astounded that I was kind to him. His schooling had been extremely harsh to say the least, and he couldn’t get over how nice I was! What a reminder that our “being” is perhaps far more valuable in God’s economy that our “doing.”
How wonderful it was to see that, after after several years of being taught the Langham principles of preaching by Westerners, the Myanmar team have now taken up the responsibility of teaching others what they have learned. This is a huge challenge for this fledgling team of teachers. And how refreshing to be reminded that being listeners, friends and occasional advisors is perhaps the best gift we can offer to our Myanmar pastors and friends at this time.
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Philippines - Contextual Commentaries bring Hope in Hard Places
12-Oct-2018
When typhoon Haiyan destroyed a large city in the Philippines in 2013, a five-year-old girl asked her parents why God had allowed the storm to happen. We could ask the same of the recent earthquake in Indonesia, or any one of the many horrific and traumatic disasters across Asia-Pacific.
“Thankfully, her question and her pain have a place in the presence of God,” said Rico Vil.. Read more
When typhoon Haiyan destroyed a large city in the Philippines in 2013, a five-year-old girl asked her parents why God had allowed the storm to happen. We could ask the same of the recent earthquake in Indonesia, or any one of the many horrific and traumatic disasters across Asia-Pacific.
“Thankfully, her question and her pain have a place in the presence of God,” said Rico Villanueva, a Christian leader and Langham Scholar who teaches at one of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools, Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) in Quezon City (Philippines).
Rico has authored a contextual commentary on the book of Lamentations, and also edited contributions to a broader commentary series.
Intimacy with God brings hope
Rico explains the importance and relevance of the book of Lamentations for those who are suffering and live in ‘hard places’across Asia-Pacific:
“The book of Lamentations is a rich resource in times of disaster. . . grieving is important in the process of healing. The absence of grieving hampers the process of restoration. Long before psychologists emphasized this, the book of Lamentations already modelled it for us.”
Rico notes the tendency of some to lament and cry, yet not cry out to God, or of others to view lament as a sign of weak faith. Rico shares that, “Lament is a sign of bold faith for it is able to confront the difficult questions in the presence of the Lord . . . People’s determination to keep on pursuing God even amidst all their pain and suffering is surely a sign of hope . . . Lament is a manifestation of one’s intimacy with God.”
Edgar Ebojo, another Langham Scholar and translator from the Philippines puts it this way:
“Because the Word of God is now available in their own language, it gives them an identity, that God speaks their language. And if God can speak their language, God can understand them – God can understand their suffering and their challenges… and everything they’re going through because God speaks their language. With this, there is Hope.”
Biblical Answers from an Asian Perspective
Contextual commentaries and resources are having a lasting and crucial impact on the Christian church across Asia. For the people of Asia – where natural disasters, grinding poverty and civil unrest are daily realities – a commentary written by and for Asians helps readers understand and apply God’s Word in their context and culture.
Rico says that the commentaries are crucial because the church is growing quickly in many parts of Asia yet is lacking biblical resources.
“Up until recently, comparatively little has been produced in terms of authentic Asian theological thinking that addresses directly and powerfully the big questions posed by culture and context in Asia.”
Now that is changing. Contextual Bible commentaries equip scholars, pastors and Christian leaders to learn from and teach God’s Word in ways relevant to their setting. Along with understanding the text better, cultural issues are addressed from a biblical perspective. In Asia-Pacific, most leaders have little or no theological training and few if any Bible study books, but they do have a Bible. The commentaries give them a tool for understanding and preaching the Bible, bringing Hope to their communities living in poverty and under pressure.
The people of Living Streams
Christian Church just outside of Manila, Philippines, know what suffering is.
Some are under the weight of poverty. Some are struggling with marital issues.
And all are living on an island chain in the direct path of some of the most
devastating typhoons in the last decade alone.
Their pastor, Ranilo (pictured here), is using a commentary on the book of
Psalms written by Rico, to help his congregation respond to local issues,
including how to lament. Ranilo says,
“This book is essential. From this book,
I learned to preach. Not only that, I use it in a small group Bible study. . .
When we talk about this commentary, many people come to the Lord and accept the
Lord as the Savior of their life.”
Rico explains, “For many years it's been the writings coming [to believers in the Philippines] mostly from the West . . . but now that there are Christians in Asia, for instance, and the church has been growing, there's really a need for us to write theology, contextual biblical interpretation, from our own respective countries.
The Philippines is not the only place where contextual commentaries are bringing hope to Christians in hard places.
Our research from Africa shows for every commentary sent to a leader, a minimum of 10 – 12 other leaders use it, and 50 – 100 new believers benefit from the preaching of each of those leaders. Multiply this by more than 100,000 volumes already distributed and millions of lives are impacted. And now the same is happening across Asia-Pacific.
These books do not collect dust on a shelf somewhere, but are used daily by Christian leaders desperate to understand God’s Word in their context and then pastor their churches and communities effectively.
From New Zealand, your generosity makes it possible for leaders like Edgar and Rico to write contextual resources and books, and with these bring hope to thousands of local leaders like Ranilo and those in their congregation and community.
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South Asia - Does the World need another Higher Degree?
09-Jul-2018
Talk to Havilah Dharamraj and she’ll tell you that South Asia certainly does. Of course she’d say that – she’s the Academic Dean of India’s leading evangelical Theological institution for post-graduate study!
But Havilah’s not just toeing the party line; she has some very good reasons for believing that higher degrees are not simply academic notch.. Read more
Talk to Havilah Dharamraj and she’ll tell you that South Asia certainly does. Of course she’d say that – she’s the Academic Dean of India’s leading evangelical Theological institution for post-graduate study!
But Havilah’s not just toeing the party line; she has some very good reasons for believing that higher degrees are not simply academic notches on a belt, but significant door-openers for changing society.
Havilah’s first career was teaching biochemistry at high school. But in the 1990’s a love of the Old Testament drew her back to study, so putting teenagers behind her, she did a Masters degree at South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore. That led to a PhD which was done at Durham University, and funded initially by Langham Partnership International.
It was also funded via LeaDev-Langham by loyal Kiwi donors who had a long-term vision for seeing well-trained senior leaders in strategic positions within the Church across Asia-Pacific – senior leaders like Havilah.
Across the region, qualified biblical leaders who can listen to the world and build contextual bridges to the Word are in short supply - from village churches to urban seminaries.
Their investment has extended their vision, and it has had great impact.
Training other leaders
Since Havilah completed her PhD in 2006 and started teaching on the two main Masters Programmes at SAIACS, she has directly taught and influenced nearly 400 Christian leaders. That might not sound like very many over 12 years, but it’s important to understand who these leaders are, and what they do.
There are three types of students at SAIACS, from all around India, and several other countries in the region:
• Top-level leaders from mission organisations come to upskill;
• Pastors and Ministers from churches throughout the region come to learn how to lead; and
• Faculty and lecturers from other Bible colleges and Christian tertiary training centres come to learn how to teach the Word of God.
Havilah says that whatever students might come for, they go away with a new set of skills – both explicit and implicit. Explicit skills include homiletics, teaching, critical thinking (essential for students coming from a rote learning experience), education and pedagogy, leadership, and working on the interface between contextual issues and the Bible.
As for the implicit curriculum that SAIACS students receive, Havilah says this:
“As Indians, the caste system is in our DNA. But at SAIACS we are totally egalitarian – we all eat at the same table, and have the choice to call each other by name regardless of our role or rank. This is in the classroom as well as within the SAIACS community. It’s this implicit value that is so central to the Gospel, that Christian leaders who study here, take away with them. And many of them are implementing this same value at their training colleges and organisations because they picked it up here, recognising it’s inherent within the Gospel.”
In the Asia-Pacific context higher degrees are not just CV boosters – they’re door openers for Christian leaders to have influence.
They are higher degrees that are very practical and purposeful:
“How many universities in the West can say their motto is ‘Excellence for mission?" asks Havilah. “We are so focused on mission, that our Principal makes sure he’s at and involved in every major mission conference in our region every year.”
So, by her example, one good reason for having a higher degree in Theology is to be able to teach and train other leaders.
High level influence
Another good reason, Havilah believes, is that a higher degree sets a person up to be a thought leader effecting systemic changes. But she is clear that on its own a higher degree is not enough and that it’s also about how a senior leader then uses their degree/s to lead, influence policy-making, make high-level decisions in the country, and publish.
“In the Christian faith, we need people on the ground, but we also need people at the top levels, because that’s where the big systemic changes take place in our societies. When you work from the top down, you can help sustain what is happening from the ground up.”
Havilah’s daily work combines this kind of thought-leadership, with innovation in learning that is responsive to the needs of the region’s Church.
Right now, together with others, she’s establishing a Masters in Mission Leadership focused specifically on mission organisations. This is in direct response to the move from South Asia mission organisations to decentralise in the face of pressure and persecution.
As they are ‘scattered’, increased leadership skill is needed by many more leaders who are now leading smaller nodes but across greater geographic areas. So, for a mission leader coming to SAIACS to get a Masters in Mission Leadership, again this is no ivory-tower experience – it’s about survival and safety for the Church under pressure.
Publishing much-needed resources
Another way that having a degree brings about significant changes, is through publishing. Havilah has seen big systemic change – or rather significant resource – through her contribution to the creation of the South Asia Bible Commentary (SABC). The commentary is the go-to reference most used by South Asian Christians and leaders to understand the Word of God within the Asian context, and it’s been written by South Asians; with Havilah’s contribution and editorship one of the most substantial.
“The writing of the SABC was a turning point in my writing career, because this time I was writing for the greater Church [not just students]. Now when I see it used I am absolutely delighted to know my contribution makes such a difference for so many people across such a wide region.”
So, does the world need another higher degree? Absolutely! As Havilah puts it:
“Our students see their postgrad degree as a gateway to leading the church strategically in their part of the world.”
Senior Leaders like Havilah have region-wide influence through their ministries
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Myanmar - The path of a servant leader
15-Jun-2018
When asked what his role as principal of Myanmar’s top Christian tertiary training agency requires, CK Hrang Tiam gives a list of responsibilities and daily tasks. As he talks, however, it is obvious that becoming and being an effective leader of MEGST* has and does require much more than routine efficiency – above all, humility and a willingness to serve God by serving others.
W.. Read more
When asked what his role as principal of Myanmar’s top Christian tertiary training agency requires, CK Hrang Tiam gives a list of responsibilities and daily tasks. As he talks, however, it is obvious that becoming and being an effective leader of MEGST* has and does require much more than routine efficiency – above all, humility and a willingness to serve God by serving others.
When the 8.8.88 pro-democracy uprising in Yangon interrupted his science studies as an 18 year old, he took it as an opportunity to fast and pray, asking God for direction (with a vow):
“If you choose me, open the way for me to go to Bible School. Then I will serve you, and I’ll do it in Myanmar.”
It was a risky prayer, given the political climate at the time outlawed Christianity. CK knew the answer from God would probably take him on a difficult path in the years to come, but he prayed it anyway.
And it’s this attitude of quiet determination and servanthood that has seen him reach and impact many, many people throughout his life, and rise to the status of a true leader - although it’s not a descriptor in which he takes any personal pride.
At this point in his journey his task is to lead MEGST and its mission, and this he does with energy and enthusiasm. He aims to register it officially as an institution (now that being a Christian institution is no longer illegal in Myanmar’s new democracy), grow the rolls, expand it and forge strong relationships with the rest of the Christian community in Yangon.
However, he does not take all the credit for his work or attitude toward it; he acknowledges other Christian leaders who have helped to shape him, including the two previous MEGST principals, Dr Aung Mang and Reverend San Cung Nung, and also his own brother Bishop Dr. CK No Chum. He also sees running the school as a team effort, making most decisions collaboratively with the board, the Executive Committee or the staff – again showing a humble leadership style very counter-cultural to what is typical within Myanmar.
After CK’s courageous prayer as a young adult, his journey of servant leadership immediately began with an actual journey – almost like a physical experience of what would lie ahead for him in life.
With nothing but a few coins in his pocket, but bag-loads of sheer determination to learn more about how to be a leader, he walked, living rough, for several days to reach India from Myanmar, and there began his theological studies.
It’s also where he got better and better at living on the smallest of subsistence budgets. He studied in India and the Philippines for 12 years, attaining many qualifications including a PhD. His commitment to God’s work in Myanmar saw him through the temptation to apply for refugee status and move to a first world country, as many of his Christian leadership peers did. His mission was Myanmar, and once qualified he returned to teach at Gospel for Asia Bible College, married his wife Rebecca and then begin teaching at MEGST under Dr Aung Mang.
CK may have several degrees to his name and head up a tertiary training agency, but his service goes well beyond the well-regarded and sometimes heady world of academia. Whilst still in the Philippines, a missionary he met was curious about why – unlike his many fleeing contemporaries – he wanted to remain in Myanmar. “I am called for mission in Myanmar. I made a vow to the Lord,” was his simple but undeviating reply.
In response this woman pledged CK and Rebecca $300 per month, to be used at their discretion. So they used it to open an orphanage and took in many homeless children, who they now consider their own.
These days, whilst CK’s time is taken up with leading MEGST, Rebecca’s work is a ministry to support children and their mothers subsisting in rubbish dump communities, daily feeding large groups of children with soup made from chicken feet. These acts of service are an incredible example of how – in the hands of humble, servant leaders of integrity attuned to the needs of their community – the very smallest amounts of financial support have an incredible impact for God’s Kingdom.
When CK was interviewed in February 2017 for the principal position at MEGST (an interview he was called to and did not seek out), he was asked two questions: What would you do if you became the principal of MEGST, and what would you do if you did not?
For the first question, he told them of his vision for the school: “Quality plus quantity education” i.e. making courses available in other cities and online; and how he wanted MEGST to be officially registered with the government, believing this would encourage many more potential students to take on theological studies. He also shared his passion to connect MEGST with churches and other Christian organisations in the city and the region.
But it was his answer to the second question that showed his true colours as a servant leader:
“When Aung hired me, I trusted him and served many years as a lecturer, a dean and more. When a new principal was to be elected, although my name was one of the three names proposed, I withdrew from being considered, because principalship was not something I had expected, prayed for, or chased. But today I sit here and you are interviewing me.
"Even though all the current teaching faculty have been my students, I would welcome any of them to be put into the position above me, because I am happy to serve anywhere.”
He was appointed to the role, and serve as a leader he does. With an energy and enthusiasm that has encouraged many and surprised some, the vision he outlined to answer the first question is now becoming a reality, as he gets on with the big task of building other leaders to send throughout Myanmar and further into Asia-Pacific.
His thoughts on what is needed as the country’s leading Christian tertiary training agency to achieve this?
“We must have good understanding, good relationships, mutual love and concern. Our focus must be on the Kingdom of God. If we stand together we will be strong.”
*Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (MEGST)
WHICH HELPS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LEADER IN GOD'S CHURCH
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Pakistan - Leaders develop their theology amidst oppression
27-Apr-2018
In a country where Christians must walk very carefully because of the Muslim majority, a new training programme is building competencies in church leaders to lead in an informed way: carefully, critically and contextually.
‘Contextually’ is key, according to Amjad Masih, student in the new Masters in Theology (MTh) programme at Zarephath Bible Seminary (ZBS) in Pakistan.. Read more
In a country where Christians must walk very carefully because of the Muslim majority, a new training programme is building competencies in church leaders to lead in an informed way: carefully, critically and contextually.
‘Contextually’ is key, according to Amjad Masih, student in the new Masters in Theology (MTh) programme at Zarephath Bible Seminary (ZBS) in Pakistan. He believes a large part of being an informed Christian leader, is about developing a theology of oppression, “because that’s the biggest challenge facing the Pakistani Church today.”
"We in Pakistan have many problems which are different from the other parts of the world; through this study [together] we can form our own biblical theology for the solutions of our problems.”
The reason Amjad enrolled to do the MTh programme is not only to enhance his spiritual life, teaching, preaching and pastoring skills – as much as he looks forward to those developing – but it’ll give him the opportunity to “discuss our problems in the present context, and find solutions for our problems in the light of biblical studies… We in Pakistan have many problems which are different from the other parts of the world; through this study [together] we can form our own biblical theology for the solutions of our problems.”
Pakistan has a population of about 193 million, and it is estimated that only about 2% of population are Christian – that’s just a bit short of the entire population of New Zealand.
According to Ashkenaz Asif Khan, ZBS’s Principal from 2005-2018, “Pakistan is a majority Muslim country but there is always a challenge to live in harmony with other religious sects within Islam. Christians belong to this land but they must assert their right to be treated as equal citizens. … Pakistan still allows visas for missionary work and Christians can share the Gospel and sell Bibles on streets. But there is the Blasphemy law also“. Meaning, Christians do walk a fine line being in the minority.
‘Contextual relevance’ is a strong value in the curriculums of all the training courses and programmes that LeaDev-Langham supports for Christian leaders across Asia-Pacific.
‘Contextual relevance’ is a strong value in the curriculums of all the training courses and programmes that LeaDev-Langham supports for Christian leaders across Asia-Pacific. For leaders to equip and strengthen the growing Church – both new converts and mature believers – it is essential that they can apply the Bible and Christian faith appropriately to the issues people face daily such as extreme poverty, a predominance of other religions, and persecution – issues much different to those the Church in the west faces.
The ZBS MTh is ground-breaking for the Pakistani Church, as it is the first time an MTh is offered within the country – prior to this, those wanting to take deep dives into God’s Word, have gone overseas (and there are only two Christian leaders in Pakistan with a PhD in Theology).
It was the availability of the MTh programme, combined with its determined commitment to tackle contextual issues, and not impose a Western framework, that encouraged Amjad and thirteen other Christian leaders to register. As the inaugural group of students at this level, they are grappling with challenging Pakistani questions, and together look for answers in God’s Word, led by the Holy Spirit.
For Amjad, completing an MTh from an internationally accredited training agency is more about being a Leader-builder than a CV-builder.
For Amjad, completing an MTh from an internationally accredited training agency is more about being a Leader-builder than a CV-builder. Originally a secondary school teacher, he is passionately committed to passing on his learning and experiences as a leader to other leaders-in-training.
He sees himself as "a pastor teacher" rather than "teaching pastor" – he has several lay leaders he is mentoring, and lectures at ZBS in Bible background and understanding the Holy Spirit, demons and angels (particularly important in the Pakistan church). He is also a registered Open Theological Seminary TEE Tutor. (Studying God’s Word by correspondence – literally posted materials – is huge in Pakistan).
In the ministry for many years, Amjad planted his current church in 2016 with 15 people, and in two years it has grown to nearly 100 participants – an idea of how desperate Pakistanis are for love, life, truth and grace. Amjad is thrilled at being able to apply his MTh studies to help equip his local church: “This theological study will help me to learn the word of God in more depth, and thus will enable me to teach true biblical teaching in church, bible classes and particularly in Bible seminary.”
ZBS in Rawalpindi is one of LeaDev-Langham’s twenty Partner Schools across Asia-Pacific. Like the others, ZBS offers high quality (international standard) leadership training programmes, and stands as a site to strengthen the Christian faith in a context where there are very few contextually relevant learning opportunities for Christian leaders – whether they lead in the Church or in society.
LeaDev-Langham works with ZBS, to support the faculty as they develop and roll-out the MTh and other programmes. This Organisational Development work is done by Allan Harkness, International Programmes & Partnerships Manager, who is Advisory Administrator to the ZBS MTh programme.
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Indonesia – Preaching training that starts with the person
09-Feb-2018
In 2012 a young lecturer from the Bandung Theological Seminary – Dwi Maria Handayani – sat in her local church with a growing dissatisfaction with the preaching she was hearing, finding it – in her words – “haphazard, and sometimes not even Biblical.”
She was also a lay-preacher in her church and wanted to be the change. She found within h.. Read more
In 2012 a young lecturer from the Bandung Theological Seminary – Dwi Maria Handayani – sat in her local church with a growing dissatisfaction with the preaching she was hearing, finding it – in her words – “haphazard, and sometimes not even Biblical.”
She was also a lay-preacher in her church and wanted to be the change. She found within herself a hunger for something more; a growing sense that preaching the Word of God had to be better and more powerful than both what she herself was doing, and what she was hearing from others.
She enrolled with Langham’s Level 1 Preaching Training. The main thing that drew her to it, was the fact that the training is not aligned to any one denomination. She says it was, at that time, also the only preaching training she knew of.
The first seminar was transformational for Dwi: it opened biblical passages for her and freed those to provide the shape and purpose of the sermons she prepared.
“It gave me confidence to be clear, relevant and faithful to preaching what is written in the Bible,” she shares. “But it gave me so much more, because through the training, I realised God was calling to me to be a preacher, not just a lecturer.”
That was the beginning of a leadership growth journey for Dwi, one which is still in progress. As it happens, that Level 1 Preaching Training she attended was the foundational core group when Langham Preaching started in Indonesia – Dwi was there from the start, right at the heart of both the organisation of the work and the delivery of the training, and she went on to do further preaching training with Langham.
Dwi then spent a few years studying a PhD in the Old Testament, as a Langham Scholar. Now whilst maintaining her lectureship, she is also the National Training Co-ordinator for Langham Preaching and part of the National Team for Indonesia.
In a new phase of the adventure, from July 2018, Dwi will move away from direct involvement in the Indonesian work to become Langham Preaching's Associate Director for Asia - a big step, one where she will be working alongside Paul Windsor, well known Kiwi and International Director for Langham’s Preaching Programme.
Dwi’s passion for the growth in the Asian Church is very evident as she shares her future dreams.
“My vision is to see this kind of training happen in as many other countries across Asia as is possible, because it is so good. So many leaders in the Church do not preach well, and yet if we want to rebuild society, I believe we need to start in the pulpit.”
“In Asia we have so many broken countries, we don’t have money or power, but we do have the pulpit and the Word of God, so I believe that’s where it starts; with Biblical preaching that transforms people’s lives.”
Now that Dwi is so familiar with homiletics, she is very aware of other preaching training approaches/courses available both in Indonesia and across Asia. But she is clear that Langham’s training has some significant differences, that make all the difference.
Langham as an organisation, as well as the training, is not denominationally aligned. According to Dwi in the Indonesian context, this means leaders from all sorts of denominations with different foci can get training without being competitive, and that in fact the training helps to build localised unity and collaboration between different churches.
Another distinctive of the training is that it is transferable and simple, as opposed to complicated. As a trainer Dwi is conscious of how often leaders attending the seminars assume that learning must be difficult to be authentic. They are surprised at the profound simplicity of the content, and that it’s not complicated to immediately implement. She says that other homiletic skills training is often complicated and very difficult for learners.
Langham’s training further focuses on preachers themselves, before their preaching skills. This person-focus is taken a step further by nurturing a grassroots movement of preachers committed to biblical preaching: seminar participants are invited to join Preachers’ Clubs in between the seminars. Here they get ongoing support from local co-ordinators who help them to put into practice what they have learnt, both for themselves and when they step behind the pulpit.
Dwi gets obviously excited about this. It was her experience in 2012, and one which she now facilitates by extension as National Training Co-ordinator for thousands of grassroots leaders in the Church across Indonesia – and soon to be Asia.
“The thing about Langham’s Preaching Training, is it not only develops your skills to preach, it also develops you as a person. It’s first about who you are and then about what you do.”
And the results are telling, because people – especially leaders in the Church – are being transformed.
“Last week we had a meeting of the National Team [for Indonesia] to talk about our vision and mission, about how we can bring growth and change to the Church and therefore to Indonesian society, and I was astounded and very encouraged by the stories I heard from other trainers.
“One trainer shared how a participant said to him ‘I am a pastor for many years, but I actually came to know God for the first time through Langham Preaching’, and another shared a story where one leader said, ‘Prior to doing Langham Preaching Training, I didn’t believe in the Bible as the Word of God, although I was a pastor’. These kinds of comments show me that leaders in the Church in Indonesia are coming to know Christ, and learning how to preach his Word powerfully. This is real growth for the Church in Indonesia, and this good for Indonesian society.”
As Dwi moves into an apostolic role facilitating God’s work across Asia, she is very conscious that she does not work alone. She sees the global partnership in the Church very clearly and believes that the Church in other countries has a significant contribution to make to what is happening in Indonesia and beyond.
“I think that what makes the west great – including New Zealand – is that your ancestors built your countries on the Word of God. This did not happen for countries across Asia; we were built on other values. So, in a way, we [the Church in Asia] look up to you to give us something of what you have, because we did not get that. We now have the Word of God, and we have sermons which we can use to influence our societies, but we learn from you. “
Indonesia is a largely Muslim country. According to Dwi, with a population of about 250 million people, there are less than 70 people with PhDs in Biblical related topics from reputable Bible colleges or theological seminaries. There is a real need for sound, contextual, leadership training for Christians and the Church.
“I encourage you to hold onto the Bible as the Word of God – don’t lose this! And stay focused on Christ. You have the opportunity to spill over into Asia, so do it! And I’m not just talking about money, but about Biblical thinking which affects how you live.”
So gone are the days of “haphazard, not even Biblical” preaching in Dwi’s life – and in the lives of thousands of other Christian leaders across Indonesia. Encouragingly, there is a viral move of God amongst His people, as thousands come to know and follow Christ. From New Zealand, we are both humbled and excited to be part of this as we strengthen, encourage and train grassroots preachers.
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South Asia - Scattering seeds to the grassroots
23-Jan-2018
Johnson Raih, PhD student in Homiletics and a right hand man to Paul Windsor at SAIACS (South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies) in Bangalore shares a few snippets in his own words about his involvement in Langham Preaching.
How did Jesus find you?
Jesus found me on my sick bed. I was 16 and living far from home at a boarding school. After a week of sick.. Read more
Johnson Raih, PhD student in Homiletics and a right hand man to Paul Windsor at SAIACS (South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies) in Bangalore shares a few snippets in his own words about his involvement in Langham Preaching.
How did Jesus find you?
Jesus found me on my sick bed. I was 16 and living far from home at a boarding school. After a week of sickness with no loved ones around and no telephone facility, my only hope was to turn to Jesus. During this time of anxiety and fear for my life, the Holy Spirit helped me remember my Sunday school lessons and my parents’ teachings that I must receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour to inherit eternal life. The Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins and I confessed and surrendered my life to him.
What does serving Jesus look like for you this week?
I am pursuing my PhD in Homiletics at SAIACS and so, at the moment, I am spending more time in my research work than in preaching and training preachers. But, I assist Paul Windsor in his teaching of preaching at SAIACS and I am also involved in a local church in Bangalore, volunteering myself as a Sunday school teacher. In the college cell group setting, I try to meet and encourage fellow students.
What do you enjoy about working with Langham Preaching?
I like feasts, especially ‘Word feasts’. Langham Preaching is like this, prioritising the authority of God’s Word ahead of techniques, no matter how vital they are for good preaching. Working with people who revere God’s Word brings deep satisfaction and tranquillity. On a practical front, the simple, yet systematic, materials for personal development and training make the learning process memorable.
Langham Preaching is like this, prioritising the authority of God’s Word ahead of techniques, no matter how vital they are for good preaching.
Share a resource that has helped you in your preaching.
For me, with the Holy Spirit’s leading, it was John Stott’s book, I Believe in Preaching that influenced my call into the preaching ministry. It has become one of the pillars that anchored my heart in the necessity, power and confidence of preaching. Darrell Johnson’s The Glory of Preaching and Timothy Keller’s Preaching have also had a tremendous impact on my understanding and passion as a preacher.
Whilst pursuing his own doctoral studies in preaching, Johnson is also Paul Windsor's (International Director for Langham Preaching and lecturer in Homiletics at SAIACs) Teaching Assistant in the MA and MTh modules. Johnson has been very involved in grassroots training in NE India with Langham Preaching, and will continue with this in the future.
Emerging Leaders like Johnson are equipped to step into the call of God
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Bangladesh - Life-long learning and miracles for a Leader
16-Nov-2017
Ask Champa Barmon, librarian at College of Christian Theology Bangladesh (CCTB), for one word to sum up her life journey, and she responds with “miracles”. At different points from her birth through to her present leadership role, she has sensed God has been at work in very special ways for her.
Champa’s birth was difficult – and she arrived safely only after family me.. Read more
Ask Champa Barmon, librarian at College of Christian Theology Bangladesh (CCTB), for one word to sum up her life journey, and she responds with “miracles”. At different points from her birth through to her present leadership role, she has sensed God has been at work in very special ways for her.
Champa’s birth was difficult – and she arrived safely only after family members prayed during her delivery. Champa’s father, a plumber by trade, was Hindu, and when he became a Christian before Champa was born, he was the only Christian in his village and among his relatives. Ill-treatment and ostracism by others marked those early years. Later, Champa’s father became a Lutheran pastor, but was often not paid, and so the family income was always very low and they grew up with poverty ever present.
However, God provided in special ways for the finance for Champa’s schooling and job training, and after graduating she was able to get a secretarial job, leading to a role in the HR department of a Christian hospital. While working she was also studying in CCTB TEE courses (Theological Education by Extension), and these helped her develop her confidence in God as the One who could provide for all her needs.
Grateful to God, Champa began to ask him what his will might be for her life.
Her job paid relatively well, and she could have moved into a number of positions, but instead she resigned, partly to help take care of her sick father, but also to allow the space for God to point her to wherever he wanted her to serve.
‘Wherever’ turned out to be as a librarian assistant at CCTB. Later Champa become the librarian, the role she continues to hold, one which is varied. Of course, there is the constant, routine activity common to any library, but built into her role is time to translate TEE courses from English into Bangla and to help expatriate faculty members cope with the challenges of teaching cross-culturally. It’s a lot more than about cataloguing and shelving books!
Being surrounded by library resources also has helped Champa to grow in her faith: “I need to know what’s in the books in the library,” she comments, “so that I can adequately advise students. And it is really encouraging to see excitement in the students and changes in their lives as they draw on the wisdom and knowledge of the library resources.”
Champa is readily able to empathise with the students: While serving in the library she has earned her BTh and MA degrees, to complement a Masters in Social Science. She is presently studying for an MDiv., grateful that CCTB allows time for study in her work schedule.
Champa is keenly aware that there are very few women in Christian leadership in Bangladesh. She muses, “We face many challenges and limited opportunities.” In response, she has reached out to the wives of male students providing them with a study group to challenge, support and equip them for their roles in ministry and leadership. Champa herself is a young mum: Married in 2013 to Sanjeev (who works as a translator for an NGO), she has a young daughter – “a gift from God” – and is expecting another child in early 2018.
Champa summarises her work in a way that shows the impact of it:
“Through the library and the study materials I’m translating into Bangla, thousands of Bangladeshi Christians are helped to grow to be leaders in the Church. Because we lack resources like this in our country, I want to keep working hard to ensure these are available for the Church.”
We celebrate Champa’s “God of miracles”; that he will continue to enable her – and others like her at Partner Schools across Asia-Pacific – to lead in the crucial role of providing learning resources for the fast-growing Church.
This video was created in 2013, where Champa and others talk about how at CCTB leaders are training others - it's a network of leadership training.
Leaders are trained and developed because essential contextual
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Myanmar - Bridging the language resource gap
07-Aug-2017
“Even though we’re teaching English, we are training people for mission.”
In May LeaDev-Langham’s ESOL volunteers returned to New Zealand from their 13th Summer English School (SES) in Yangon, Myanmar.
Working within MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), the ESOL team is headed up by co-ordinator Bronwyn Schick. Her passion fo.. Read more
“Even though we’re teaching English, we are training people for mission.”
In May LeaDev-Langham’s ESOL volunteers returned to New Zealand from their 13th Summer English School (SES) in Yangon, Myanmar.
Working within MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), the ESOL team is headed up by co-ordinator Bronwyn Schick. Her passion for mission casts a vision for the project far beyond simply teaching Burmese speakers correct use of English grammar.
“Even though we’re teaching English, we’re training people for mission,” shares Bronwyn.
This is one way the ministries of LeaDev-Langham bridge the resource gap for young emerging leaders in the Church in Myanmar. When young leaders can speak, read and write English, this opens up the way for them to learn so much more about what it means to lead others in the fast-growing church. Simply put, many more resources become available to them.
Bronwyn frames the contribution of the project this way:
“I can’t go into the jungles of the Shan State to reach an unreached people group and to start translating the Bible into its own language. But a young man called Stephen can go and he has – Summer English School played a big part in that and I was one of his teachers.
“I can’t go and live in a very poor animist/Buddhist part of Yangon and spend my days talking to people about the Lord, to people who struggle with living, who live in the most appalling conditions. But a young man called Tana can and I taught him at SES.
“I can’t establish a music school in Myitkyina where young people come to learn to play a variety of instruments, learn to be worship leaders, and learn to teach music. These young people come from Nagaland, from the Shan State as well as in the Kachin State. I can’t do any of that. But a young man called Phong Shane is doing that … someone I taught many years ago.”
This is leveraged mission at its best: equipping the leaders to share the Gospel with others in their own culture and context, and then to lead those who come to faith in Christ.
According to Bronwyn, even though young people are coming to MEGST to study and learn English, the school embeds an ethic of practical mission into the courses and culture of the organisation right from the start. Students are expected to be involved in mission immediately, not just when their studies are complete.
“These young people are so passionate about making a difference in the world; they don’t isolate themselves from it while they are studying.”
The mission statement of MEGST is displayed in the chapel: “MEGST trains and equips Christians to be Christ-like leaders who build up the church and the nation of Myanmar and beyond.”
As the Kiwi Church, we often see ourselves as the missionary ‘senders’. But our brothers and sisters in Myanmar have the same vision – to see the Gospel of Jesus go out to all people. So we stand together and encourage each other in the work we do for Him, each playing our part.
This year’s ESOL team sent 9 volunteer trainers in tag teams from February through to May, and will continue to work with MEGST into the future.
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Leaders are trained and developed because essential contextual
learning resources are provided by generous supporters & Kiwi volunteers
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Papua New Guinea - Bringing contextually relevant and Biblically accurate truth
01-Jun-2017
“Instead of allowing our beliefs to influence scripture, we need to allow scripture to influence our beliefs,” emphasises George Mombi, from Christian Leaders’ Training College, PNG, currently working on his Ph.D at Otago University, Dunedin.
Prior to studying George had an apostolic role with Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) in PNG. He spent some.. Read more
“Instead of allowing our beliefs to influence scripture, we need to allow scripture to influence our beliefs,” emphasises George Mombi, from Christian Leaders’ Training College, PNG, currently working on his Ph.D at Otago University, Dunedin.
Prior to studying George had an apostolic role with Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) in PNG. He spent some of his time travelling in PNG, visiting Bible schools and colleges, helping them make progress and develop better curriculum. He also organised training workshops for Bible Schools Principals and Deans at CLTC.
What concerns him deeply in what he saw was how readily and easily Christians and the church within his home region are influenced by sectarianism, a prosperity-based gospel, and a dualistic devotion to sorcery, magic and spirit powers.
“When it comes to the idea of having a ‘good life’ – or gutpela sindaun – as we call it, the Melanesian people have allowed a Melanesian view to influence their Christian beliefs,” says Mombi. “The letter to the Colossians addresses this and explains what ‘fullness’ in life is actually about. It’s not only about material prosperity, but about relationship with God. My research looks at this section of Colossians, and contextualises it into the challenges the Melanesian church faces.”
Multiple deceptive influences in the region’s church mean there is a lot of division in the church, also of great concern to George. He is encouraged by the potential for the reconciliative role that CLTC and his future ministry will have:
"In the Melanesian region, CLTC is strategically placed because it is interdenominational, and my PhD is also strategic: Through CLTC I am passing on the knowledge I have gained to men and women who will go back to their churches equipped with contextually relevant yet accurate biblical insights and skills, to teach and disciple followers of Christ."
He hopes that in elevating the influence of accurate interpretation of scripture to many different, smaller Bible schools – which feed student leaders to study at CLTC – this will significantly strengthen the church and reduce the amount of sectarianism and invidious beliefs amongst the region’s Christians.
“We’re moving away from a mind-set that is strongly denominationalised, to one that is rooted in scripture.”
Once his Ph.D is complete, George will return to PNG and CLTC, to continue teaching there, and also continue working with the region’s smaller bible colleges. Formal relationships are already secured with colleges in the Solomon Islands. His study is currently supported through Leadership Development's Faculty Training and he is also a Langham Scholar.
George is looking for partnership with New Zealand Christians, one that will help strengthen the church and spread the Gospel in PNG.
“Kiwi Christians started funding CLTC in 1964. Your support and involvement helped to get it where it is now, and CLTC has trained more than 2000 leaders from the region. Please continue with this good work; helping the spread of the Gospel across the Pacific, and changing lives of people under spirit powers, sorcery, and magic, and helping people change and live a truly better life by trusting God and having a relationship with him.
"I am excited about what God is doing and going to do in the region: investing in my training is strategic and important for helping to change beliefs across the region, and see many more come to know the true God.”
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Senior Leaders like George have region-wide influence through their ministries
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Myanmar - PhD research restores God’s place for Christian women
08-May-2017
We all dream about being part of something beyond ourselves. One of the joys of serving God in His Kingdom, is knowing that as we do play our part – however seemingly small – He is able to take that and multiply it far beyond what we could ever do on our own. We are very excited to share in this story how God lines up the right person, in the right place, at the right time. On .. Read more
We all dream about being part of something beyond ourselves. One of the joys of serving God in His Kingdom, is knowing that as we do play our part – however seemingly small – He is able to take that and multiply it far beyond what we could ever do on our own. We are very excited to share in this story how God lines up the right person, in the right place, at the right time. On this occasion, for a turn-key change in the church Myanmar.
You may know of Anna Sui Hluan, from Yangon, Myanmar. She was a doctoral student at Otago University in Dunedin until 2016, and is now a senior faculty member at MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology).
Growing up in a Christian home, as a child Anna came to know Jesus as her Saviour. Her parents were in ministry, and after completing high school, Anna went to the USA to study biblical languages, where she came into a much stronger experience of her faith. Returning to Myanmar, she became a part-time teacher at MEGST, and discovered a growing passion for her country and seeing its people come to follow Jesus.
“I have never felt tempted to remain in the USA or New Zealand. God has put a call in my heart for my people – so much so that when I was overseas, and heard a story from Myanmar, tears would pour down my face. I had a very, very strong urge to come back,” says Anna.
Anna worked on her doctorate from 2011 to 2016, and is now a lecturer. As an outstanding translator and linguist, she looked at how the biblical translation done in 1823 into Burmese, has quite naturally helped to form the theological understanding of the nation’s Christians. Her research discovered some flaws which have had a negative impact on how women see themselves and their service before God. There are further prevailing influences: Myanmar is a nation with a long and violent history of domination. It is also a nation where Buddhism is the dominant religion, thereby creating a norm which strongly opposes women saying or doing very much within a faith context.
“I want to show women that the Bible is not restrictive, that God is not restrictive. That he loves women and has a place for their ministry in his church.”
At MEGST, about half of all students are women, so Anna is an important role model and mentor. Through her work every few years, she is raising up other leaders; 'multiplying radical disciples' in the church in Myanmar, where it is now no longer illegal to be a follower of Jesus.
“I have a privileged and unique position because of my theological training. But I don’t think that opportunity to minister should only be for the privileged. I want to see more women involved in the church.”
Aung Mang, Chair of MEGST recommends Anna highly:
“We are so glad Anna is back here at MEGST. Anna is a much needed influence on other Christian women, and an outstanding Bible teacher. Her research is helping us to develop a body of knowledge, pertinent to our people, history, language, and culture, and the equipping of servant leaders in the church here.”
Many generous Kiwis contributed to Anna's study scholarship.
“I am really glad to have now completed my PhD and be back in ministry at MEGST. My heart is in ministry – it is my desire and heartbeat.”
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Senior Leaders like Anna have region-wide influence through their ministries
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Myanmar - Bridging the gap between calling and confidence
14-Mar-2017
“I currently run three ministries and feel that God is speaking to me to start a fourth business-ministry on a national level this year,” says Dwe Nan of Yangon, emerging Christian leader, and mum to 35 children (two by birth, the rest adopted).
At 36 years, Dwe Nan is a grass-roots leader who keeps looking for ways to be the difference in her community and netw.. Read more
“I currently run three ministries and feel that God is speaking to me to start a fourth business-ministry on a national level this year,” says Dwe Nan of Yangon, emerging Christian leader, and mum to 35 children (two by birth, the rest adopted).
At 36 years, Dwe Nan is a grass-roots leader who keeps looking for ways to be the difference in her community and networks. As she puts it: “to share Christ with Buddhists or whoever else does not know Christ, and if necessary use words.” And this courageous and determined MEGST* MDiv and biblical studies graduate (2012), is certainly living out the Gospel, rather than just talking about it.
She actively leads, with her husband, a church plant focused on Buddhist converts. Currently meeting in a rental house, they are shortly to start building a facility. They have in the past financially supported these new converts, especially with education for their children. In the same rental house, Dwe Nan looks after 33 children, mostly orphans, but a few have solo parents. Grace Haven Children Home cares for children from 3 to 18 years, with the children themselves pitching in with cooking and chores.
Then for the last three years Dwe Nan has run a ministry to uni students at Government Technology Institute in Thanlyin, an hour’s drive from downtown Yangon. This is set up as a boarding shelter for twenty students and she’s pulled in two other MEGST graduates to assist.
“Studying at MEGST helped me believe in my leadership gift, get important skills and confidence,
and respond to God’s call to reach out and lead those around me.”
“The vision of this ministry is to impart the knowledge of Christ and biblical principles into the lives of these future leaders of the country in one way or another. I want to see highly educated country leaders who know Christ, so they would be blessings to Myanmar and beyond. However, the students are not open enough that Christ be preached to them directly. So we use indirect ways and activities to share the gospel with them, such as playing social games, football competitions, teaching gospel songs and any activities purposefully created for a day or two.”
Last year Dwe Nan felt like God started speaking to her about establishing a food business on a national level, giving her some of the details of how to go about it, with an aim of sharing Christ with her employees. Together with her husband, she is at the time of writing this article, praying about next steps.
Dwe Nan believes what made the biggest difference for her were the several years she spent as a student at MEGST. Getting the opportunity to study bridged the gap between a nascent call from God, and the biblical knowledge and ministry confidence to actually respond and get active in her community – in a country now newly open to the Gospel.
“Studying at MEGST helped me believe in my leadership gift, get important skills and confidence, and respond to God’s call to reach out and lead those around me.”
“Your investment in students like me is part of your mission in Asia…
when you and I work together in this way, we are co-workers in the Kingdom,
and God is one who makes it all happen and grows all of us, wherever we live in the world.”
Dwe Nan also knows that what made these student years possible was the regular financial support allocated to her fees that MEGST received from LeaDev-Langham:
“Without sponsorship from overseas..., I could not have successfully completed my study at MEGST; it made a huge difference to me and my family. Christian workers in Myanmar lack finances for education, as our income is used just on surviving.”
“When you give your support to schools like MEGST, Myanmar’s future receives more educated Christian ministers; leaders who are taught biblically, and who actually live out this teaching in the communities they serve – it is the best witness!”
With the same clarity of her next action in God’s Kingdom, Dwe Nan sees the international partnership for the Gospel that the New Zealand contribution brings:
“Your investment in students like me is part of your mission in Asia… when you and I work together in this way, we are co-workers in the Kingdom, and God is one who makes it all happen and grows all of us, wherever we live in the world.”
Simply put, the one sponsorship of this young, emerging leader made a huge difference; it bridged the gap between poverty and provision, calling and confidence, not only for her but those around her: children, orphans, struggling solo parents, students, Buddhist converts and (shortly) food workers in Yangon and surrounds.
Now that’s multiplied impact for God’s Kingdom we can rejoice in!
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Emerging Leaders like Dwe Nan are equipped to step into the call of God
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
Find out how to get involved
* Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology
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Indonesia - “Our little congregation was a light in a very dark region.”
31-Jan-2017
The words of Rev Lamri, who graduated from Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS) in 2004. He’s what we call a ‘Radical Disciple’; the kind of leaders the church in Asia Pacific needs as it grows rapidly in spite of extreme poverty and pressure. Rev Lamri tells his own story:
“God granted me the privilege of studying theology at the Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS). .. Read more
The words of Rev Lamri, who graduated from Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS) in 2004. He’s what we call a ‘Radical Disciple’; the kind of leaders the church in Asia Pacific needs as it grows rapidly in spite of extreme poverty and pressure. Rev Lamri tells his own story:
“God granted me the privilege of studying theology at the Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS). I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in 2004, and since then, I have been abundantly blessed in my work for Him.
I have served as a seminary teacher, state civil employee, an ordained pastor and an evangelist. I will never forget the first church I pastored. It was located in a very bad town. The environment was oppressive and evil. Our little congregation was literally a light in that very dark region where paganism, prostitution and gambling were prevalent. It was hard to evangelize there.
Looking back, those were very difficult years, but God taught me important lessons I needed to learn. He challenged me to walk by faith and not by sight.
Today I am a pastor of a small local church. The culmination of the past years of my experiences in ministry has proven to make me an even more effective leader and worker for Jesus. I am grateful for all I have learned in the classroom at TBS and outside of the classroom serving as Jesus’ hands and feet.
Thank you for taking part in the special work here in Asia!”
"The culmination of the past years of my experiences in ministry has proven
to make me an even more effective leader and worker for Jesus.
I am grateful for all I have learned in the classroom at TBS
and outside of the classroom serving as Jesus’ hands and feet."
In today’s world of religious, social and political extremes—the term “radical” very likely conjures up more negative connotations than positive ones. Yet, it’s a word that comes from the Latin root radix meaning “a root.” In this context, the picture of a radical disciple is not one of blind, fervent obedience, but instead, a follower of Jesus who is rooted in and responding to the truth of God’s Word.
When confronted with the reality of social inequalities in Asia-Pacific, it is clear that more radical disciples are needed. This is why we support the development of Christian leaders as they become "rooted and grounded" in God's Word, and then go on to make a multiplier difference in their communities, churches and nations - courageous men and women of God.
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Emerging Leaders like Rev Lamri are equipped to step into the call of God
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Syria - Schools of harmony and safety for young women
02-Dec-2016
Sylvia*, Martine* and Diane* are three young women who have gone from living comfortably in homes in their own country, to living in tents in a foreign country. They have lost everything familiar to them; life has been completely recalibrated. For all three future hope is "pinned" on a sewing school which started in September in the Bekaa Valley.
Harmony is the name of the second school .. Read more
Sylvia*, Martine* and Diane* are three young women who have gone from living comfortably in homes in their own country, to living in tents in a foreign country. They have lost everything familiar to them; life has been completely recalibrated. For all three future hope is "pinned" on a sewing school which started in September in the Bekaa Valley.
Harmony is the name of the second school started by Esther* and her team who work with Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. With the success of She is Safe (originally called Hook & Thread) in the first half of the year, the team received enough financial support from supporters in other countries to replicate what worked well by starting a second school.
In an exciting turn of events a Christian man from Syria, also displaced, and a well-known designer and sewing teacher has now joined the project to lead this sewing school. He brings remarkable talent, experience and expertise to the project, and lives locally with his wife and children.
"The girls are excited to be taught by such a knowledgeable and talented designer"
“Initially I thought a male teacher would be a problem,” shares Esther. “But in fact the girls are really excited to be taught by such a knowledgeable and talented designer.” There are 35 young women in the school, each with stories similar to Sylvia, Martine and Diane:
Sylvia (21) escaped to Lebanon with her fiancé after they lost everything in Syria. Her fiancé suddenly disappeared and she is alone with no parents or friends. She lives in a tent with some extended family members.
Martine’s (24) husband went missing three years ago, and she has not heard from or about him since then. Her dream is to secure a future for her 4 year old daughter, free of all the problems she currently faces.
Diane (19) is the oldest of 7 siblings. Despite have a physical disability she works with her father to support their family, paying for the schooling of her brothers and sisters.
Their homes have been destroyed, possessions stolen, and they all have a dream of pulling themselves and their families out of the current dire situation. Harmony not only gives them training and support, but a focus for their talents and a community to belong to.
She is Safe school also has 35 students; 19 graduated in November, some of whom work for Esther’s ministry sewing clothes for children in the camp. The others have managed to find employment now that they have skills. Over the last few months She is Safe took the training one step further, educating on small business development and how to work independently. Graduates were also given sewing machines. One graduate has started her own tent business with great success.
Over the last few months She is Safe took the training one step further, educating on small business development and how to work independently.
“All these young women dream of returning to their homes in Syria, once the war is over. And they hope to work. God willing, they will return with a sewing machine in one hand, and a new, renewed faith in God in the other,” shares Esther.
*Names changed
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
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Asia-Pacific - Books that do not collect dust
01-Nov-2016
“If you have a book in our language (context), you have Christ in our culture.” So says Rahul, who works to equip the church throughout northern India, as part of a team led by Finny Philip, one of the contributors to the South Asia Bible Commentary (SABC).
Finny heads up a training institution in Udaipur which sends students to plant churches and help equip rural leader.. Read more
“If you have a book in our language (context), you have Christ in our culture.” So says Rahul, who works to equip the church throughout northern India, as part of a team led by Finny Philip, one of the contributors to the South Asia Bible Commentary (SABC).
Finny heads up a training institution in Udaipur which sends students to plant churches and help equip rural leaders in the region, and he also operates a publishing house for Christian books, including the SABC.
In Asia-Pacific, most leaders have little or no theological training and few if any Bible study books, but they do have a Bible. A commentary gives them a tool for understanding and preaching the Bible. Commentaries do not collect dust on the shelf, but equip leaders on the frontlines to teach the Bible carefully and contextually to believers, both new and mature.
The SABC is a creative one-volume whole-Bible commentary released in October 2015. It contains the collective insight of over 90 contributors (45 different authors providing commentary, and others offering pertinent, applicational articles in the context of the commentary) who either originate from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, or reside and minister in the region. Contributors are drawn from a wide range of denominational backgrounds, ensuring the book’s appeal to a broad South Asian audience – and globally. Issues examined through the lens of the Bible and South Asian culture include the caste system; violence against women; God among other gods; gurus and godmen; indigenous music; and worship, rituals and festivals.
For this pastor and his wife in the Rajasthan province of India – and for many leaders like them across Asia-Pacific – the SABC is an invaluable resource as they shepherd new believers with God’s Word. Pictured below is their congregation, many of whom walk miles to reach this humble building on a hill. Not pictured are the people gathered outside, listening to the message through a loud speaker.
Leaders in Pasifika find The African Bible Commentary (ABC) to be a very valuable resource. This is a one-volume commentary providing a contextual and readable guide to the entire Bible. It is written by 70 African scholars from both English and French-speaking countries. It is available in five languages, with two other translations close to completion. The peoples across Pasifika resonate with many of the cultural beliefs and practices of Africans. So church leaders in Pasifika have responded enthusiastically to the ABC, finding it useful as they seek to interpret and teach the Bible accurately and well. Included in the volume are articles on contextually important subjects such as angels, demons and powers; family and community; female genital mutilation; AIDS; ancestor worship; syncretism; street children; the role of women in the church; witchcraft; and more.
Research (from Africa) shows for every commentary sent to a leader, a minimum of 10 – 12 other leaders use it, and 50 – 100 new believers benefit from the preaching of each of those leaders. Multiply this by more than 100,000 volumes already distributed and millions of lives are impacted!
Via the Christmas Commentary Challenge 2016
Kiwi Christians brought freedom and hope to at least 165 000 Christians and new believers across Asia-Pacific.
This partnership saw over 300 contextual commentaries gifted to pastors and leaders equipping them to lead others to know Christ more deeply and grow in God’s Word.
Thank you generous New Zealand!
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Leaders are trained and developed because essential contextual
learning resources are provided by generous supporters
Find out how to get involved
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North West Myanmar - More library, more learning & more leaders
20-Oct-2016
Eight years ago independent and uncooperative Bible schools in Kalaymyo, next to Chin State, set aside their tribal and denominational differences to collaborate in their leadership training ventures. They established the Kalaymyo Consortium of Bible Colleges (KCBC) and out of that has developed the Kalaymyo Christian Resource Centre (KCRC).
Today the KCRC is the regional go-to venue.. Read more
Eight years ago independent and uncooperative Bible schools in Kalaymyo, next to Chin State, set aside their tribal and denominational differences to collaborate in their leadership training ventures. They established the Kalaymyo Consortium of Bible Colleges (KCBC) and out of that has developed the Kalaymyo Christian Resource Centre (KCRC).
Today the KCRC is the regional go-to venue for Christian leaders – in ministry or in training – to study the Bible, deepen their faith, be equipped to share the Good news of God’s Kingdom, and learn English. Hungry to grow, they have access to reference books, computers, the internet, printers, and lectures.
Today the KCRC is the regional go-to venue for Christian leaders – in ministry or in training – to study the Bible, deepen their faith,
be equipped to share the Good news of God’s Kingdom, and learn English.
Since the Centre was fitted out in 2013:
- Over 4 500 reference books have been collected and catalogued.
- 200 people access the KCRC weekly.
- There is a growing spirit of fellowship and collaboration between the Bible schools in KCBC, and this is particularly strong between the six 'full members'.
- Together they offer a 20 week combined full time intensive English course to all incoming students, taught by local ESOL teachers trained by Kiwi ESOL teacher trainer professionals.
- 18 other colleges have strong links. Faculty members from all the schools use the library, as do church leaders and individual Christians from across the denominations.
- The standard of teaching across the full KCBC member schools has improved, as faculty are equipped with teaching and learning skills.
Dr Aung Mang, Chair of MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) in Yangon, was there at the start to help facilitate co-operation between the Bible schools. A respected Christian leader throughout Myanmar, he was born and raised in the Chin State. Knowing the social and religious terrain inside out, he’s deeply encouraged by the progress of the last seven years.
"The KCBC and the joint Library and Resource Centre have helped to bring unity to many local Bible schools, to many of the churches, and has greatly improved the quality of education for young people. It is a very big step forward for the Christian faith in the region."
Now here’s the very encouraging link for us in New Zealand: The success of the KCBC can be directly attributed to LeaDev-Langham’s Kiwi network of support for Asian Christian leaders.
Since KCBC was founded, Kiwis have generously given money, skills and/or voluntary time to stand alongside the KCBC leaders. Relationships have been developed. And through this partnership a remarkable vision for the church’s growth and development in the NW Myanmar region through united quality Christian education, has now become a reality. It’s a tangible “fellowship in the Gospel of Christ”! (Phil 1:5)
Read a blog on the history of the KCBC Library and Resource Centre by Dr Rod Edwards, a Kiwi educator who is a volunteer LeaDev-Langham consultant and trainer for KCBC.
From strength to strength
The scope and scale of the Resource Centre is set to expand.
As the KCBC full member schools continue to work closely together, they have developed a long-term plan to enhance the quality of their leadership training initiative. Their plan is by 2020 - 2022 to have:
- A fully combined 3rd and 4thyear Bachelor of Theology degree in English, and have all lectures held at the Resource Centre.
- A unified BTh curriculum for all schools, for all four years.
- All the 3rd and 4th year classes of all the KCBC member Bible schools held at the Resource Centre.
- Achieved Asia Theological Association accreditation for the KCBC BTh programme, ensuring a quality, internationally recognised tertiary qualification for students.
Bricks and Mortar
To achieve this 2022 vision more physical space is needed – it's a matter of ‘bricks and mortar’ to expand the current facilities. More the half of the total expansion costs have already been gifted by one donor. We’re now looking for matching finance. Jim Russell, A Kiwi volunteer who has been working at KCBC intermittently since 2013 makes the following comment:
"It has been a privilege to serve the Lord through being involved in the KCBC library/ classroom development project since 2013. The library has been operating since 2013 and has proved to be an amazing resource.
The next phase of the project is to utilize the other half of the building to increase the size of the library and add more classrooms.
In giving to the next phase of its development Kiwis can be confident that they are truly investing in the growth of God's Kingdom in the region."
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Leaders are trained and developed because essential contextual
learning resources are provided by generous supporters
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India, PNG and Myanmar - A mission for retirement: supporting leadership development.
26-Sep-2016
For most Kiwis, retirement is about retreating to the bach to grow tomatoes, watching the sun set over a good pinot, and taking sojourns to Auckland to spend time with the grandkids. Not so Rod and Denise* Edwards. “Opportunity to live in Asia challenged us. Two years in an ordinary Filipino neighbourhood exposed us to Asian perspectives; it was to shape our retirement,” they s.. Read more
For most Kiwis, retirement is about retreating to the bach to grow tomatoes, watching the sun set over a good pinot, and taking sojourns to Auckland to spend time with the grandkids. Not so Rod and Denise* Edwards. “Opportunity to live in Asia challenged us. Two years in an ordinary Filipino neighbourhood exposed us to Asian perspectives; it was to shape our retirement,” they share.
With that immersion in Asian culture came another shock: Christian leaders leaving for post-graduate courses stay overseas (95% of them). The concern to address this became the ‘retirement’ mission for this energetic couple. Both highly qualified and experienced specialists in their fields, Rod and Denise now spend the greater part of their time working across four of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools in India, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea. They support Christian leaders in the Partner Schools to have greater impact, by improving in-country theological education and training, assisting Christians with post graduate qualifications, retaining them in their countries and committed to local church discipleship and evangelism.
As a couple, they have a passion for learning. They are all about quality Christian education, which is why volunteering their time and expertise to LeaDev-Langham is such a good fit. “There was a strong sense of the matching of LeaDev-Langham’s needs and focus areas with our competencies, skills, and desire for mission, so it really works.”
A vocational educator, with a doctorate in Education, Rod’s work history includes 33 years with the Bible College of New Zealand (now Laidlaw College) where he was Student Dean and Head of Department, Practical Theology. He has been a Council Member for the Churches' Education Commission (30 years), on the CLTC NZ Advisory Council and the Slavic Gospel Association, as well as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Bethlehem Tertiary Institute in Tauranga.
“I am working to encourage a biblical culture of ongoing learning, where learners understand, internalise, think and act.
This is particularly important for a deepening of faith and discipleship in the church, and to defend it against erroneous teaching and cult-like pressures.”
Dr Rod Edwards
At LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools, Rod mostly supports the faculty to gain depth in an understanding of learning and skills in teaching. In cultures where learning is mostly by rote, critical thought and analysis – even on a tertiary level – are hugely lacking. To improve the quality of courses offered to students, this pedagogical rigour with the lecturers and teachers is very important.
“Many lecturers are teaching from their own study notes, now over a decade old,” shares Rod. “What I am working to encourage with the faculty staff, is a biblical culture of ongoing learning, where learners understand, internalise, think and act. This is particularly important for a deepening of faith and discipleship in the church, and to defend it against erroneous teaching and cult-like pressures.”
Denise trained as a nurse, but after obtaining a MA Social Science specialising in Human Resource Leadership, moved into senior management at Laidlaw College, as Human Resources Manager and later also as Quality Assurance Manager. She then became LeaDev-Langham’s Admin Manager, and was also the Chair of Pioneers for several years. Understandably, her speciality support area with Partner Schools is quality assurance and accreditation – an absolute essential if they are to attract and keep local students, and gain credibility in the global education arena.
“Partner Schools aspire to offer quality, globally aligned theological education that is compliant with accreditation standards. To help achieve this, I work with faculty and admin staff to encourage a culture of continuous improvement, moving from ‘being happy’ to developing the capability of self-appraisal and ongoing growth.” Again a big challenge in an educational setting where questions have historically had only one right answer!
“Partner Schools aspire to offer quality, globally aligned theological education that is compliant with accreditation standards.
To help achieve this, I work with faculty and admin staff to encourage a culture of continuous improvement."
Denise Edwards
For eighteen months, up until June 2016, Denise worked closely with MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) staff on an allied flagship impact assessment process: PEP (Programme Evaluation Project). One hundred and thirty seven alumni who graduated between 1998 and 2015 were surveyed to see what impact their time at MEGST had had on their lives and ministries, with key points for improvement being incorporated back into the MEGST programmes. Read more here.
Rod and Denise’s roles mesh well together, and sometimes so do their flight times! In the past few years, they have both spent almost more time out of New Zealand than at home – what a way to spend a ‘retirement’! Why?
“Well, it’s simply a matter of ‘to whom much has been given, much is required’,” responds Rod. “In the west, we have much more than others; we need to respond accordingly.”
They encourage other skilled Christians to volunteer through LeaDev-Langham: “Go for it! The needs are huge, but the rewards are also huge.”
* In Loving Memory: Denise passed away in October 17 after a battle with cancer.
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Leaders are trained and developed because essential contextual
learning resources are provided by generous supporters & Kiwi volunteers
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Myanmar - Programme Evaluation of MEGST shows that 83% of Alumni are in ministry
01-Aug-2016
During 2016, Phase 1 of the Programme Evaluation Project (PEP) of MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), LeaDev-Langham’s Partner School in Yangon, gathered data and perceptions regarding the effectiveness of their programmes.
Research included identifying and measuring the impact that Alumni, between the years of 1998 and 2015, have had in their churche.. Read more
During 2016, Phase 1 of the Programme Evaluation Project (PEP) of MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), LeaDev-Langham’s Partner School in Yangon, gathered data and perceptions regarding the effectiveness of their programmes.
Research included identifying and measuring the impact that Alumni, between the years of 1998 and 2015, have had in their churches, Christian organisations and within the communities they serve.
LeaDev-Langham’s volunteer worked alongside MEGST staff to achieve Phase 1 research, and the initial findings were shared at the MEGST 20th Anniversary Celebrations held in June 2016. Findings and recommendations were also given to the MEGST Executive Committee for consideration regarding next steps and improvements for MEGST. Read the Summary of PEP's findings and the implications for MEGST:
Summary of PEP of MEGST September 2016 (311 KB)
Results showed that 83% of Alumni are in ministries which emphasize pastoring, Bible colleges, and youth, women and children. Click on this infographic to view some more of the findings.
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Emerging young Leaders at MEGST are equipped to step into the call of God
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Papua New Guinea - Building leadership development capacity
31-Jul-2016
Meet Maxon Mani and George Mombi, two leaders from Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) who are helping to build the church in PNG, Melanesia and Pasifika.
CLTC is giving leaders from across PNG the opportunity to study the Word of God at a Masters level and develop their leadership capacity within their own context.
In 2015 CLTC celebrated 50 years serving as the major English .. Read more
Meet Maxon Mani and George Mombi, two leaders from Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) who are helping to build the church in PNG, Melanesia and Pasifika.
CLTC is giving leaders from across PNG the opportunity to study the Word of God at a Masters level and develop their leadership capacity within their own context.
In 2015 CLTC celebrated 50 years serving as the major English medium Bible and Theological college equipping men and women for leadership across the full spectrum of Evangelical churches and their communities of Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, plus some students from Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa in the wider Pacific region. Commencing with secondary level certificate courses in 1965 and progressing steadily through to tertiary level Diploma (1968) and primary degree programmes (1979), since 2008 the CLTC has included master of Theology teaching to keep pace with the increasing needs of the Melanesian churches. Throughout that same half century the College has also equipped key Melanesians, mostly CLTC graduates themselves, to join the teaching faculty on its three campuses at Banz in the Highlands and at Port Moresby and Lae, the region’s two major cities. As at 2016, all but two full-time Bible teachers in the Diploma and primary degree programmes are Melanesians. Papua New Guineans, Solomon Islanders and Vanuatuans who have graduated from the MTh programme now carry the major teaching responsibilities in the Diploma and primary degree (BTh) programmes.
And now New Zealand is involved: Mombi and Mani are both currently studying doctorates at the University of Otago with the intention of returning to CLTC to contribute even more.
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Senior Leaders like Maxon and George have region-wide influence through their ministries
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Myanmar - Proposing a spiritual revolution of non-violence
30-Jun-2016
LeaDev-Langham’s first Langham Scholar financially supported by Langham Partnership NZ, and studying in New Zealand, has completed his PhD dissertation.
Meet Aung Htoo, a lecturer from MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) in Yangon, who has spent the last five years at Laidlaw College in Auckland, researching, writing and taking a deep look into a theology of no.. Read more
LeaDev-Langham’s first Langham Scholar financially supported by Langham Partnership NZ, and studying in New Zealand, has completed his PhD dissertation.
Meet Aung Htoo, a lecturer from MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) in Yangon, who has spent the last five years at Laidlaw College in Auckland, researching, writing and taking a deep look into a theology of non-violence for his home country which – in spite of recent and hopeful changes – is still beset by a culture and history of extreme violence.
It’s understandable subject matter for Htoo; he was a teenager in the thick of Myanmar’s notorious ‘8888’ uprisings where thousands of Burmese people from all walks of life were killed by the military dictatorship for protesting their lack of freedom. A quick online search gives an idea of just how extensive the damage and loss of life was.
Htoo says that at the time, as a young evangelical Christian, he found himself in a dilemma:
“To my surprise many Christian leaders were very silent about the issues. Since Christianity was regarded as the foreign or colonial religion [Buddhism is the prevailing belief], Christians were silent about politics, culture and social justice issues. Some of the Christian leaders and pastors even condemned those who participated in those protests. The church I was part of was Pentecostal in style, so the spiritual dimension of life was emphasised and political and social justice dimensions were disregarded. So it’s this issue I am mad about and dissatisfied with, which is why I wanted to write about it.”
Again in 2007 during another uprising, Htoo tells how many Buddhists where shot by soldiers. He recalls that some Christians expressed their happiness that Buddhists were killing each other.
“I was really shocked, and so deeply disturbed by those comments. I find myself asking – both then and now – ‘how should we as Christians respond in this situation?’ Political and social injustice is so prevalent in my country, so as Christians how should we deal with that? Should we steal away from it and just focus on and emphasise the spiritual dimension as it pertains to spiritual salvation? I have to say I am not happy with that, and don’t think we should.”
Htoo takes a creative approach to this big and pertinent question, using the perspectives, writings and practices of three well known advocates of social justice. The official thesis title is “A study of Martin Luther King Jnr and Aung San Suu Kyi through the eyes of Walter Wink, with special reference to the political context of Myanmar.”
Of those three characters, King is probably the most well-known. Suu Kyi is Myanmar’s recently elected Foreign Minister and leader of the National League for Democracy, an acclaimed figure and emblem of freedom for most Burmese. You’d know who Wink (1935 – 2012) is if you’d ever studied theology: an American theologian known for his work and advocacy of non-violent resistance. Htoo analyses them individually, and then has them in dialogue interaction on the topics of leadership, religion and ethical principles.
In the final part he surveys the political history of Myanmar and then looks at it through the outcome of the three-way dialogue. He says it is clear that all three know and believe that violence has a spiritual dimension; that violence multiplies violence, and conversely non-violence multiplies non-violence.
“So this means the challenge for Suu Kyi [now that she’s in leadership] is to change the tradition of that invisible or inner-nature of violence in politics, and that’s the spiritual revolution.”
Given this spiritual nature of violence, he asks if it is possible for a non-violent activist in time to become a dictator, because for Myanmar, that’s the pertinent question. If there is not a genuinely spiritual revolution, will the violent nature of the country ever be overcome?
This is how Htoo puts it in his dissertation:
“Self-examination is hugely emphasised in both religions [Christianity and Buddhism]. But the problem is that our ego or self is, itself, a product of the web of socialisation. Thus Wink stresses that it is imperative to die not only to our ego, but also to the Powers. That means we are to notice the power of socialisation – how our culture and society has significantly impacted on us, whether we are conscious of it or not. We are not to be trapped by the outer forms of religion, and forgetful of its spirit. If it is so, the consequence will always be calamitous. Focusing on the external forms of religion at the cost of its interiority always adds fuel to the flames of the Domination System.”
A timely subject given Myanmar’s new democracy. Htoo believes that what he is proposing is “not going to be appealing” to the older generation of Christians, but for younger believers it will significantly stimulate and challenge their thinking.
Htoo returns to MEGST to lecture, but he says that this is just the beginning of his work on the subject; he wants to expand it to other areas and will be taking it further.
“At this key time, Christians in Myanmar should be developing and sharing the whole Gospel in every way, not just the apparently ‘spiritual’ alone; but how the Gospel pertains to all dimensions of human life. God has invested gifts in each of us – we are not all to simply be pastors – so we need to know what our gift is, and use it to serve society for Him.”
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Senior Leaders like Aung Htoo have region-wide influence through their ministries
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Syria - Sewing torn lives back together
23-May-2016
What do you do when you’re a young, widowed mother, with limited education, no home and no money to buy food for your children? You get sewing of course! Well that’s what the young Syrian widows of the tent towns in the Bekaa Valley, near Zahleh in Lebanon are doing.
Meet Mara* who is facilitating the development of a grass roots collective of widows who are taking up their embroi.. Read more
What do you do when you’re a young, widowed mother, with limited education, no home and no money to buy food for your children? You get sewing of course! Well that’s what the young Syrian widows of the tent towns in the Bekaa Valley, near Zahleh in Lebanon are doing.
Meet Mara* who is facilitating the development of a grass roots collective of widows who are taking up their embroidery needles in a bid to provide for their children, restore their dignity and stand against the war atrocities.
When a young widow approached Mara one day at church to ask for financial help, Mara had nothing to give her. The widow then said she could sew, knit and embroider, so Mara asked for a few samples. When they arrived, they were beautiful and in no time at all, sales were secured for the items. Mara asked the widow for a few more, and again these sold very well.
So Mara had the idea of asking other widows without income to also create items, and in no time at all, Hook & Thread was formed: a growing grass-roots collective of Syrian widows from all over Lebanon and Syria who are earning money and standing against the circumstances within their country.
“With brave hearts and good will, we started the stitching project,” says Mara. “As it says in Proverbs 31, ‘Who can find a virtuous woman? She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands, and does not eat the bread of idleness.’ By participating, a widow can manage her own life with dignity, earn some money to support her family, and feel safety and connection with others.”
Mara works alongside Esther* who is LeaDev-Langham’s ministry partner in Lebanon. Their ministry organisation focuses on restoring families torn apart by the Syrian conflict (read more). They decided to partner with Hook & Thread, because through it many more families can be reached with practical help and the love of Jesus.
And there’s a lot of agency among the women: “They don’t want donations,” shares Esther. “Just help to get sales for their beautiful hand-stitched products.”
Mara disseminates the profits amongst the women and also sets aside a small portion for unexpected emergencies.
*Names changed
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Myanmar - Serious about mission in a new democracy
02-May-2016
I’m not a serious man,” declares Aung Mang, a Burmese follower of Jesus who is currently ministering across New Zealand as the guest of LeaDev-Langham.
With a twinkle in his eye, and a smile constantly pulling at the edge of his mouth, his statement is quite believable. Aung very obviously does not take himself seriously, and it’s his ease with this that mak.. Read more
I’m not a serious man,” declares Aung Mang, a Burmese follower of Jesus who is currently ministering across New Zealand as the guest of LeaDev-Langham.
With a twinkle in his eye, and a smile constantly pulling at the edge of his mouth, his statement is quite believable. Aung very obviously does not take himself seriously, and it’s his ease with this that makes him a leader of intriguing dimensions, determination and experience.
He has two Masters Degrees, two PhDs, plays the bass guitar, and “keeps a simple recording studio for making music demos”. He pastors a church of 300+ members in downtown Yangon, in an eighth-floor apartment with no elevator.
His wife and their family share their apartment at any given time with up to eighteen other people.
As a teenager he had hair to his waist, but he says when he did his doctorates he lost most of it completely. His wife and their family share their apartment at any given time with up to eighteen other people, “to help them out financially whilst they study”.
He is a seasoned church planter and theological educator of over three decades; the ‘go to’ person for evangelical perspective on the church in Myanmar. His parents were rural subsistence farmers, and he chooses voluntary poverty, not even owning a bicycle. He was the founding principal and now chair of LeaDev-Langham's Partner School, MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) an unregistered and therefore technically illegal Christian training institute in Yangon, but nevertheless “the fastest growing grad school in Asia”. And if that resume is not sufficiently interesting, Aung has also spent his 57 years serving God under Myanmar’s military regime, which was fiercely opposed to the Gospel.
“It was extreme control,” Aung shares. “They functioned with a really strong and oppressive spirit.” He tells about the endless armed road check points, and how he would have to ‘register’ any guests staying at his home, even for one night, including his own mum.
The authorities held to a fundamental and conservative Buddhism where it is common for fanatical monks to abuse Christians with impunity. The Chin State in the North West– Aung’s home state – was de facto abandoned in terms of government development, because the citizens are predominantly Christian. All churches, and anything to do with Christianity (or any religion other than Buddhism for that matter) were illegal, and therefore unregistered. Aung could never openly share his qualifications (Divinity/Biblical Studies, Applied Theology, Ministry, and Philosophy), as they were illegal. Christians had to be covert about attending church, and many services were held in homes.
The authorities held to a fundamental and conservative Buddhism where it is common for fanatical monks to abuse Christians with impunity. The Chin State in the North West– Aung’s home state – was de facto abandoned in terms of government development, because the citizens are predominantly Christian.
But in November last year that all began to change. Citizens participated in their first free and fair general election in over half a century, and voted in favour of democracy, giving a landslide victory to the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi. In March this year, the official handover took place, with Aung San Suu Kyi becoming Foreign Minister, and Henry van Thio, a committed Christian (and former Dunedin resident) being elected as the country’s No 2 Vice President, with a portfolio of social development.
Like believers across Myanmar, Aung is really excited about what this means for the Gospel. “Now we will be able to spread the Good News, legally,” he shares expectantly. “I have a very positive perspective towards my own country, now. The people are still poor, physically, but we are all poor together and can begin to move forward.
“We believe the reason why Aung San Suu Kyi won the November elections is because of the prayers of the Christians. The church prayed her in, so that Myanmar can be changed.”
With the fledgling democracy growing, Aung says Aung San Suu Kyi (or “The Lady” or “Aunty” as she is affectionately known) is already ensuring that change is happening.
“The thing that was immediately obvious, was that there were no more military check points,” shares Aung. He can now get international travel visas much quicker and for longer periods. “I am so excited that some nights I cannot sleep thinking about what this means for the Church, for Christian education, and the Gospel,” he enthuses. “I find myself at three in the morning still planning what is possible; how in about a year, all the churches will be legal. What Henry’s (van Thio) portfolio means for Christian social outreach to all Burmese. How Christians now have constitutional rights. How we will be able to register MEGST and possibly turn it into a Christian university.”
“Now we will be able to spread the Good News, legally.”
MEGST’s serious commitment to mission and growth in Myanmar will continue to be partnered by LeaDev- Langham; we've been working with the school since its inception in 1996. Aung has had a long relationship with Executive Director Tony Plews who, together with other kiwi education professionals, has contributed capacity development and support as it has grown. In an allied story, five years ago Jacob Mung, another Burmese leader, felt prompted to compile the first modern Burmese study Bible, which is due for publication about a year from now. Clearly God is answering the prayers of Burmese believers, and positioning things for a great harvest.
As Aung looks forward, he shares energetic plans for the training of Christian leaders; capacity development within Christian education facilities; writing five books; and touring with an outreach band.
But for the last few months his capacity building around mission has been in Aotearoa NZ, speaking at churches and Christian groups, bringing three messages that he believes are timely for the church here:
“Firstly, accomplish the Great Commission in the church context; make more disciples from among the nations. Second is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, sharing the Gospel with power. Number three is partnership because unless we do teamwork, we will not be able to extend the Kingdom.
“It would seem to me that these are in deficit in the church in New Zealand, especially the power of the Spirit. People are doing things, but not necessarily in the power of the Spirit. I think in the West the church has lost this, and people are not crazy for Jesus as they could be. In Myanmar, believers are just crazy for Jesus”.
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We invite you to join Aung. Give a gift today to God's work in Myanmar, via the training of a leader to share the Gospel contextually.
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Sri Lanka - Planting a church in a drug rehab centre
07-Apr-2016
Nanda* studied at Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS), one of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools in Sri Lanka. She tells her own story of how the Lord has led her to start Bible studies and ministry for the families connected with a drug rehab centre, and how what she has learned at CTS has been of tremendous value:
“I was 19 years old when I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviou.. Read more
Nanda* studied at Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS), one of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools in Sri Lanka. She tells her own story of how the Lord has led her to start Bible studies and ministry for the families connected with a drug rehab centre, and how what she has learned at CTS has been of tremendous value:
“I was 19 years old when I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour. From that point, I submitted my life to the Lord and within me grew a burning desire to serve the Lord. I entered into full-time ministry 10 years later through my church. I was in charge of some ‘unreached’ villages and responsible for all spiritual aspects of the families of believers living there, as well as going house to house to share the Gospel. During this time, I began to be burdened to concentrate on serving neglected women.
About three years ago, the leadership of my church encouraged me to enter into seminary training at Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS) in Sri Lanka. As I engaged in my studies, that compulsion for neglected women grew stronger. I was going through an intense internal conflict. Although I had been involved in full-time ministry for over 10 years, I had a nagging feeling that I had not really embarked on the specific ministry to which the Lord had called me – ministering to neglected women.
However, through my studies at CTS, I came to the important realization that the Lord uses us for different purposes at different times and that my responsibility was to be faithful in whatever I was doing at any given season. This helped to strengthen my faith, released me from the inner struggle I was undergoing and helped me to continue to faithfully serve in the ministry I was engaged in until the Lord opened a new opportunity for me.
I got married about a year and a half ago, and that’s when a door opened up for this ministry desire on my heart. My husband ministers in a drug rehabilitation centre. The centre is run by Christians and is open to anyone. At the point when I entered this ministry, there was no initiative in place to minister to the spouses of addicts.
I started ministering to the wives of recovered addicts who serve in the centre. By conducting a regular Bible study for them, I have been helping them to grow spiritually. More recently, I have joined the ministry as a full-time worker and minister to the male residents as well.
Currently there are 49 male residents in the centre with whom I work on a daily basis. In addition, I conduct a weekly Bible study for seven women who are spouses of reformed addicts.
My learning at CTS is of tremendous value as I minister to these men and women through the Word of God, helping them to overcome their challenges by developing their spirituality. The majority of those who come to the centre don’t have any knowledge about God. I spend time introducing the concept of God to them and sharing the Gospel. This is an important aspect of helping them overcome their addiction.
By spiritually strengthening the wives of reformed addicts, I am helping to build up a support group for these men who are in danger of falling into their old lifestyle at the slightest temptation. To help these people grow in spiritual strength, I have been teaching them the power of prayer, especially as an important means through which to overcome temptation.
My learning at CTS is of tremendous value as I minister to these men and women through the Word of God, helping them to overcome their challenges by developing their spirituality.
I have recently set up a prayer team. I believe that as they grow stronger in their prayer life, they will grow stronger in overcoming their addictions and in staying away from temptations. However, as many are very recent believers, they are still taking baby steps in this regard.
My hope is to one day set up a fully-fledged rehabilitation centre that will focus on ministering to neglected women in society.”
*Name changed for security reasons.
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Emerging Leaders like Nanda are equipped to step into the call of God
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Myanmar - A new Bible for new times
01-Mar-2016
Imagine wanting to read the Bible, but the only version available is in unfamiliar, outdated language. You have no additional helps whatsoever. Not a single cross-reference in the text. Not a footnote. Not a sentence of introduction. Just the biblical text. In old language. Meet Jacob Mung, who five years ago felt prompted to start preparing a study version of the Burmese Bible, which now with.. Read more
Imagine wanting to read the Bible, but the only version available is in unfamiliar, outdated language. You have no additional helps whatsoever. Not a single cross-reference in the text. Not a footnote. Not a sentence of introduction. Just the biblical text. In old language. Meet Jacob Mung, who five years ago felt prompted to start preparing a study version of the Burmese Bible, which now with doors opening to the Gospel in Myanmar will be timeously published.
In Myanmar (Burma) the first freely elected parliament for 50 years held its opening session in February.
It is an exciting time. Hopes are high. New government. New democracy…
For Christians this season of new beginnings holds the prospect of a new Study version of the Burmese Bible due in just over a year’s time!
It was surely no coincidence when Jacob Mung, the publisher and founder of Christian Literature Crusade (CLC) Myanmar, felt prompted around five years ago to start commissioning it…
Jacob is the publisher and project coordinator.
Since 2015, Langham Literature’s Publisher Development Programme has partnered with CLC in financial support for the costly final editorial and formatting stages.
Imagine wanting to read the Bible, but the only version available is in unfamiliar, outdated language. You have no additional helps whatsoever. Not a single cross-reference in the text. Not a footnote. Not a sentence of introduction. Just the biblical text. In old language.
Unless you are in a Christian family, or can find someone to sit with you and explain the text, it would be hard to understand what you are reading. You may give up reading it altogether. That’s how it is for Burmese Christians. Their most widely-used Bible was translated by Adoniram Judson from Greek and Hebrew almost 200 years ago! It is much loved; but its language needs correcting or updating. Reading it is especially difficult for new believers.
Many Burmese words have obscure meanings unless you know ancient Pali language. In the new Study Bible, spellings and vocabulary have been updated to reflect the latest knowledge. Also, study notes and explanatory ‘helps’ have been written for Burmese people today, and especially to help readers with little or no Christian background.
Jacob recently had to travel to Korea for treatment of a heart condition. It seemed uncertain whether he would ever be able to return to Myanmar. His overriding concern became that God provide someone who could complete the Study Bible project. God answered: Jacob Mung and his family are well and back in Myanmar!
The original Judson Bible was miraculously preserved. It went on to bless the church in Myanmar, and the church grew.
What a privilege to be part of bringing this newly updated and Study version to the Burmese people at this time.
Remember Myanmar: new government, new democracy … new Study Bible!
by Colin MacPherson, Director of Publisher Development, Langham Literature
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India - Passionate researcher’s personal library collection helps students
01-Oct-2015
Recently Robert Frykenberg, Professor Emeritus of History & South Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin, and a committed Christian, donated the vast bulk of his unique personal library collection, specialising in Asian history, to the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore, India, in a gesture to support Indian students. The shipping and logistics were ar.. Read more
Recently Robert Frykenberg, Professor Emeritus of History & South Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin, and a committed Christian, donated the vast bulk of his unique personal library collection, specialising in Asian history, to the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore, India, in a gesture to support Indian students. The shipping and logistics were arranged and covered by LeaDev-Langham.
Now in his late eighties, and retired to his home in Madison, Wisconsin, Bob visited SAIACS to teach some years ago, but was forced to stop travelling because of fragile health.
Faculty staff from SAIACS see the donation of the collection as a valuable contribution to the development of their learning resources.
“SAIACS library is honoured to have part of Prof. Frykenberg’s personal library collection on South Asian history, sociology and other valuable resources in our archives,” says Yesan Sellan, Chief Librarian at SAIACS.
Read more about Prof Frykenberg in this newsclip
Church leaders may have a Bible in their own language, but it’s not a given. In most cases contextual poverty means they have limited access to practical tools and learning resources to help them understand, interpret and deepen their understanding of scripture.
Through the work of Resource, leaders – of all ages and stages – are supplied with a wide range of crucial learning resources which effectively bridge the gap for them between poverty and potential, calling and confidence.
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Join in today, and give a gift to resource a Christian leader in training.
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Indonesia - No education, electricity or piped water, but desperate to preach God’s Word
01-Sep-2015
In inaccessible rural Indonesia, a young Langham preacher has passed on what he has learnt to 18 others, and started the area’s first school.
When we think about studying God’s Word, and learning how to share it with others, many of us may think of this as a ‘nice to have’ – certainly not as important as food, water, electricity and education. Not so for the Pedri.. Read more
In inaccessible rural Indonesia, a young Langham preacher has passed on what he has learnt to 18 others, and started the area’s first school.
When we think about studying God’s Word, and learning how to share it with others, many of us may think of this as a ‘nice to have’ – certainly not as important as food, water, electricity and education. Not so for the Pedrik Hingk Church from the rural mountainous region of Arfak in Papua Barat, Indonesia. In spite of extreme poverty, a group of pastors are desperate to learn God’s Word, and how to preach it.
Meet Pastor Raymond Maabuat, the leader who over the last two years has used Langham Preaching materials not only to train preachers, but also to open the door for literacy and education for the whole area.
Pastor Raymond tells his own inspiring story:
“I first attended the Langham Level 1 Preacher Training Course held in Manokwari, Papua, together with some of my colleagues from the Ericson Trill Theological Seminary. Afterwards we formed a preachers’ club and called it ‘Pistos Preaching Club’. But it did not go well, as we were all so busy teaching at the seminary.
In March 2014, thanks to God’s help, I was able to attend the Level 2 (Old Testament) Preaching Training course in Bogor, West Java. In May 2014, I was asked by the seminary to serve a group of congregations composed entirely of village farmers from the interior. They live about 40 miles from town in the mountainous region of Arfak and call themselves the Pedrik Hingk Church. This isolated area, recognised as a distinct political region as recently as 2013, can only be reached by 4WD vehicles.
The first time I visited, I was deeply moved to see that ninety percent of the people were illiterate. There was no electricity, no phone signals, and water came from the local stream, which turned muddy brown every time it rained. The local pastors struggled with their preaching, as they had had no schooling, let alone theological training. They relied on basic reading and writing skills originally taught to some members by missionaries about sixty years ago.
I decided to help them, using the materials from Langham Preaching. I photocopied all the teaching materials and the practical exercises and then translated them into the local language. Thanks to God’s help, I met the leader of the local government in Manokwari. He was most helpful and provided paper, and covered the printing and additional translation costs. So now we have all the Langham Preaching materials available in the local ‘Hatam’ dialect.
"When I started to teach the Langham materials, all 18 local pastors wanted to attend. Some of them were still virtually illiterate. So I decided to teach just those who could read, and then, together with my wife and my younger brother, to open a literacy class for the others. This class has grown into a school."
A year ago there were 71 pupils and three of us as teachers. We managed to obtain school uniforms by begging for help from the town. We were also sent other schoolbooks and some writing materials. At the same time I started a preachers’ club, again called ‘Pistos’ (faithful). The group consisted of 46 people who didn’t want to be split up. Now, since Langham Level 3 Preaching Training [held in March in Indonesia] I plan to divide them into four groups.
So, on behalf of the 18 congregations of the Hingk region of Arfak Mountains, I want to say ‘thank you’ to Langham for making it possible for me to attend the Langham Training and to learn the systematic exposition method, which is so relevant, and to receive the books provided; it is very hard for us to get good theological books.”
What an incredible multiplier effect! It is certainly encouraging to hear how the Word of God is bringing life, health and wellbeing to the people of the Hingk region – it is reaching further.
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Emerging Leaders like Raymond are equipped to step into the call of God
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Syria - Esther: Showing practical love in the name of Jesus
01-Jun-2015
A courageous woman talks about her daily call to minister in very dangerous conditions.
Each morning in Lebanon, when ‘Esther’ leaves her house and heads for the white refugee tent settlements in the Beqaa Valley, she does not know how her day will turn out. She does not know who she will help, how she will help them, or even whether she will come home to her husband and child that.. Read more
A courageous woman talks about her daily call to minister in very dangerous conditions.
Each morning in Lebanon, when ‘Esther’ leaves her house and heads for the white refugee tent settlements in the Beqaa Valley, she does not know how her day will turn out. She does not know who she will help, how she will help them, or even whether she will come home to her husband and child that night. But it is a daily choice she makes.
Nine years ago Esther was the regional Director of an international Christian organisation working with families, but quickly saw the need to adjust her work to better suit local conditions and culture. She gathered a group of volunteers, and began a home-based ministry to families in need in her own area. Then with the influx of Syrian refugees four years ago, the ministry naturally responded to the brokenness in these families as a result of the war.
In Lebanon, prejudice against Syrians is strong. There is pressure on the refugees to leave, but they have no homes or communities to return to. With a population of 4.5 million, and an economy reliant on tourism, even before the refugees arrived, Lebanese unemployment was 15 - 20% as border violence and instability had turned away visitors. Now 2 million Syrian refugees are competing with the Lebanese for low-paid jobs in order to survive, but in a climate of racism, many are left to scavenge out an existence on the streets, foraging and begging for whatever they can lay their hands on. Some families live in tents in winter temperatures below zero, obliged to pay a ‘ground rent’; whilst other families pay extortionate rents to farmers to live in animal pens with makeshift roofs. Local Lebanese farmers have stopped farming animals, because it is more lucrative to let their facilities – one refugee family per chicken coop.
“The refugees are refused and ignored by everyone in Lebanon,” says Esther. “The government does nothing for them, the wealthy Lebanese ignore them, and whilst some Christians are willing to help, many don’t feel they need to.”
“Essentially people are either against what I am doing, or think I am crazy for doing it,” she says. But as a Syrian herself, and a follower of Jesus, she feels compelled and called:
“I identify with Queen Esther from the Bible. These are my people, and whilst they are unwelcome and unwanted here, I have to stand up for them and give them hope.”
But with calling, passion and determination, comes sacrifice and risk. Ministering to refugee families is dangerous. Esther and her team are Christians, living and working in a Muslim context. Contagious diseases (including TB and Hep B) are prevalent amongst the refugees because of the lack of running water, toilets and hygiene. There is the constant threat of ISIS raids, with the risk of abduction or even death. The border conflict is so near that the sound of rocket fire and explosions is easily heard, and Esther regularly goes into Syria and the war zone to minister to traumatised families.
“Other Christians say to me ‘Aren’t you afraid when you visit the refugees?’” says Esther. “But actually when I leave my house, I don’t think of Disease, or of ISIS, or of Danger. When I step out, I think of the babies and traumatised children and families who need love. I think, they need me, and I must go. I think of Jesus, who was our Suffering Servant and example. And when I go, I believe that God is over all of my life. It is dangerous where I go, but I believe my life is in God’s hands.”
Every week, Esther talks to Muslim people about Jesus. Every day, she has opportunities to practically share his love and kindness with people who have mostly experienced hardness and hatred.
“As followers of Jesus, we need to be a copy of Jesus. Whatever he said and did, we need to be saying and doing. We need to love in the same way. That’s what we try to do. It is not complicated; you just love the person who’s standing in front of you.”
Her pragmatic and childlike ministry approach is bearing fruit. There are families where everyone has invited Jesus into their hearts and been baptised. She tells how the Muslim refugees are deeply impacted by the practical love they get from her and her ministry team. It is in complete contrast to their experience of what it means to have a faith.
Recently, a young mother, an ex-Muslim, said to Esther: “Please never leave us or stop visiting us. I have no-one in Lebanon but you. You have shown our family such love. When I believed in Jesus my life changed totally. I never experienced this kind of love or care in my extreme Muslim community in Syria.”
Esther had another exciting discussion with a young Muslim boy who attends the school she is involved with. He asked, “If I call Jesus by his name without a title, will he listen to me?” Esther explained that we can all call Jesus by his name, and come directly to him. The boy excitedly said that now that he knows this, he calls Jesus by his name and feels him very near.
So whilst Esther might not know what each day will bring, she does know that Jesus goes ahead of her to prepare the refugees he loves, for loving ministry encounters. She says that the ex-Muslims now see that their decision is not about a change of faith, or even ‘swapping sides’, but actually about having a relationship with a real person: Jesus.
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
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Nepal - Generous Kiwi Christians provide roofing for a devastated rural village
01-May-2015
“The village thanks all of you donors for your kindness for providing the funds for the tin roofing sheets they received today.”
These are the words of Dr Ramesh Katry, Principal of The Association for Theological Education in Nepal, reporting from rural Koshidekha Village after generous donations were made to the earthquake relief efforts.
When the earthquake hit Nepal, we.. Read more
“The village thanks all of you donors for your kindness for providing the funds for the tin roofing sheets they received today.”
These are the words of Dr Ramesh Katry, Principal of The Association for Theological Education in Nepal, reporting from rural Koshidekha Village after generous donations were made to the earthquake relief efforts.
When the earthquake hit Nepal, we put out a call to our Kiwi network of support. This is an excerpt from that appeal for help:
It is just over a fortnight since the tragic earthquakes in Nepal. Our partners on the ground report that the loss and grief are still overwhelming. They continue to provide relief aid – food, clothing, water, shelter – to the suffering families around them. Most of the deceased in their immediate surrounds have been accounted for.
But with the makeshift and crowded living conditions, the threat of the spread of disease is imminent, especially with the ongoing rainfall the area has experienced. Our partners report that they must now focus on rebuilding homes so that families have somewhere to live, other than under tarpaulins.
Over the weekend Dr Ramesh Khatry (Principal of The Association for Theological Education in Nepal - ATEN, our Langham ministry partner) drove his motorbike through the rubble and broken roads, to a rural village in the Kavre district to join a Christian friend as he and his community rebuild their homes. Every single home in this village is destroyed! Ramesh reports the need is great, and asks us to urgently send money for roofing tin, the request of most families as they try to piece their lives back together.
Back in Kathmandu, the ATEN faculty had an allegedly “earthquake-proof” building, but an entire wall collapsed. Prior to the earthquake the college’s priority had been to build their students a library, but now the focus must be to build this wall to ensure student safety. Ramesh and his wife’s own house collapsed. They have had to move to a different building on the campus, and watch their home of 51 years be dismantled as there is nothing left to build with. Ramesh has essentially put his theological training on hold to focus on the rebuilding work so that people are no longer displaced.
Our Overseas Council ministry partner, Nepal Ebenezer Bible College writes how they too have closed the college, so that staff and students may provide relief through their churches and other Christian organisations. Many of their homes and villages have been flattened, so they are starting the rebuild alongside their own families and communities.
The faculty building has walls and stairs fallen in, making it unsafe. Principal Rev Kumar Budhathoki is waiting on an engineer to assess the damage – but as you can imagine, the engineers are overwhelmed with the need right now.
In the wake of disaster such as this, immediate relief is essential for survival, but so is the rebuilding.
For people to overcome their trauma, grieve their losses, survive without disease, and have a sense of future hope, they must get their homes back.
As Kiwis who experienced the Christchurch earthquake, we know first-hand, that rebuilding can be as hard, long, fraught and painful, as the initial trauma.
In early June, we received this update from Ramesh Katry, in response to your generosity:
Elder Harihar Uprety, the only Christian in his village, distributed tin (zinc sheets) to 51 families today. Because there is a great shortage of tin sheets, Harihar could not distribute 1 bundle of sheets but had to be content with half bundle. Also, he could not find painted tin.
In his Koshidekha village if a person took a 6 foot sheet for her/his family, s/he received 6 sheets. If the choice was for 12 foot sheet, s/he received three sheets. I heard women saying that three 12 foot sheets made a cow shed! In theory any person take a 12 foot sheet can cut it into two for 6 foot sheets.
Harihar will distribute another half bundle when more tin sheets become available. Since all of Nepal wants tin sheets, there is a shortage; and the government has given incentives for Nepali factories to work around the clock. Also, more tin sheets will be imported from India.
The village thanks all of you donors for your kindness in providing the funds for the sheets they received today. They will receive more perhaps in a week or later. I will update you again when Harihar uses all the money he has received on more tin sheets.
We are pleased to let you know that all the money has been used for tin roofing – people in Koshidekha in the least have a roof over their heads.
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
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Syria - War-torn devastation: a Kiwi bloke who went to have a look, and came back changed
01-Apr-2015
LeaDev-Langham’s Finance Manager John Corban (/team) talks about his life-changing experience of meeting Syrian refugees
Last month, I travelled to the UK. A Langham Partnership colleague insisted I come and visit him, and my country of ancestry – Lebanon. I agreed (how ‘cool’ to discover my roots) and set off for Zahle, a city 40 km west of the Syrian border, unaware t.. Read more
LeaDev-Langham’s Finance Manager John Corban talks about his life-changing experience of meeting Syrian refugees
Last month, I travelled to the UK. A Langham Partnership colleague insisted I come and visit him, and my country of ancestry – Lebanon. I agreed (how ‘cool’ to discover my roots) and set off for Zahle, a city 40 km west of the Syrian border, unaware that my outlook on life would be forever changed.
I realised that, I had ‘forgotten’ about what was happening in Syria – or perhaps more accurately, had not directly engaged with it. But visiting my ancestral land, I had no choice but to personally experience news headlines, as my hosts took me on a tour of what is their daily, tragic experience of life: thousands of white refugee tents sit on the outskirts of their city, and just a short drive away, ISIS forces are camped on the border with Syria, with the Lebanese army, along with Hezbollah keeping them out of the country. Zahle is close enough to the conflict that with a decent Easterly wind, you can hear the sound of rocket fire and explosions.
Face to face with hopelessness
More than four years since the start of the civil war in Syria, over two million Syrian refugees are still camped throughout the Beqaa Valley and other parts of Lebanon, unable to return home. In Kiwi terms: With 4.25 million Syrians displaced, that is equivalent to the whole population of New Zealand being without a home. Could you begin to even imagine what that must be like? There is immense suffering in every camp: hunger, disease, abuse, and extreme need. Even now, girls disappear from the Lebanese camps, taken by ISIS forces during cross-border raids. Some of the camps closer to the Syrian border are not safe for aid workers to visit as the risk of abduction for ransom is so high.
Escaping from the terrors within Syria is just the beginning of the suffering and tragedy for most families. Lebanon has a population of 4.5m people, and the economy is reliant on tourism. Even before the refugees arrived, unemployment was 15 - 20% as border violence and instability had turned away visitors. Now 2 million Syrian refugees are competing with the Lebanese for low-paid jobs in order to survive. Around 500,000 of the refugees in Lebanon are young children, and most of them have no access to education. With very little money, support, or options, hope is a rare commodity in the refugee settlements. There is widespread prejudice towards the refugees; they know they are not wanted in Lebanon, and are left to scavenge out an existence on the streets, foraging and begging for whatever they can lay their hands on.
Putting a real face onto this wide-scale suffering, at a tent camp on the outskirts of Zahle I met Sara* who is just 16. She is already a widow with two small children, including baby Mohammed* who is two months. She lives in a tent with her parents and five sisters. Sara is the only earner, bringing in NZ$ 275 per month for full time work – that’s under $2/hour. Her sisters remain in the tent all day, afraid to go out, as so many young women have been abducted. The family are originally from Aleppo, one of the hardest hit cities in Syria. This winter, during three heavy snow storms that covered the Bekaa Valley, the family repeatedly scraped snow off their tent with their hands until they bled, just to prevent it from collapsing under the weight of the snow.
To say I found this visit devastating is a complete understatement. Leaving this makeshift and freezing cold new home of the family, absolutely nothing that I have ever known compares to their suffering. As the tears pricked my eyes, running through my mind, is my own daughter who is nearly fifteen years old. I simply cannot imagine her experiencing the extreme suffering and hardship that Sara faces daily. What an absolutely intolerable burden for this young girl and all the others like her!
Face to face with hope
Then I met a group of people who are responding to the suffering that surrounds them. Instead of dismissively shrugging their shoulders, they are getting on with what they can do – and as a Kiwi, I could get that. In spite of the vast ocean of need all around, in spite of the looming ISIS forces just kilometres away, in spite of the daily reality of death and destruction on their border, they have taken a stance of serving, loving and helping those who are suffering right in front of them, and doing it in the name of Jesus Christ.
Esther*, who heads the group, has a simple and pragmatic stance: “Where there is a need, we will respond.” What I saw as she and a nurse took Sara some milk powder for baby Mohammed, is that one refugee at a time, one tented-family at a time, one child at a time, the practical love of Jesus Christ is being spread: “When you do it to the least of these, you do it to me”. And the people are responding to this love.
Esther’s ministry provides several different and effective services to refugee families, including: new-born and mother care (milk, nappies, medicines, visits and education); teenage and child trauma counselling (many young people have been raped and have witnessed extreme atrocities at close range); schooling and school equipment provision; and winter packs – blankets, clothes, fuel and shoes to get through the winter snowfalls in a tent.
Esther and her co-workers are doing heart-wrenching, amazing work every single day. I like their approach to this tragedy; for me as a Kiwi it has a bit of a ‘no. 8 wire’ feel about it: I can’t solve the big picture problem, but I sure can get stuck in and respond to the need right in front of me. It gives me a way to respond, it gives me realistic hand-holds. I can’t shift my family to Zahle and do tent visits, but I sure can financially support Esther and her team as they do. Together you and I can stand with them and help to supply their needs, as they directly strive to meet the needs of suffering refugee families and children. Join with me as we support this remarkably courageous ministry.
*Names changed
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
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Myanmar - A sponsorship for one young leader provides home and hope for orphaned children
01-Apr-2013
My name is Mang Mang and I live in Yangon, Myanmar, in a small apartment with my wife and young son, and twenty-one orphaned boys.
Over one million children in Myanmar are orphaned or abandoned; many are dumped by parents who cannot afford to keep them. You can be a part of the solution for my country. In Myanmar, we have a terrible problem; over one million babies and children are orphan.. Read more
My name is Mang Mang and I live in Yangon, Myanmar, in a small apartment with my wife and young son, and twenty-one orphaned boys.
Over one million children in Myanmar are orphaned or abandoned; many are dumped by parents who cannot afford to keep them. You can be a part of the solution for my country. In Myanmar, we have a terrible problem; over one million babies and children are orphans, most of them living on the street. Children as young as three are rejected and abandoned, begging in the street simply to have enough food to stay alive. Often they are stolen, sold and badly abused. Child labour and child sex trafficking is a big problem here.
Although there are 24 of us living in our small apartment, we always have a wonderful time. The boys are all so lovely. We eat together, suffer together, pray together, and sing together.
I know that if these orphans are to have a good life, they need to be educated. Half of the children over 13 years old in Myanmar are no longer attending school. Extreme poverty forces young children to work to survive – dangerous work for long hours and in terrible conditions. Most of them only earning the equivalent of NZ$5 per month.
"The boys in our care have the opportunity to get a good education and to break the poverty cycle. My hope is that we can transform these boys into great men; men with a hope and a future. My wife and I are very thankful to the lord for giving us this exciting ministry."
I would like to tell you how it has happened. Some years ago, the Lord gave me a vision to serve Him amongst these precious children who have been orphaned. I knew that this would be my life’s work and so I would need more education to fulfil this vision. I applied to Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (MEGST) and I was very happy to be accepted to study for the Master of Divinity (Missions) degree.
My only concern was that of finances. My income was not enough to pay the fees, so I was deeply humbled to find out that Student Sponsors in NZ were paying $50 every month towards my study costs.
Because of the generosity of my Student Sponsors, I am so proud to now be a MEGST graduate. But I am just one man - and we need many more strong men and women to be educated!
That’s why I am asking you to give each month, so more future leaders like me can receive a life-changing education. Right now, there are over one hundred young future Christian leaders, waiting for student scholarships so that they can receive an education.
Not only has attending MEGST changed my life, it has changed the lives of the orphans we care for. There is much change needed in Myanmar, but for this to become a reality we need more humble servant leaders who have been biblically trained. It is encouraging for me that there are many wonderful young men and women who have applied to study at MEGST this year, each of them following great visions and plans given to them by the Lord. Each of them has a dream to see transformation in this country and to be part of the solution. The only issue is that of finances.
The school year is about to start in Myanmar and there are students awaiting sponsorship, but without support, the future of these wonderful young people is uncertain.
"Not only has my life been changed because of Student Sponsors, but the lives of our 21 boys are transformed.
You too can change lives by becoming a Student Sponsor today. Thank you for your support and commitment."
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Emerging Leaders like Mang Mang are equipped to step into the call of God
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
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Myanmar - Sometimes the gift of 'being' outweighs what we 'do' for others
Langham Preacher Training 'grows up' as the team of local leaders take the programme further - without any input needed from Westerners. Kiwi volunteers Phil and Anthea Fairbrass were there in November to celebrate the growth with Sein Kyi (pictured) and his team. Phil shares: Our love affair with the Myanmar people really began when in 2005 Anthea saw an email from Leadership De.. Read more
Langham Preacher Training 'grows up' as the team of local leaders take the programme further - without any input needed from Westerners. Kiwi volunteers Phil and Anthea Fairbrass were there in November to celebrate the growth with Sein Kyi (pictured) and his team.Phil shares:
She went for four weeks and was hooked. Her appeals for me, a pastor, to join her in teaching English (“Come on, Anthea, how in the world could I teach English?") finally persuaded me to volunteer, and thus began a total of ten years of annual trips between us to teach English and study skills to students who were preparing for their master’s degrees in theology.
I know we helped in the English department. But I think the real purpose we were there was revealed when more than one person said to us, “We are so happy you are here, because we feel forgotten by the rest of the world.” I think just being there - listening, empathising (in a limited way) praying and loving - was worth far more that what we ever did. We tried to spend personal time with each student we taught, listening to their stories which often included hardship and persecution.
Three years ago, while in Yangon, we felt the Spirit gently urging us to leave teaching English and look for ways where perhaps our pastoral background might be more useful. This was the prompting that resulted in us to become involved with the Langham Preaching program in Myanmar.
From 29 Oct to 2 Nov last year we were invited to attend as observers at a combined level 1 and 2 seminar being taught by Sein Kyi and his team of teachers in a place not far from Mandalay. Several of the teachers are former MEGST students of ours with whom we have formed lasting friendships.
It was a joy to observe this team of competent teachers now teaching others what they themselves have been taught, with enthusiasm and lots of class participation. Joy and laughter often filled the classrooms. Testimonies at the end of the week were positive.
But what really impacted me were comments from two of the teachers we have known for some years. One sat with me at lunch one day and said, “It is so encouraging to have you here.” When I asked him why, he said, “Well, just your being here encourages us.” How humbling is that?!
The other told me that when I taught him English at MEGST he was astounded that I was kind to him. His schooling had been extremely harsh to say the least, and he couldn’t get over how nice I was! What a reminder that our “being” is perhaps far more valuable in God’s economy that our “doing.”
How wonderful it was to see that, after after several years of being taught the Langham principles of preaching by Westerners, the Myanmar team have now taken up the responsibility of teaching others what they have learned. This is a huge challenge for this fledgling team of teachers. And how refreshing to be reminded that being listeners, friends and occasional advisors is perhaps the best gift we can offer to our Myanmar pastors and friends at this time.
Philippines - Contextual Commentaries bring Hope in Hard Places
When typhoon Haiyan destroyed a large city in the Philippines in 2013, a five-year-old girl asked her parents why God had allowed the storm to happen. We could ask the same of the recent earthquake in Indonesia, or any one of the many horrific and traumatic disasters across Asia-Pacific. “Thankfully, her question and her pain have a place in the presence of God,” said Rico Vil.. Read more
When typhoon Haiyan destroyed a large city in the Philippines in 2013, a five-year-old girl asked her parents why God had allowed the storm to happen. We could ask the same of the recent earthquake in Indonesia, or any one of the many horrific and traumatic disasters across Asia-Pacific.
“Thankfully, her question and her pain have a place in the presence of God,” said Rico Villanueva, a Christian leader and Langham Scholar who teaches at one of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools, Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) in Quezon City (Philippines).
Rico has authored a contextual commentary on the book of Lamentations, and also edited contributions to a broader commentary series.
Intimacy with God brings hope
Rico explains the importance and relevance of the book of Lamentations for those who are suffering and live in ‘hard places’across Asia-Pacific:
“The book of Lamentations is a rich resource in times of disaster. . . grieving is important in the process of healing. The absence of grieving hampers the process of restoration. Long before psychologists emphasized this, the book of Lamentations already modelled it for us.”
Edgar Ebojo, another Langham Scholar and translator from the Philippines puts it this way:
Biblical Answers from an Asian Perspective
Contextual commentaries and resources are having a lasting and crucial impact on the Christian church across Asia. For the people of Asia – where natural disasters, grinding poverty and civil unrest are daily realities – a commentary written by and for Asians helps readers understand and apply God’s Word in their context and culture.
Now that is changing. Contextual Bible commentaries equip scholars, pastors and Christian leaders to learn from and teach God’s Word in ways relevant to their setting. Along with understanding the text better, cultural issues are addressed from a biblical perspective. In Asia-Pacific, most leaders have little or no theological training and few if any Bible study books, but they do have a Bible. The commentaries give them a tool for understanding and preaching the Bible, bringing Hope to their communities living in poverty and under pressure.
The people of Living Streams
Christian Church just outside of Manila, Philippines, know what suffering is.
Some are under the weight of poverty. Some are struggling with marital issues.
And all are living on an island chain in the direct path of some of the most
devastating typhoons in the last decade alone.
Their pastor, Ranilo (pictured here), is using a commentary on the book of
Psalms written by Rico, to help his congregation respond to local issues,
including how to lament. Ranilo says,
Rico explains, “For many years it's been the writings coming [to believers in the Philippines] mostly from the West . . . but now that there are Christians in Asia, for instance, and the church has been growing, there's really a need for us to write theology, contextual biblical interpretation, from our own respective countries.
The Philippines is not the only place where contextual commentaries are bringing hope to Christians in hard places.
These books do not collect dust on a shelf somewhere, but are used daily by Christian leaders desperate to understand God’s Word in their context and then pastor their churches and communities effectively.
From New Zealand, your generosity makes it possible for leaders like Edgar and Rico to write contextual resources and books, and with these bring hope to thousands of local leaders like Ranilo and those in their congregation and community.
South Asia - Does the World need another Higher Degree?
Talk to Havilah Dharamraj and she’ll tell you that South Asia certainly does. Of course she’d say that – she’s the Academic Dean of India’s leading evangelical Theological institution for post-graduate study! But Havilah’s not just toeing the party line; she has some very good reasons for believing that higher degrees are not simply academic notch.. Read more
Talk to Havilah Dharamraj and she’ll tell you that South Asia certainly does. Of course she’d say that – she’s the Academic Dean of India’s leading evangelical Theological institution for post-graduate study! But Havilah’s not just toeing the party line; she has some very good reasons for believing that higher degrees are not simply academic notches on a belt, but significant door-openers for changing society.
Havilah’s first career was teaching biochemistry at high school. But in the 1990’s a love of the Old Testament drew her back to study, so putting teenagers behind her, she did a Masters degree at South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore. That led to a PhD which was done at Durham University, and funded initially by Langham Partnership International.
Across the region, qualified biblical leaders who can listen to the world and build contextual bridges to the Word are in short supply - from village churches to urban seminaries.
Their investment has extended their vision, and it has had great impact.
Training other leaders
Since Havilah completed her PhD in 2006 and started teaching on the two main Masters Programmes at SAIACS, she has directly taught and influenced nearly 400 Christian leaders. That might not sound like very many over 12 years, but it’s important to understand who these leaders are, and what they do.
There are three types of students at SAIACS, from all around India, and several other countries in the region:
• Pastors and Ministers from churches throughout the region come to learn how to lead; and
• Faculty and lecturers from other Bible colleges and Christian tertiary training centres come to learn how to teach the Word of God.
Havilah says that whatever students might come for, they go away with a new set of skills – both explicit and implicit. Explicit skills include homiletics, teaching, critical thinking (essential for students coming from a rote learning experience), education and pedagogy, leadership, and working on the interface between contextual issues and the Bible.
“As Indians, the caste system is in our DNA. But at SAIACS we are totally egalitarian – we all eat at the same table, and have the choice to call each other by name regardless of our role or rank. This is in the classroom as well as within the SAIACS community. It’s this implicit value that is so central to the Gospel, that Christian leaders who study here, take away with them. And many of them are implementing this same value at their training colleges and organisations because they picked it up here, recognising it’s inherent within the Gospel.”
In the Asia-Pacific context higher degrees are not just CV boosters – they’re door openers for Christian leaders to have influence.
So, does the world need another higher degree? Absolutely! As Havilah puts it:
Myanmar - The path of a servant leader
When asked what his role as principal of Myanmar’s top Christian tertiary training agency requires, CK Hrang Tiam gives a list of responsibilities and daily tasks. As he talks, however, it is obvious that becoming and being an effective leader of MEGST* has and does require much more than routine efficiency – above all, humility and a willingness to serve God by serving others. W.. Read more
When asked what his role as principal of Myanmar’s top Christian tertiary training agency requires, CK Hrang Tiam gives a list of responsibilities and daily tasks. As he talks, however, it is obvious that becoming and being an effective leader of MEGST* has and does require much more than routine efficiency – above all, humility and a willingness to serve God by serving others.When the 8.8.88 pro-democracy uprising in Yangon interrupted his science studies as an 18 year old, he took it as an opportunity to fast and pray, asking God for direction (with a vow):
“If you choose me, open the way for me to go to Bible School. Then I will serve you, and I’ll do it in Myanmar.”
And it’s this attitude of quiet determination and servanthood that has seen him reach and impact many, many people throughout his life, and rise to the status of a true leader - although it’s not a descriptor in which he takes any personal pride.
At this point in his journey his task is to lead MEGST and its mission, and this he does with energy and enthusiasm. He aims to register it officially as an institution (now that being a Christian institution is no longer illegal in Myanmar’s new democracy), grow the rolls, expand it and forge strong relationships with the rest of the Christian community in Yangon.
However, he does not take all the credit for his work or attitude toward it; he acknowledges other Christian leaders who have helped to shape him, including the two previous MEGST principals, Dr Aung Mang and Reverend San Cung Nung, and also his own brother Bishop Dr. CK No Chum. He also sees running the school as a team effort, making most decisions collaboratively with the board, the Executive Committee or the staff – again showing a humble leadership style very counter-cultural to what is typical within Myanmar.
After CK’s courageous prayer as a young adult, his journey of servant leadership immediately began with an actual journey – almost like a physical experience of what would lie ahead for him in life.
CK may have several degrees to his name and head up a tertiary training agency, but his service goes well beyond the well-regarded and sometimes heady world of academia. Whilst still in the Philippines, a missionary he met was curious about why – unlike his many fleeing contemporaries – he wanted to remain in Myanmar. “I am called for mission in Myanmar. I made a vow to the Lord,” was his simple but undeviating reply.
These days, whilst CK’s time is taken up with leading MEGST, Rebecca’s work is a ministry to support children and their mothers subsisting in rubbish dump communities, daily feeding large groups of children with soup made from chicken feet. These acts of service are an incredible example of how – in the hands of humble, servant leaders of integrity attuned to the needs of their community – the very smallest amounts of financial support have an incredible impact for God’s Kingdom.
When CK was interviewed in February 2017 for the principal position at MEGST (an interview he was called to and did not seek out), he was asked two questions: What would you do if you became the principal of MEGST, and what would you do if you did not?
For the first question, he told them of his vision for the school: “Quality plus quantity education” i.e. making courses available in other cities and online; and how he wanted MEGST to be officially registered with the government, believing this would encourage many more potential students to take on theological studies. He also shared his passion to connect MEGST with churches and other Christian organisations in the city and the region.
But it was his answer to the second question that showed his true colours as a servant leader:
“When Aung hired me, I trusted him and served many years as a lecturer, a dean and more. When a new principal was to be elected, although my name was one of the three names proposed, I withdrew from being considered, because principalship was not something I had expected, prayed for, or chased. But today I sit here and you are interviewing me.
He was appointed to the role, and serve as a leader he does. With an energy and enthusiasm that has encouraged many and surprised some, the vision he outlined to answer the first question is now becoming a reality, as he gets on with the big task of building other leaders to send throughout Myanmar and further into Asia-Pacific.
His thoughts on what is needed as the country’s leading Christian tertiary training agency to achieve this?
“We must have good understanding, good relationships, mutual love and concern. Our focus must be on the Kingdom of God. If we stand together we will be strong.”
*Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (MEGST)
WHICH HELPS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LEADER IN GOD'S CHURCH
Pakistan - Leaders develop their theology amidst oppression
In a country where Christians must walk very carefully because of the Muslim majority, a new training programme is building competencies in church leaders to lead in an informed way: carefully, critically and contextually. ‘Contextually’ is key, according to Amjad Masih, student in the new Masters in Theology (MTh) programme at Zarephath Bible Seminary (ZBS) in Pakistan.. Read more
In a country where Christians must walk very carefully because of the Muslim majority, a new training programme is building competencies in church leaders to lead in an informed way: carefully, critically and contextually.
‘Contextually’ is key, according to Amjad Masih, student in the new Masters in Theology (MTh) programme at Zarephath Bible Seminary (ZBS) in Pakistan. He believes a large part of being an informed Christian leader, is about developing a theology of oppression, “because that’s the biggest challenge facing the Pakistani Church today.”
The reason Amjad enrolled to do the MTh programme is not only to enhance his spiritual life, teaching, preaching and pastoring skills – as much as he looks forward to those developing – but it’ll give him the opportunity to “discuss our problems in the present context, and find solutions for our problems in the light of biblical studies… We in Pakistan have many problems which are different from the other parts of the world; through this study [together] we can form our own biblical theology for the solutions of our problems.”
Pakistan has a population of about 193 million, and it is estimated that only about 2% of population are Christian – that’s just a bit short of the entire population of New Zealand.
According to Ashkenaz Asif Khan, ZBS’s Principal from 2005-2018, “Pakistan is a majority Muslim country but there is always a challenge to live in harmony with other religious sects within Islam. Christians belong to this land but they must assert their right to be treated as equal citizens. … Pakistan still allows visas for missionary work and Christians can share the Gospel and sell Bibles on streets. But there is the Blasphemy law also“. Meaning, Christians do walk a fine line being in the minority.‘Contextual relevance’ is a strong value in the curriculums of all the training courses and programmes that LeaDev-Langham supports for Christian leaders across Asia-Pacific. For leaders to equip and strengthen the growing Church – both new converts and mature believers – it is essential that they can apply the Bible and Christian faith appropriately to the issues people face daily such as extreme poverty, a predominance of other religions, and persecution – issues much different to those the Church in the west faces.
The ZBS MTh is ground-breaking for the Pakistani Church, as it is the first time an MTh is offered within the country – prior to this, those wanting to take deep dives into God’s Word, have gone overseas (and there are only two Christian leaders in Pakistan with a PhD in Theology).
It was the availability of the MTh programme, combined with its determined commitment to tackle contextual issues, and not impose a Western framework, that encouraged Amjad and thirteen other Christian leaders to register. As the inaugural group of students at this level, they are grappling with challenging Pakistani questions, and together look for answers in God’s Word, led by the Holy Spirit.
For Amjad, completing an MTh from an internationally accredited training agency is more about being a Leader-builder than a CV-builder. Originally a secondary school teacher, he is passionately committed to passing on his learning and experiences as a leader to other leaders-in-training.
In the ministry for many years, Amjad planted his current church in 2016 with 15 people, and in two years it has grown to nearly 100 participants – an idea of how desperate Pakistanis are for love, life, truth and grace. Amjad is thrilled at being able to apply his MTh studies to help equip his local church: “This theological study will help me to learn the word of God in more depth, and thus will enable me to teach true biblical teaching in church, bible classes and particularly in Bible seminary.”
ZBS in Rawalpindi is one of LeaDev-Langham’s twenty Partner Schools across Asia-Pacific. Like the others, ZBS offers high quality (international standard) leadership training programmes, and stands as a site to strengthen the Christian faith in a context where there are very few contextually relevant learning opportunities for Christian leaders – whether they lead in the Church or in society.
LeaDev-Langham works with ZBS, to support the faculty as they develop and roll-out the MTh and other programmes. This Organisational Development work is done by Allan Harkness, International Programmes & Partnerships Manager, who is Advisory Administrator to the ZBS MTh programme.
Indonesia – Preaching training that starts with the person
In 2012 a young lecturer from the Bandung Theological Seminary – Dwi Maria Handayani – sat in her local church with a growing dissatisfaction with the preaching she was hearing, finding it – in her words – “haphazard, and sometimes not even Biblical.” She was also a lay-preacher in her church and wanted to be the change. She found within h.. Read more
In 2012 a young lecturer from the Bandung Theological Seminary – Dwi Maria Handayani – sat in her local church with a growing dissatisfaction with the preaching she was hearing, finding it – in her words – “haphazard, and sometimes not even Biblical.”
She was also a lay-preacher in her church and wanted to be the change. She found within herself a hunger for something more; a growing sense that preaching the Word of God had to be better and more powerful than both what she herself was doing, and what she was hearing from others.
She enrolled with Langham’s Level 1 Preaching Training. The main thing that drew her to it, was the fact that the training is not aligned to any one denomination. She says it was, at that time, also the only preaching training she knew of.
The first seminar was transformational for Dwi: it opened biblical passages for her and freed those to provide the shape and purpose of the sermons she prepared.
That was the beginning of a leadership growth journey for Dwi, one which is still in progress. As it happens, that Level 1 Preaching Training she attended was the foundational core group when Langham Preaching started in Indonesia – Dwi was there from the start, right at the heart of both the organisation of the work and the delivery of the training, and she went on to do further preaching training with Langham.
Dwi then spent a few years studying a PhD in the Old Testament, as a Langham Scholar. Now whilst maintaining her lectureship, she is also the National Training Co-ordinator for Langham Preaching and part of the National Team for Indonesia.
In a new phase of the adventure, from July 2018, Dwi will move away from direct involvement in the Indonesian work to become Langham Preaching's Associate Director for Asia - a big step, one where she will be working alongside Paul Windsor, well known Kiwi and International Director for Langham’s Preaching Programme.
Dwi’s passion for the growth in the Asian Church is very evident as she shares her future dreams.
Now that Dwi is so familiar with homiletics, she is very aware of other preaching training approaches/courses available both in Indonesia and across Asia. But she is clear that Langham’s training has some significant differences, that make all the difference.
Langham as an organisation, as well as the training, is not denominationally aligned. According to Dwi in the Indonesian context, this means leaders from all sorts of denominations with different foci can get training without being competitive, and that in fact the training helps to build localised unity and collaboration between different churches.
Another distinctive of the training is that it is transferable and simple, as opposed to complicated. As a trainer Dwi is conscious of how often leaders attending the seminars assume that learning must be difficult to be authentic. They are surprised at the profound simplicity of the content, and that it’s not complicated to immediately implement. She says that other homiletic skills training is often complicated and very difficult for learners.
Langham’s training further focuses on preachers themselves, before their preaching skills. This person-focus is taken a step further by nurturing a grassroots movement of preachers committed to biblical preaching: seminar participants are invited to join Preachers’ Clubs in between the seminars. Here they get ongoing support from local co-ordinators who help them to put into practice what they have learnt, both for themselves and when they step behind the pulpit.
Dwi gets obviously excited about this. It was her experience in 2012, and one which she now facilitates by extension as National Training Co-ordinator for thousands of grassroots leaders in the Church across Indonesia – and soon to be Asia.
And the results are telling, because people – especially leaders in the Church – are being transformed.
“Last week we had a meeting of the National Team [for Indonesia] to talk about our vision and mission, about how we can bring growth and change to the Church and therefore to Indonesian society, and I was astounded and very encouraged by the stories I heard from other trainers.
“One trainer shared how a participant said to him ‘I am a pastor for many years, but I actually came to know God for the first time through Langham Preaching’, and another shared a story where one leader said, ‘Prior to doing Langham Preaching Training, I didn’t believe in the Bible as the Word of God, although I was a pastor’. These kinds of comments show me that leaders in the Church in Indonesia are coming to know Christ, and learning how to preach his Word powerfully. This is real growth for the Church in Indonesia, and this good for Indonesian society.”
As Dwi moves into an apostolic role facilitating God’s work across Asia, she is very conscious that she does not work alone. She sees the global partnership in the Church very clearly and believes that the Church in other countries has a significant contribution to make to what is happening in Indonesia and beyond.
Indonesia is a largely Muslim country. According to Dwi, with a population of about 250 million people, there are less than 70 people with PhDs in Biblical related topics from reputable Bible colleges or theological seminaries. There is a real need for sound, contextual, leadership training for Christians and the Church.
“I encourage you to hold onto the Bible as the Word of God – don’t lose this! And stay focused on Christ. You have the opportunity to spill over into Asia, so do it! And I’m not just talking about money, but about Biblical thinking which affects how you live.”
So gone are the days of “haphazard, not even Biblical” preaching in Dwi’s life – and in the lives of thousands of other Christian leaders across Indonesia. Encouragingly, there is a viral move of God amongst His people, as thousands come to know and follow Christ. From New Zealand, we are both humbled and excited to be part of this as we strengthen, encourage and train grassroots preachers.
South Asia - Scattering seeds to the grassroots
Johnson Raih, PhD student in Homiletics and a right hand man to Paul Windsor at SAIACS (South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies) in Bangalore shares a few snippets in his own words about his involvement in Langham Preaching. How did Jesus find you? Jesus found me on my sick bed. I was 16 and living far from home at a boarding school. After a week of sick.. Read more
How did Jesus find you?
Jesus found me on my sick bed. I was 16 and living far from home at a boarding school. After a week of sickness with no loved ones around and no telephone facility, my only hope was to turn to Jesus. During this time of anxiety and fear for my life, the Holy Spirit helped me remember my Sunday school lessons and my parents’ teachings that I must receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour to inherit eternal life. The Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins and I confessed and surrendered my life to him.
What does serving Jesus look like for you this week?
I am pursuing my PhD in Homiletics at SAIACS and so, at the moment, I am spending more time in my research work than in preaching and training preachers. But, I assist Paul Windsor in his teaching of preaching at SAIACS and I am also involved in a local church in Bangalore, volunteering myself as a Sunday school teacher. In the college cell group setting, I try to meet and encourage fellow students.
What do you enjoy about working with Langham Preaching?
I like feasts, especially ‘Word feasts’. Langham Preaching is like this, prioritising the authority of God’s Word ahead of techniques, no matter how vital they are for good preaching. Working with people who revere God’s Word brings deep satisfaction and tranquillity. On a practical front, the simple, yet systematic, materials for personal development and training make the learning process memorable.
Share a resource that has helped you in your preaching.
For me, with the Holy Spirit’s leading, it was John Stott’s book, I Believe in Preaching that influenced my call into the preaching ministry. It has become one of the pillars that anchored my heart in the necessity, power and confidence of preaching. Darrell Johnson’s The Glory of Preaching and Timothy Keller’s Preaching have also had a tremendous impact on my understanding and passion as a preacher.
Bangladesh - Life-long learning and miracles for a Leader
Ask Champa Barmon, librarian at College of Christian Theology Bangladesh (CCTB), for one word to sum up her life journey, and she responds with “miracles”. At different points from her birth through to her present leadership role, she has sensed God has been at work in very special ways for her. Champa’s birth was difficult – and she arrived safely only after family me.. Read more
Ask Champa Barmon, librarian at College of Christian Theology Bangladesh (CCTB), for one word to sum up her life journey, and she responds with “miracles”. At different points from her birth through to her present leadership role, she has sensed God has been at work in very special ways for her.Champa’s birth was difficult – and she arrived safely only after family members prayed during her delivery. Champa’s father, a plumber by trade, was Hindu, and when he became a Christian before Champa was born, he was the only Christian in his village and among his relatives. Ill-treatment and ostracism by others marked those early years. Later, Champa’s father became a Lutheran pastor, but was often not paid, and so the family income was always very low and they grew up with poverty ever present.
However, God provided in special ways for the finance for Champa’s schooling and job training, and after graduating she was able to get a secretarial job, leading to a role in the HR department of a Christian hospital. While working she was also studying in CCTB TEE courses (Theological Education by Extension), and these helped her develop her confidence in God as the One who could provide for all her needs.
Her job paid relatively well, and she could have moved into a number of positions, but instead she resigned, partly to help take care of her sick father, but also to allow the space for God to point her to wherever he wanted her to serve.
‘Wherever’ turned out to be as a librarian assistant at CCTB. Later Champa become the librarian, the role she continues to hold, one which is varied. Of course, there is the constant, routine activity common to any library, but built into her role is time to translate TEE courses from English into Bangla and to help expatriate faculty members cope with the challenges of teaching cross-culturally. It’s a lot more than about cataloguing and shelving books!
Being surrounded by library resources also has helped Champa to grow in her faith: “I need to know what’s in the books in the library,” she comments, “so that I can adequately advise students. And it is really encouraging to see excitement in the students and changes in their lives as they draw on the wisdom and knowledge of the library resources.”
Champa is readily able to empathise with the students: While serving in the library she has earned her BTh and MA degrees, to complement a Masters in Social Science. She is presently studying for an MDiv., grateful that CCTB allows time for study in her work schedule.
Champa is keenly aware that there are very few women in Christian leadership in Bangladesh. She muses, “We face many challenges and limited opportunities.” In response, she has reached out to the wives of male students providing them with a study group to challenge, support and equip them for their roles in ministry and leadership. Champa herself is a young mum: Married in 2013 to Sanjeev (who works as a translator for an NGO), she has a young daughter – “a gift from God” – and is expecting another child in early 2018.
Champa summarises her work in a way that shows the impact of it:
We celebrate Champa’s “God of miracles”; that he will continue to enable her – and others like her at Partner Schools across Asia-Pacific – to lead in the crucial role of providing learning resources for the fast-growing Church.
Myanmar - Bridging the language resource gap
“Even though we’re teaching English, we are training people for mission.” In May LeaDev-Langham’s ESOL volunteers returned to New Zealand from their 13th Summer English School (SES) in Yangon, Myanmar. Working within MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), the ESOL team is headed up by co-ordinator Bronwyn Schick. Her passion fo.. Read more
In May LeaDev-Langham’s ESOL volunteers returned to New Zealand from their 13th Summer English School (SES) in Yangon, Myanmar.
Working within MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), the ESOL team is headed up by co-ordinator Bronwyn Schick. Her passion for mission casts a vision for the project far beyond simply teaching Burmese speakers correct use of English grammar.
“Even though we’re teaching English, we’re training people for mission,” shares Bronwyn.
This is one way the ministries of LeaDev-Langham bridge the resource gap for young emerging leaders in the Church in Myanmar. When young leaders can speak, read and write English, this opens up the way for them to learn so much more about what it means to lead others in the fast-growing church. Simply put, many more resources become available to them.
Bronwyn frames the contribution of the project this way:
“I can’t go and live in a very poor animist/Buddhist part of Yangon and spend my days talking to people about the Lord, to people who struggle with living, who live in the most appalling conditions. But a young man called Tana can and I taught him at SES.
“I can’t establish a music school in Myitkyina where young people come to learn to play a variety of instruments, learn to be worship leaders, and learn to teach music. These young people come from Nagaland, from the Shan State as well as in the Kachin State. I can’t do any of that. But a young man called Phong Shane is doing that … someone I taught many years ago.”
According to Bronwyn, even though young people are coming to MEGST to study and learn English, the school embeds an ethic of practical mission into the courses and culture of the organisation right from the start. Students are expected to be involved in mission immediately, not just when their studies are complete.
“These young people are so passionate about making a difference in the world; they don’t isolate themselves from it while they are studying.”
The mission statement of MEGST is displayed in the chapel: “MEGST trains and equips Christians to be Christ-like leaders who build up the church and the nation of Myanmar and beyond.”
As the Kiwi Church, we often see ourselves as the missionary ‘senders’. But our brothers and sisters in Myanmar have the same vision – to see the Gospel of Jesus go out to all people. So we stand together and encourage each other in the work we do for Him, each playing our part.
This year’s ESOL team sent 9 volunteer trainers in tag teams from February through to May, and will continue to work with MEGST into the future.
learning resources are provided by generous supporters & Kiwi volunteers
Papua New Guinea - Bringing contextually relevant and Biblically accurate truth
“Instead of allowing our beliefs to influence scripture, we need to allow scripture to influence our beliefs,” emphasises George Mombi, from Christian Leaders’ Training College, PNG, currently working on his Ph.D at Otago University, Dunedin. Prior to studying George had an apostolic role with Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) in PNG. He spent some.. Read more
Prior to studying George had an apostolic role with Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) in PNG. He spent some of his time travelling in PNG, visiting Bible schools and colleges, helping them make progress and develop better curriculum. He also organised training workshops for Bible Schools Principals and Deans at CLTC.
What concerns him deeply in what he saw was how readily and easily Christians and the church within his home region are influenced by sectarianism, a prosperity-based gospel, and a dualistic devotion to sorcery, magic and spirit powers.
“When it comes to the idea of having a ‘good life’ – or gutpela sindaun – as we call it, the Melanesian people have allowed a Melanesian view to influence their Christian beliefs,” says Mombi. “The letter to the Colossians addresses this and explains what ‘fullness’ in life is actually about. It’s not only about material prosperity, but about relationship with God. My research looks at this section of Colossians, and contextualises it into the challenges the Melanesian church faces.”
Multiple deceptive influences in the region’s church mean there is a lot of division in the church, also of great concern to George. He is encouraged by the potential for the reconciliative role that CLTC and his future ministry will have:
"In the Melanesian region, CLTC is strategically placed because it is interdenominational, and my PhD is also strategic: Through CLTC I am passing on the knowledge I have gained to men and women who will go back to their churches equipped with contextually relevant yet accurate biblical insights and skills, to teach and disciple followers of Christ."
He hopes that in elevating the influence of accurate interpretation of scripture to many different, smaller Bible schools – which feed student leaders to study at CLTC – this will significantly strengthen the church and reduce the amount of sectarianism and invidious beliefs amongst the region’s Christians.
Once his Ph.D is complete, George will return to PNG and CLTC, to continue teaching there, and also continue working with the region’s smaller bible colleges. Formal relationships are already secured with colleges in the Solomon Islands. His study is currently supported through Leadership Development's Faculty Training and he is also a Langham Scholar.
“Kiwi Christians started funding CLTC in 1964. Your support and involvement helped to get it where it is now, and CLTC has trained more than 2000 leaders from the region. Please continue with this good work; helping the spread of the Gospel across the Pacific, and changing lives of people under spirit powers, sorcery, and magic, and helping people change and live a truly better life by trusting God and having a relationship with him.
"I am excited about what God is doing and going to do in the region: investing in my training is strategic and important for helping to change beliefs across the region, and see many more come to know the true God.”
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
Myanmar - PhD research restores God’s place for Christian women
We all dream about being part of something beyond ourselves. One of the joys of serving God in His Kingdom, is knowing that as we do play our part – however seemingly small – He is able to take that and multiply it far beyond what we could ever do on our own. We are very excited to share in this story how God lines up the right person, in the right place, at the right time. On .. Read more
We all dream about being part of something beyond ourselves. One of the joys of serving God in His Kingdom, is knowing that as we do play our part – however seemingly small – He is able to take that and multiply it far beyond what we could ever do on our own. We are very excited to share in this story how God lines up the right person, in the right place, at the right time. On this occasion, for a turn-key change in the church Myanmar.
You may know of Anna Sui Hluan, from Yangon, Myanmar. She was a doctoral student at Otago University in Dunedin until 2016, and is now a senior faculty member at MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology).
Growing up in a Christian home, as a child Anna came to know Jesus as her Saviour. Her parents were in ministry, and after completing high school, Anna went to the USA to study biblical languages, where she came into a much stronger experience of her faith. Returning to Myanmar, she became a part-time teacher at MEGST, and discovered a growing passion for her country and seeing its people come to follow Jesus.
“I have never felt tempted to remain in the USA or New Zealand. God has put a call in my heart for my people – so much so that when I was overseas, and heard a story from Myanmar, tears would pour down my face. I had a very, very strong urge to come back,” says Anna.
Anna worked on her doctorate from 2011 to 2016, and is now a lecturer. As an outstanding translator and linguist, she looked at how the biblical translation done in 1823 into Burmese, has quite naturally helped to form the theological understanding of the nation’s Christians. Her research discovered some flaws which have had a negative impact on how women see themselves and their service before God. There are further prevailing influences: Myanmar is a nation with a long and violent history of domination. It is also a nation where Buddhism is the dominant religion, thereby creating a norm which strongly opposes women saying or doing very much within a faith context.
At MEGST, about half of all students are women, so Anna is an important role model and mentor. Through her work every few years, she is raising up other leaders; 'multiplying radical disciples' in the church in Myanmar, where it is now no longer illegal to be a follower of Jesus.
“I have a privileged and unique position because of my theological training. But I don’t think that opportunity to minister should only be for the privileged. I want to see more women involved in the church.”
Aung Mang, Chair of MEGST recommends Anna highly:
“We are so glad Anna is back here at MEGST. Anna is a much needed influence on other Christian women, and an outstanding Bible teacher. Her research is helping us to develop a body of knowledge, pertinent to our people, history, language, and culture, and the equipping of servant leaders in the church here.”
Many generous Kiwis contributed to Anna's study scholarship.
“I am really glad to have now completed my PhD and be back in ministry at MEGST. My heart is in ministry – it is my desire and heartbeat.”
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Myanmar - Bridging the gap between calling and confidence
“I currently run three ministries and feel that God is speaking to me to start a fourth business-ministry on a national level this year,” says Dwe Nan of Yangon, emerging Christian leader, and mum to 35 children (two by birth, the rest adopted). At 36 years, Dwe Nan is a grass-roots leader who keeps looking for ways to be the difference in her community and netw.. Read more
“I currently run three ministries and feel that God is speaking to me to start a fourth business-ministry on a national level this year,” says Dwe Nan of Yangon, emerging Christian leader, and mum to 35 children (two by birth, the rest adopted).
At 36 years, Dwe Nan is a grass-roots leader who keeps looking for ways to be the difference in her community and networks. As she puts it: “to share Christ with Buddhists or whoever else does not know Christ, and if necessary use words.” And this courageous and determined MEGST* MDiv and biblical studies graduate (2012), is certainly living out the Gospel, rather than just talking about it.
She actively leads, with her husband, a church plant focused on Buddhist converts. Currently meeting in a rental house, they are shortly to start building a facility. They have in the past financially supported these new converts, especially with education for their children. In the same rental house, Dwe Nan looks after 33 children, mostly orphans, but a few have solo parents. Grace Haven Children Home cares for children from 3 to 18 years, with the children themselves pitching in with cooking and chores.
Then for the last three years Dwe Nan has run a ministry to uni students at Government Technology Institute in Thanlyin, an hour’s drive from downtown Yangon. This is set up as a boarding shelter for twenty students and she’s pulled in two other MEGST graduates to assist.
“The vision of this ministry is to impart the knowledge of Christ and biblical principles into the lives of these future leaders of the country in one way or another. I want to see highly educated country leaders who know Christ, so they would be blessings to Myanmar and beyond. However, the students are not open enough that Christ be preached to them directly. So we use indirect ways and activities to share the gospel with them, such as playing social games, football competitions, teaching gospel songs and any activities purposefully created for a day or two.”
Dwe Nan believes what made the biggest difference for her were the several years she spent as a student at MEGST. Getting the opportunity to study bridged the gap between a nascent call from God, and the biblical knowledge and ministry confidence to actually respond and get active in her community – in a country now newly open to the Gospel.
“Studying at MEGST helped me believe in my leadership gift, get important skills and confidence, and respond to God’s call to reach out and lead those around me.”
and God is one who makes it all happen and grows all of us, wherever we live in the world.”
“Without sponsorship from overseas..., I could not have successfully completed my study at MEGST; it made a huge difference to me and my family. Christian workers in Myanmar lack finances for education, as our income is used just on surviving.”
“When you give your support to schools like MEGST, Myanmar’s future receives more educated Christian ministers; leaders who are taught biblically, and who actually live out this teaching in the communities they serve – it is the best witness!”
With the same clarity of her next action in God’s Kingdom, Dwe Nan sees the international partnership for the Gospel that the New Zealand contribution brings:
“Your investment in students like me is part of your mission in Asia… when you and I work together in this way, we are co-workers in the Kingdom, and God is one who makes it all happen and grows all of us, wherever we live in the world.”
Simply put, the one sponsorship of this young, emerging leader made a huge difference; it bridged the gap between poverty and provision, calling and confidence, not only for her but those around her: children, orphans, struggling solo parents, students, Buddhist converts and (shortly) food workers in Yangon and surrounds.
Now that’s multiplied impact for God’s Kingdom we can rejoice in!
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Indonesia - “Our little congregation was a light in a very dark region.”
The words of Rev Lamri, who graduated from Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS) in 2004. He’s what we call a ‘Radical Disciple’; the kind of leaders the church in Asia Pacific needs as it grows rapidly in spite of extreme poverty and pressure. Rev Lamri tells his own story: “God granted me the privilege of studying theology at the Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS). .. Read more
The words of Rev Lamri, who graduated from Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS) in 2004. He’s what we call a ‘Radical Disciple’; the kind of leaders the church in Asia Pacific needs as it grows rapidly in spite of extreme poverty and pressure. Rev Lamri tells his own story:
“God granted me the privilege of studying theology at the Tyrannus Bible Seminary (TBS). I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in 2004, and since then, I have been abundantly blessed in my work for Him.
I have served as a seminary teacher, state civil employee, an ordained pastor and an evangelist. I will never forget the first church I pastored. It was located in a very bad town. The environment was oppressive and evil. Our little congregation was literally a light in that very dark region where paganism, prostitution and gambling were prevalent. It was hard to evangelize there.
Looking back, those were very difficult years, but God taught me important lessons I needed to learn. He challenged me to walk by faith and not by sight.
Today I am a pastor of a small local church. The culmination of the past years of my experiences in ministry has proven to make me an even more effective leader and worker for Jesus. I am grateful for all I have learned in the classroom at TBS and outside of the classroom serving as Jesus’ hands and feet.
Thank you for taking part in the special work here in Asia!”
to make me an even more effective leader and worker for Jesus.
and outside of the classroom serving as Jesus’ hands and feet."
In today’s world of religious, social and political extremes—the term “radical” very likely conjures up more negative connotations than positive ones. Yet, it’s a word that comes from the Latin root radix meaning “a root.” In this context, the picture of a radical disciple is not one of blind, fervent obedience, but instead, a follower of Jesus who is rooted in and responding to the truth of God’s Word.
When confronted with the reality of social inequalities in Asia-Pacific, it is clear that more radical disciples are needed. This is why we support the development of Christian leaders as they become "rooted and grounded" in God's Word, and then go on to make a multiplier difference in their communities, churches and nations - courageous men and women of God.
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
Syria - Schools of harmony and safety for young women
Sylvia*, Martine* and Diane* are three young women who have gone from living comfortably in homes in their own country, to living in tents in a foreign country. They have lost everything familiar to them; life has been completely recalibrated. For all three future hope is "pinned" on a sewing school which started in September in the Bekaa Valley. Harmony is the name of the second school .. Read more
Harmony is the name of the second school started by Esther* and her team who work with Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. With the success of She is Safe (originally called Hook & Thread) in the first half of the year, the team received enough financial support from supporters in other countries to replicate what worked well by starting a second school.
In an exciting turn of events a Christian man from Syria, also displaced, and a well-known designer and sewing teacher has now joined the project to lead this sewing school. He brings remarkable talent, experience and expertise to the project, and lives locally with his wife and children.
“Initially I thought a male teacher would be a problem,” shares Esther. “But in fact the girls are really excited to be taught by such a knowledgeable and talented designer.” There are 35 young women in the school, each with stories similar to Sylvia, Martine and Diane:
Sylvia (21) escaped to Lebanon with her fiancé after they lost everything in Syria. Her fiancé suddenly disappeared and she is alone with no parents or friends. She lives in a tent with some extended family members.
Martine’s (24) husband went missing three years ago, and she has not heard from or about him since then. Her dream is to secure a future for her 4 year old daughter, free of all the problems she currently faces.
Diane (19) is the oldest of 7 siblings. Despite have a physical disability she works with her father to support their family, paying for the schooling of her brothers and sisters.
Their homes have been destroyed, possessions stolen, and they all have a dream of pulling themselves and their families out of the current dire situation. Harmony not only gives them training and support, but a focus for their talents and a community to belong to.
She is Safe school also has 35 students; 19 graduated in November, some of whom work for Esther’s ministry sewing clothes for children in the camp. The others have managed to find employment now that they have skills. Over the last few months She is Safe took the training one step further, educating on small business development and how to work independently. Graduates were also given sewing machines. One graduate has started her own tent business with great success.
“All these young women dream of returning to their homes in Syria, once the war is over. And they hope to work. God willing, they will return with a sewing machine in one hand, and a new, renewed faith in God in the other,” shares Esther.
*Names changed
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Find out how to get involved
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Asia-Pacific - Books that do not collect dust
“If you have a book in our language (context), you have Christ in our culture.” So says Rahul, who works to equip the church throughout northern India, as part of a team led by Finny Philip, one of the contributors to the South Asia Bible Commentary (SABC). Finny heads up a training institution in Udaipur which sends students to plant churches and help equip rural leader.. Read more
“If you have a book in our language (context), you have Christ in our culture.” So says Rahul, who works to equip the church throughout northern India, as part of a team led by Finny Philip, one of the contributors to the South Asia Bible Commentary (SABC).
Finny heads up a training institution in Udaipur which sends students to plant churches and help equip rural leaders in the region, and he also operates a publishing house for Christian books, including the SABC.
In Asia-Pacific, most leaders have little or no theological training and few if any Bible study books, but they do have a Bible. A commentary gives them a tool for understanding and preaching the Bible. Commentaries do not collect dust on the shelf, but equip leaders on the frontlines to teach the Bible carefully and contextually to believers, both new and mature.
The SABC is a creative one-volume whole-Bible commentary released in October 2015. It contains the collective insight of over 90 contributors (45 different authors providing commentary, and others offering pertinent, applicational articles in the context of the commentary) who either originate from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, or reside and minister in the region. Contributors are drawn from a wide range of denominational backgrounds, ensuring the book’s appeal to a broad South Asian audience – and globally. Issues examined through the lens of the Bible and South Asian culture include the caste system; violence against women; God among other gods; gurus and godmen; indigenous music; and worship, rituals and festivals.
For this pastor and his wife in the Rajasthan province of India – and for many leaders like them across Asia-Pacific – the SABC is an invaluable resource as they shepherd new believers with God’s Word. Pictured below is their congregation, many of whom walk miles to reach this humble building on a hill. Not pictured are the people gathered outside, listening to the message through a loud speaker. Leaders in Pasifika find The African Bible Commentary (ABC) to be a very valuable resource. This is a one-volume commentary providing a contextual and readable guide to the entire Bible. It is written by 70 African scholars from both English and French-speaking countries. It is available in five languages, with two other translations close to completion. The peoples across Pasifika resonate with many of the cultural beliefs and practices of Africans. So church leaders in Pasifika have responded enthusiastically to the ABC, finding it useful as they seek to interpret and teach the Bible accurately and well. Included in the volume are articles on contextually important subjects such as angels, demons and powers; family and community; female genital mutilation; AIDS; ancestor worship; syncretism; street children; the role of women in the church; witchcraft; and more.
Research (from Africa) shows for every commentary sent to a leader, a minimum of 10 – 12 other leaders use it, and 50 – 100 new believers benefit from the preaching of each of those leaders. Multiply this by more than 100,000 volumes already distributed and millions of lives are impacted!
This partnership saw over 300 contextual commentaries gifted to pastors and leaders equipping them to lead others to know Christ more deeply and grow in God’s Word.
Thank you generous New Zealand!
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North West Myanmar - More library, more learning & more leaders
Eight years ago independent and uncooperative Bible schools in Kalaymyo, next to Chin State, set aside their tribal and denominational differences to collaborate in their leadership training ventures. They established the Kalaymyo Consortium of Bible Colleges (KCBC) and out of that has developed the Kalaymyo Christian Resource Centre (KCRC). Today the KCRC is the regional go-to venue.. Read more
Eight years ago independent and uncooperative Bible schools in Kalaymyo, next to Chin State, set aside their tribal and denominational differences to collaborate in their leadership training ventures. They established the Kalaymyo Consortium of Bible Colleges (KCBC) and out of that has developed the Kalaymyo Christian Resource Centre (KCRC).
Today the KCRC is the regional go-to venue for Christian leaders – in ministry or in training – to study the Bible, deepen their faith, be equipped to share the Good news of God’s Kingdom, and learn English. Hungry to grow, they have access to reference books, computers, the internet, printers, and lectures.
be equipped to share the Good news of God’s Kingdom, and learn English.
Since the Centre was fitted out in 2013:
- Over 4 500 reference books have been collected and catalogued.
- 200 people access the KCRC weekly.
- There is a growing spirit of fellowship and collaboration between the Bible schools in KCBC, and this is particularly strong between the six 'full members'.
- Together they offer a 20 week combined full time intensive English course to all incoming students, taught by local ESOL teachers trained by Kiwi ESOL teacher trainer professionals.
- 18 other colleges have strong links. Faculty members from all the schools use the library, as do church leaders and individual Christians from across the denominations.
- The standard of teaching across the full KCBC member schools has improved, as faculty are equipped with teaching and learning skills.
Dr Aung Mang, Chair of MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) in Yangon, was there at the start to help facilitate co-operation between the Bible schools. A respected Christian leader throughout Myanmar, he was born and raised in the Chin State. Knowing the social and religious terrain inside out, he’s deeply encouraged by the progress of the last seven years.
"The KCBC and the joint Library and Resource Centre have helped to bring unity to many local Bible schools, to many of the churches, and has greatly improved the quality of education for young people. It is a very big step forward for the Christian faith in the region."
Now here’s the very encouraging link for us in New Zealand: The success of the KCBC can be directly attributed to LeaDev-Langham’s Kiwi network of support for Asian Christian leaders.
Since KCBC was founded, Kiwis have generously given money, skills and/or voluntary time to stand alongside the KCBC leaders. Relationships have been developed. And through this partnership a remarkable vision for the church’s growth and development in the NW Myanmar region through united quality Christian education, has now become a reality. It’s a tangible “fellowship in the Gospel of Christ”! (Phil 1:5)
Read a blog on the history of the KCBC Library and Resource Centre by Dr Rod Edwards, a Kiwi educator who is a volunteer LeaDev-Langham consultant and trainer for KCBC.
From strength to strength
The scope and scale of the Resource Centre is set to expand.
As the KCBC full member schools continue to work closely together, they have developed a long-term plan to enhance the quality of their leadership training initiative. Their plan is by 2020 - 2022 to have:
- A fully combined 3rd and 4thyear Bachelor of Theology degree in English, and have all lectures held at the Resource Centre.
- A unified BTh curriculum for all schools, for all four years.
- All the 3rd and 4th year classes of all the KCBC member Bible schools held at the Resource Centre.
- Achieved Asia Theological Association accreditation for the KCBC BTh programme, ensuring a quality, internationally recognised tertiary qualification for students.
Bricks and Mortar
To achieve this 2022 vision more physical space is needed – it's a matter of ‘bricks and mortar’ to expand the current facilities. More the half of the total expansion costs have already been gifted by one donor. We’re now looking for matching finance. Jim Russell, A Kiwi volunteer who has been working at KCBC intermittently since 2013 makes the following comment:
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India, PNG and Myanmar - A mission for retirement: supporting leadership development.
For most Kiwis, retirement is about retreating to the bach to grow tomatoes, watching the sun set over a good pinot, and taking sojourns to Auckland to spend time with the grandkids. Not so Rod and Denise* Edwards. “Opportunity to live in Asia challenged us. Two years in an ordinary Filipino neighbourhood exposed us to Asian perspectives; it was to shape our retirement,” they s.. Read more
For most Kiwis, retirement is about retreating to the bach to grow tomatoes, watching the sun set over a good pinot, and taking sojourns to Auckland to spend time with the grandkids. Not so Rod and Denise* Edwards. “Opportunity to live in Asia challenged us. Two years in an ordinary Filipino neighbourhood exposed us to Asian perspectives; it was to shape our retirement,” they share.
With that immersion in Asian culture came another shock: Christian leaders leaving for post-graduate courses stay overseas (95% of them). The concern to address this became the ‘retirement’ mission for this energetic couple. Both highly qualified and experienced specialists in their fields, Rod and Denise now spend the greater part of their time working across four of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools in India, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea. They support Christian leaders in the Partner Schools to have greater impact, by improving in-country theological education and training, assisting Christians with post graduate qualifications, retaining them in their countries and committed to local church discipleship and evangelism.
As a couple, they have a passion for learning. They are all about quality Christian education, which is why volunteering their time and expertise to LeaDev-Langham is such a good fit. “There was a strong sense of the matching of LeaDev-Langham’s needs and focus areas with our competencies, skills, and desire for mission, so it really works.”
A vocational educator, with a doctorate in Education, Rod’s work history includes 33 years with the Bible College of New Zealand (now Laidlaw College) where he was Student Dean and Head of Department, Practical Theology. He has been a Council Member for the Churches' Education Commission (30 years), on the CLTC NZ Advisory Council and the Slavic Gospel Association, as well as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Bethlehem Tertiary Institute in Tauranga.
This is particularly important for a deepening of faith and discipleship in the church, and to defend it against erroneous teaching and cult-like pressures.”
Dr Rod Edwards
At LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools, Rod mostly supports the faculty to gain depth in an understanding of learning and skills in teaching. In cultures where learning is mostly by rote, critical thought and analysis – even on a tertiary level – are hugely lacking. To improve the quality of courses offered to students, this pedagogical rigour with the lecturers and teachers is very important.
“Many lecturers are teaching from their own study notes, now over a decade old,” shares Rod. “What I am working to encourage with the faculty staff, is a biblical culture of ongoing learning, where learners understand, internalise, think and act. This is particularly important for a deepening of faith and discipleship in the church, and to defend it against erroneous teaching and cult-like pressures.”
Denise trained as a nurse, but after obtaining a MA Social Science specialising in Human Resource Leadership, moved into senior management at Laidlaw College, as Human Resources Manager and later also as Quality Assurance Manager. She then became LeaDev-Langham’s Admin Manager, and was also the Chair of Pioneers for several years. Understandably, her speciality support area with Partner Schools is quality assurance and accreditation – an absolute essential if they are to attract and keep local students, and gain credibility in the global education arena.
“Partner Schools aspire to offer quality, globally aligned theological education that is compliant with accreditation standards. To help achieve this, I work with faculty and admin staff to encourage a culture of continuous improvement, moving from ‘being happy’ to developing the capability of self-appraisal and ongoing growth.” Again a big challenge in an educational setting where questions have historically had only one right answer!
To help achieve this, I work with faculty and admin staff to encourage a culture of continuous improvement."
Denise Edwards
For eighteen months, up until June 2016, Denise worked closely with MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) staff on an allied flagship impact assessment process: PEP (Programme Evaluation Project). One hundred and thirty seven alumni who graduated between 1998 and 2015 were surveyed to see what impact their time at MEGST had had on their lives and ministries, with key points for improvement being incorporated back into the MEGST programmes. Read more here.
Rod and Denise’s roles mesh well together, and sometimes so do their flight times! In the past few years, they have both spent almost more time out of New Zealand than at home – what a way to spend a ‘retirement’! Why?
“Well, it’s simply a matter of ‘to whom much has been given, much is required’,” responds Rod. “In the west, we have much more than others; we need to respond accordingly.”
They encourage other skilled Christians to volunteer through LeaDev-Langham: “Go for it! The needs are huge, but the rewards are also huge.”
learning resources are provided by generous supporters & Kiwi volunteers
Myanmar - Programme Evaluation of MEGST shows that 83% of Alumni are in ministry
During 2016, Phase 1 of the Programme Evaluation Project (PEP) of MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), LeaDev-Langham’s Partner School in Yangon, gathered data and perceptions regarding the effectiveness of their programmes. Research included identifying and measuring the impact that Alumni, between the years of 1998 and 2015, have had in their churche.. Read more
During 2016, Phase 1 of the Programme Evaluation Project (PEP) of MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology), LeaDev-Langham’s Partner School in Yangon, gathered data and perceptions regarding the effectiveness of their programmes.
Research included identifying and measuring the impact that Alumni, between the years of 1998 and 2015, have had in their churches, Christian organisations and within the communities they serve.
LeaDev-Langham’s volunteer worked alongside MEGST staff to achieve Phase 1 research, and the initial findings were shared at the MEGST 20th Anniversary Celebrations held in June 2016. Findings and recommendations were also given to the MEGST Executive Committee for consideration regarding next steps and improvements for MEGST. Read the Summary of PEP's findings and the implications for MEGST:
Summary of PEP of MEGST September 2016 (311 KB)
Results showed that 83% of Alumni are in ministries which emphasize pastoring, Bible colleges, and youth, women and children. Click on this infographic to view some more of the findings.
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
Papua New Guinea - Building leadership development capacity
Meet Maxon Mani and George Mombi, two leaders from Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) who are helping to build the church in PNG, Melanesia and Pasifika. CLTC is giving leaders from across PNG the opportunity to study the Word of God at a Masters level and develop their leadership capacity within their own context. In 2015 CLTC celebrated 50 years serving as the major English .. Read more
Meet Maxon Mani and George Mombi, two leaders from Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) who are helping to build the church in PNG, Melanesia and Pasifika.
CLTC is giving leaders from across PNG the opportunity to study the Word of God at a Masters level and develop their leadership capacity within their own context.
In 2015 CLTC celebrated 50 years serving as the major English medium Bible and Theological college equipping men and women for leadership across the full spectrum of Evangelical churches and their communities of Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, plus some students from Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa in the wider Pacific region. Commencing with secondary level certificate courses in 1965 and progressing steadily through to tertiary level Diploma (1968) and primary degree programmes (1979), since 2008 the CLTC has included master of Theology teaching to keep pace with the increasing needs of the Melanesian churches. Throughout that same half century the College has also equipped key Melanesians, mostly CLTC graduates themselves, to join the teaching faculty on its three campuses at Banz in the Highlands and at Port Moresby and Lae, the region’s two major cities. As at 2016, all but two full-time Bible teachers in the Diploma and primary degree programmes are Melanesians. Papua New Guineans, Solomon Islanders and Vanuatuans who have graduated from the MTh programme now carry the major teaching responsibilities in the Diploma and primary degree (BTh) programmes.
And now New Zealand is involved: Mombi and Mani are both currently studying doctorates at the University of Otago with the intention of returning to CLTC to contribute even more.
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Myanmar - Proposing a spiritual revolution of non-violence
LeaDev-Langham’s first Langham Scholar financially supported by Langham Partnership NZ, and studying in New Zealand, has completed his PhD dissertation. Meet Aung Htoo, a lecturer from MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) in Yangon, who has spent the last five years at Laidlaw College in Auckland, researching, writing and taking a deep look into a theology of no.. Read more
LeaDev-Langham’s first Langham Scholar financially supported by Langham Partnership NZ, and studying in New Zealand, has completed his PhD dissertation.
Meet Aung Htoo, a lecturer from MEGST (Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) in Yangon, who has spent the last five years at Laidlaw College in Auckland, researching, writing and taking a deep look into a theology of non-violence for his home country which – in spite of recent and hopeful changes – is still beset by a culture and history of extreme violence.
It’s understandable subject matter for Htoo; he was a teenager in the thick of Myanmar’s notorious ‘8888’ uprisings where thousands of Burmese people from all walks of life were killed by the military dictatorship for protesting their lack of freedom. A quick online search gives an idea of just how extensive the damage and loss of life was.
Htoo says that at the time, as a young evangelical Christian, he found himself in a dilemma:
“To my surprise many Christian leaders were very silent about the issues. Since Christianity was regarded as the foreign or colonial religion [Buddhism is the prevailing belief], Christians were silent about politics, culture and social justice issues. Some of the Christian leaders and pastors even condemned those who participated in those protests. The church I was part of was Pentecostal in style, so the spiritual dimension of life was emphasised and political and social justice dimensions were disregarded. So it’s this issue I am mad about and dissatisfied with, which is why I wanted to write about it.”
Again in 2007 during another uprising, Htoo tells how many Buddhists where shot by soldiers. He recalls that some Christians expressed their happiness that Buddhists were killing each other.
Htoo takes a creative approach to this big and pertinent question, using the perspectives, writings and practices of three well known advocates of social justice. The official thesis title is “A study of Martin Luther King Jnr and Aung San Suu Kyi through the eyes of Walter Wink, with special reference to the political context of Myanmar.”
Of those three characters, King is probably the most well-known. Suu Kyi is Myanmar’s recently elected Foreign Minister and leader of the National League for Democracy, an acclaimed figure and emblem of freedom for most Burmese. You’d know who Wink (1935 – 2012) is if you’d ever studied theology: an American theologian known for his work and advocacy of non-violent resistance. Htoo analyses them individually, and then has them in dialogue interaction on the topics of leadership, religion and ethical principles.
In the final part he surveys the political history of Myanmar and then looks at it through the outcome of the three-way dialogue. He says it is clear that all three know and believe that violence has a spiritual dimension; that violence multiplies violence, and conversely non-violence multiplies non-violence.
“So this means the challenge for Suu Kyi [now that she’s in leadership] is to change the tradition of that invisible or inner-nature of violence in politics, and that’s the spiritual revolution.”
This is how Htoo puts it in his dissertation:
“Self-examination is hugely emphasised in both religions [Christianity and Buddhism]. But the problem is that our ego or self is, itself, a product of the web of socialisation. Thus Wink stresses that it is imperative to die not only to our ego, but also to the Powers. That means we are to notice the power of socialisation – how our culture and society has significantly impacted on us, whether we are conscious of it or not. We are not to be trapped by the outer forms of religion, and forgetful of its spirit. If it is so, the consequence will always be calamitous. Focusing on the external forms of religion at the cost of its interiority always adds fuel to the flames of the Domination System.”
A timely subject given Myanmar’s new democracy. Htoo believes that what he is proposing is “not going to be appealing” to the older generation of Christians, but for younger believers it will significantly stimulate and challenge their thinking.
Htoo returns to MEGST to lecture, but he says that this is just the beginning of his work on the subject; he wants to expand it to other areas and will be taking it further.
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Syria - Sewing torn lives back together
What do you do when you’re a young, widowed mother, with limited education, no home and no money to buy food for your children? You get sewing of course! Well that’s what the young Syrian widows of the tent towns in the Bekaa Valley, near Zahleh in Lebanon are doing. Meet Mara* who is facilitating the development of a grass roots collective of widows who are taking up their embroi.. Read more
What do you do when you’re a young, widowed mother, with limited education, no home and no money to buy food for your children? You get sewing of course! Well that’s what the young Syrian widows of the tent towns in the Bekaa Valley, near Zahleh in Lebanon are doing.
Meet Mara* who is facilitating the development of a grass roots collective of widows who are taking up their embroidery needles in a bid to provide for their children, restore their dignity and stand against the war atrocities.
When a young widow approached Mara one day at church to ask for financial help, Mara had nothing to give her. The widow then said she could sew, knit and embroider, so Mara asked for a few samples. When they arrived, they were beautiful and in no time at all, sales were secured for the items. Mara asked the widow for a few more, and again these sold very well.
So Mara had the idea of asking other widows without income to also create items, and in no time at all, Hook & Thread was formed: a growing grass-roots collective of Syrian widows from all over Lebanon and Syria who are earning money and standing against the circumstances within their country.
“With brave hearts and good will, we started the stitching project,” says Mara. “As it says in Proverbs 31, ‘Who can find a virtuous woman? She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands, and does not eat the bread of idleness.’ By participating, a widow can manage her own life with dignity, earn some money to support her family, and feel safety and connection with others.”
Mara works alongside Esther* who is LeaDev-Langham’s ministry partner in Lebanon. Their ministry organisation focuses on restoring families torn apart by the Syrian conflict (read more). They decided to partner with Hook & Thread, because through it many more families can be reached with practical help and the love of Jesus.
And there’s a lot of agency among the women: “They don’t want donations,” shares Esther. “Just help to get sales for their beautiful hand-stitched products.”
Mara disseminates the profits amongst the women and also sets aside a small portion for unexpected emergencies.
*Names changed
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Find out how to get involved
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Myanmar - Serious about mission in a new democracy
I’m not a serious man,” declares Aung Mang, a Burmese follower of Jesus who is currently ministering across New Zealand as the guest of LeaDev-Langham. With a twinkle in his eye, and a smile constantly pulling at the edge of his mouth, his statement is quite believable. Aung very obviously does not take himself seriously, and it’s his ease with this that mak.. Read more
He has two Masters Degrees, two PhDs, plays the bass guitar, and “keeps a simple recording studio for making music demos”. He pastors a church of 300+ members in downtown Yangon, in an eighth-floor apartment with no elevator.
“It was extreme control,” Aung shares. “They functioned with a really strong and oppressive spirit.” He tells about the endless armed road check points, and how he would have to ‘register’ any guests staying at his home, even for one night, including his own mum.
Like believers across Myanmar, Aung is really excited about what this means for the Gospel. “Now we will be able to spread the Good News, legally,” he shares expectantly. “I have a very positive perspective towards my own country, now. The people are still poor, physically, but we are all poor together and can begin to move forward.
“We believe the reason why Aung San Suu Kyi won the November elections is because of the prayers of the Christians. The church prayed her in, so that Myanmar can be changed.”
As Aung looks forward, he shares energetic plans for the training of Christian leaders; capacity development within Christian education facilities; writing five books; and touring with an outreach band.
Sri Lanka - Planting a church in a drug rehab centre
Nanda* studied at Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS), one of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools in Sri Lanka. She tells her own story of how the Lord has led her to start Bible studies and ministry for the families connected with a drug rehab centre, and how what she has learned at CTS has been of tremendous value: “I was 19 years old when I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviou.. Read more
Nanda* studied at Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS), one of LeaDev-Langham’s Partner Schools in Sri Lanka. She tells her own story of how the Lord has led her to start Bible studies and ministry for the families connected with a drug rehab centre, and how what she has learned at CTS has been of tremendous value:
“I was 19 years old when I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour. From that point, I submitted my life to the Lord and within me grew a burning desire to serve the Lord. I entered into full-time ministry 10 years later through my church. I was in charge of some ‘unreached’ villages and responsible for all spiritual aspects of the families of believers living there, as well as going house to house to share the Gospel. During this time, I began to be burdened to concentrate on serving neglected women.
About three years ago, the leadership of my church encouraged me to enter into seminary training at Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS) in Sri Lanka. As I engaged in my studies, that compulsion for neglected women grew stronger. I was going through an intense internal conflict. Although I had been involved in full-time ministry for over 10 years, I had a nagging feeling that I had not really embarked on the specific ministry to which the Lord had called me – ministering to neglected women.
However, through my studies at CTS, I came to the important realization that the Lord uses us for different purposes at different times and that my responsibility was to be faithful in whatever I was doing at any given season. This helped to strengthen my faith, released me from the inner struggle I was undergoing and helped me to continue to faithfully serve in the ministry I was engaged in until the Lord opened a new opportunity for me.
I got married about a year and a half ago, and that’s when a door opened up for this ministry desire on my heart. My husband ministers in a drug rehabilitation centre. The centre is run by Christians and is open to anyone. At the point when I entered this ministry, there was no initiative in place to minister to the spouses of addicts.
Currently there are 49 male residents in the centre with whom I work on a daily basis. In addition, I conduct a weekly Bible study for seven women who are spouses of reformed addicts.
My learning at CTS is of tremendous value as I minister to these men and women through the Word of God, helping them to overcome their challenges by developing their spirituality. The majority of those who come to the centre don’t have any knowledge about God. I spend time introducing the concept of God to them and sharing the Gospel. This is an important aspect of helping them overcome their addiction.
By spiritually strengthening the wives of reformed addicts, I am helping to build up a support group for these men who are in danger of falling into their old lifestyle at the slightest temptation. To help these people grow in spiritual strength, I have been teaching them the power of prayer, especially as an important means through which to overcome temptation.
I have recently set up a prayer team. I believe that as they grow stronger in their prayer life, they will grow stronger in overcoming their addictions and in staying away from temptations. However, as many are very recent believers, they are still taking baby steps in this regard.
My hope is to one day set up a fully-fledged rehabilitation centre that will focus on ministering to neglected women in society.”
*Name changed for security reasons.
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because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
Myanmar - A new Bible for new times
Imagine wanting to read the Bible, but the only version available is in unfamiliar, outdated language. You have no additional helps whatsoever. Not a single cross-reference in the text. Not a footnote. Not a sentence of introduction. Just the biblical text. In old language. Meet Jacob Mung, who five years ago felt prompted to start preparing a study version of the Burmese Bible, which now with.. Read more
Imagine wanting to read the Bible, but the only version available is in unfamiliar, outdated language. You have no additional helps whatsoever. Not a single cross-reference in the text. Not a footnote. Not a sentence of introduction. Just the biblical text. In old language. Meet Jacob Mung, who five years ago felt prompted to start preparing a study version of the Burmese Bible, which now with doors opening to the Gospel in Myanmar will be timeously published.
In Myanmar (Burma) the first freely elected parliament for 50 years held its opening session in February.
It is an exciting time. Hopes are high. New government. New democracy…
For Christians this season of new beginnings holds the prospect of a new Study version of the Burmese Bible due in just over a year’s time!
Jacob is the publisher and project coordinator.
Since 2015, Langham Literature’s Publisher Development Programme has partnered with CLC in financial support for the costly final editorial and formatting stages.
Imagine wanting to read the Bible, but the only version available is in unfamiliar, outdated language. You have no additional helps whatsoever. Not a single cross-reference in the text. Not a footnote. Not a sentence of introduction. Just the biblical text. In old language.
Unless you are in a Christian family, or can find someone to sit with you and explain the text, it would be hard to understand what you are reading. You may give up reading it altogether. That’s how it is for Burmese Christians. Their most widely-used Bible was translated by Adoniram Judson from Greek and Hebrew almost 200 years ago! It is much loved; but its language needs correcting or updating. Reading it is especially difficult for new believers.
Many Burmese words have obscure meanings unless you know ancient Pali language. In the new Study Bible, spellings and vocabulary have been updated to reflect the latest knowledge. Also, study notes and explanatory ‘helps’ have been written for Burmese people today, and especially to help readers with little or no Christian background.
Jacob recently had to travel to Korea for treatment of a heart condition. It seemed uncertain whether he would ever be able to return to Myanmar. His overriding concern became that God provide someone who could complete the Study Bible project. God answered: Jacob Mung and his family are well and back in Myanmar!
The original Judson Bible was miraculously preserved. It went on to bless the church in Myanmar, and the church grew.
What a privilege to be part of bringing this newly updated and Study version to the Burmese people at this time.
Remember Myanmar: new government, new democracy … new Study Bible!
by Colin MacPherson, Director of Publisher Development, Langham Literature
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learning resources are provided by generous supporters
India - Passionate researcher’s personal library collection helps students
Recently Robert Frykenberg, Professor Emeritus of History & South Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin, and a committed Christian, donated the vast bulk of his unique personal library collection, specialising in Asian history, to the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore, India, in a gesture to support Indian students. The shipping and logistics were ar.. Read more
Recently Robert Frykenberg, Professor Emeritus of History & South Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin, and a committed Christian, donated the vast bulk of his unique personal library collection, specialising in Asian history, to the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore, India, in a gesture to support Indian students. The shipping and logistics were arranged and covered by LeaDev-Langham.
Now in his late eighties, and retired to his home in Madison, Wisconsin, Bob visited SAIACS to teach some years ago, but was forced to stop travelling because of fragile health.
Faculty staff from SAIACS see the donation of the collection as a valuable contribution to the development of their learning resources.
“SAIACS library is honoured to have part of Prof. Frykenberg’s personal library collection on South Asian history, sociology and other valuable resources in our archives,” says Yesan Sellan, Chief Librarian at SAIACS.
Read more about Prof Frykenberg in this newsclip
Church leaders may have a Bible in their own language, but it’s not a given. In most cases contextual poverty means they have limited access to practical tools and learning resources to help them understand, interpret and deepen their understanding of scripture.
Through the work of Resource, leaders – of all ages and stages – are supplied with a wide range of crucial learning resources which effectively bridge the gap for them between poverty and potential, calling and confidence.
Indonesia - No education, electricity or piped water, but desperate to preach God’s Word
In inaccessible rural Indonesia, a young Langham preacher has passed on what he has learnt to 18 others, and started the area’s first school. When we think about studying God’s Word, and learning how to share it with others, many of us may think of this as a ‘nice to have’ – certainly not as important as food, water, electricity and education. Not so for the Pedri.. Read more
In inaccessible rural Indonesia, a young Langham preacher has passed on what he has learnt to 18 others, and started the area’s first school.
When we think about studying God’s Word, and learning how to share it with others, many of us may think of this as a ‘nice to have’ – certainly not as important as food, water, electricity and education. Not so for the Pedrik Hingk Church from the rural mountainous region of Arfak in Papua Barat, Indonesia. In spite of extreme poverty, a group of pastors are desperate to learn God’s Word, and how to preach it.
Meet Pastor Raymond Maabuat, the leader who over the last two years has used Langham Preaching materials not only to train preachers, but also to open the door for literacy and education for the whole area.
Pastor Raymond tells his own inspiring story:
“I first attended the Langham Level 1 Preacher Training Course held in Manokwari, Papua, together with some of my colleagues from the Ericson Trill Theological Seminary. Afterwards we formed a preachers’ club and called it ‘Pistos Preaching Club’. But it did not go well, as we were all so busy teaching at the seminary.
In March 2014, thanks to God’s help, I was able to attend the Level 2 (Old Testament) Preaching Training course in Bogor, West Java. In May 2014, I was asked by the seminary to serve a group of congregations composed entirely of village farmers from the interior. They live about 40 miles from town in the mountainous region of Arfak and call themselves the Pedrik Hingk Church. This isolated area, recognised as a distinct political region as recently as 2013, can only be reached by 4WD vehicles.
The first time I visited, I was deeply moved to see that ninety percent of the people were illiterate. There was no electricity, no phone signals, and water came from the local stream, which turned muddy brown every time it rained. The local pastors struggled with their preaching, as they had had no schooling, let alone theological training. They relied on basic reading and writing skills originally taught to some members by missionaries about sixty years ago.
I decided to help them, using the materials from Langham Preaching. I photocopied all the teaching materials and the practical exercises and then translated them into the local language. Thanks to God’s help, I met the leader of the local government in Manokwari. He was most helpful and provided paper, and covered the printing and additional translation costs. So now we have all the Langham Preaching materials available in the local ‘Hatam’ dialect.
A year ago there were 71 pupils and three of us as teachers. We managed to obtain school uniforms by begging for help from the town. We were also sent other schoolbooks and some writing materials. At the same time I started a preachers’ club, again called ‘Pistos’ (faithful). The group consisted of 46 people who didn’t want to be split up. Now, since Langham Level 3 Preaching Training [held in March in Indonesia] I plan to divide them into four groups.
So, on behalf of the 18 congregations of the Hingk region of Arfak Mountains, I want to say ‘thank you’ to Langham for making it possible for me to attend the Langham Training and to learn the systematic exposition method, which is so relevant, and to receive the books provided; it is very hard for us to get good theological books.”
What an incredible multiplier effect! It is certainly encouraging to hear how the Word of God is bringing life, health and wellbeing to the people of the Hingk region – it is reaching further.
because their development is made possible by generous supporters.
Syria - Esther: Showing practical love in the name of Jesus
A courageous woman talks about her daily call to minister in very dangerous conditions. Each morning in Lebanon, when ‘Esther’ leaves her house and heads for the white refugee tent settlements in the Beqaa Valley, she does not know how her day will turn out. She does not know who she will help, how she will help them, or even whether she will come home to her husband and child that.. Read more
A courageous woman talks about her daily call to minister in very dangerous conditions.
Each morning in Lebanon, when ‘Esther’ leaves her house and heads for the white refugee tent settlements in the Beqaa Valley, she does not know how her day will turn out. She does not know who she will help, how she will help them, or even whether she will come home to her husband and child that night. But it is a daily choice she makes.
Nine years ago Esther was the regional Director of an international Christian organisation working with families, but quickly saw the need to adjust her work to better suit local conditions and culture. She gathered a group of volunteers, and began a home-based ministry to families in need in her own area. Then with the influx of Syrian refugees four years ago, the ministry naturally responded to the brokenness in these families as a result of the war.
In Lebanon, prejudice against Syrians is strong. There is pressure on the refugees to leave, but they have no homes or communities to return to. With a population of 4.5 million, and an economy reliant on tourism, even before the refugees arrived, Lebanese unemployment was 15 - 20% as border violence and instability had turned away visitors. Now 2 million Syrian refugees are competing with the Lebanese for low-paid jobs in order to survive, but in a climate of racism, many are left to scavenge out an existence on the streets, foraging and begging for whatever they can lay their hands on. Some families live in tents in winter temperatures below zero, obliged to pay a ‘ground rent’; whilst other families pay extortionate rents to farmers to live in animal pens with makeshift roofs. Local Lebanese farmers have stopped farming animals, because it is more lucrative to let their facilities – one refugee family per chicken coop.
“The refugees are refused and ignored by everyone in Lebanon,” says Esther. “The government does nothing for them, the wealthy Lebanese ignore them, and whilst some Christians are willing to help, many don’t feel they need to.”
“Essentially people are either against what I am doing, or think I am crazy for doing it,” she says. But as a Syrian herself, and a follower of Jesus, she feels compelled and called:
“I identify with Queen Esther from the Bible. These are my people, and whilst they are unwelcome and unwanted here, I have to stand up for them and give them hope.”
But with calling, passion and determination, comes sacrifice and risk. Ministering to refugee families is dangerous. Esther and her team are Christians, living and working in a Muslim context. Contagious diseases (including TB and Hep B) are prevalent amongst the refugees because of the lack of running water, toilets and hygiene. There is the constant threat of ISIS raids, with the risk of abduction or even death. The border conflict is so near that the sound of rocket fire and explosions is easily heard, and Esther regularly goes into Syria and the war zone to minister to traumatised families.
“Other Christians say to me ‘Aren’t you afraid when you visit the refugees?’” says Esther. “But actually when I leave my house, I don’t think of Disease, or of ISIS, or of Danger. When I step out, I think of the babies and traumatised children and families who need love. I think, they need me, and I must go. I think of Jesus, who was our Suffering Servant and example. And when I go, I believe that God is over all of my life. It is dangerous where I go, but I believe my life is in God’s hands.”
Every week, Esther talks to Muslim people about Jesus. Every day, she has opportunities to practically share his love and kindness with people who have mostly experienced hardness and hatred.
“As followers of Jesus, we need to be a copy of Jesus. Whatever he said and did, we need to be saying and doing. We need to love in the same way. That’s what we try to do. It is not complicated; you just love the person who’s standing in front of you.”
Her pragmatic and childlike ministry approach is bearing fruit. There are families where everyone has invited Jesus into their hearts and been baptised. She tells how the Muslim refugees are deeply impacted by the practical love they get from her and her ministry team. It is in complete contrast to their experience of what it means to have a faith.
Recently, a young mother, an ex-Muslim, said to Esther: “Please never leave us or stop visiting us. I have no-one in Lebanon but you. You have shown our family such love. When I believed in Jesus my life changed totally. I never experienced this kind of love or care in my extreme Muslim community in Syria.”
Esther had another exciting discussion with a young Muslim boy who attends the school she is involved with. He asked, “If I call Jesus by his name without a title, will he listen to me?” Esther explained that we can all call Jesus by his name, and come directly to him. The boy excitedly said that now that he knows this, he calls Jesus by his name and feels him very near.
So whilst Esther might not know what each day will bring, she does know that Jesus goes ahead of her to prepare the refugees he loves, for loving ministry encounters. She says that the ex-Muslims now see that their decision is not about a change of faith, or even ‘swapping sides’, but actually about having a relationship with a real person: Jesus.
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Find out how to get involved
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Nepal - Generous Kiwi Christians provide roofing for a devastated rural village
“The village thanks all of you donors for your kindness for providing the funds for the tin roofing sheets they received today.” These are the words of Dr Ramesh Katry, Principal of The Association for Theological Education in Nepal, reporting from rural Koshidekha Village after generous donations were made to the earthquake relief efforts. When the earthquake hit Nepal, we.. Read more
“The village thanks all of you donors for your kindness for providing the funds for the tin roofing sheets they received today.”
These are the words of Dr Ramesh Katry, Principal of The Association for Theological Education in Nepal, reporting from rural Koshidekha Village after generous donations were made to the earthquake relief efforts.
When the earthquake hit Nepal, we put out a call to our Kiwi network of support. This is an excerpt from that appeal for help:
It is just over a fortnight since the tragic earthquakes in Nepal. Our partners on the ground report that the loss and grief are still overwhelming. They continue to provide relief aid – food, clothing, water, shelter – to the suffering families around them. Most of the deceased in their immediate surrounds have been accounted for.
But with the makeshift and crowded living conditions, the threat of the spread of disease is imminent, especially with the ongoing rainfall the area has experienced. Our partners report that they must now focus on rebuilding homes so that families have somewhere to live, other than under tarpaulins.
Over the weekend Dr Ramesh Khatry (Principal of The Association for Theological Education in Nepal - ATEN, our Langham ministry partner) drove his motorbike through the rubble and broken roads, to a rural village in the Kavre district to join a Christian friend as he and his community rebuild their homes. Every single home in this village is destroyed! Ramesh reports the need is great, and asks us to urgently send money for roofing tin, the request of most families as they try to piece their lives back together.
Back in Kathmandu, the ATEN faculty had an allegedly “earthquake-proof” building, but an entire wall collapsed. Prior to the earthquake the college’s priority had been to build their students a library, but now the focus must be to build this wall to ensure student safety. Ramesh and his wife’s own house collapsed. They have had to move to a different building on the campus, and watch their home of 51 years be dismantled as there is nothing left to build with. Ramesh has essentially put his theological training on hold to focus on the rebuilding work so that people are no longer displaced.
Our Overseas Council ministry partner, Nepal Ebenezer Bible College writes how they too have closed the college, so that staff and students may provide relief through their churches and other Christian organisations. Many of their homes and villages have been flattened, so they are starting the rebuild alongside their own families and communities.
The faculty building has walls and stairs fallen in, making it unsafe. Principal Rev Kumar Budhathoki is waiting on an engineer to assess the damage – but as you can imagine, the engineers are overwhelmed with the need right now.
In the wake of disaster such as this, immediate relief is essential for survival, but so is the rebuilding.
As Kiwis who experienced the Christchurch earthquake, we know first-hand, that rebuilding can be as hard, long, fraught and painful, as the initial trauma.
In early June, we received this update from Ramesh Katry, in response to your generosity:
Elder Harihar Uprety, the only Christian in his village, distributed tin (zinc sheets) to 51 families today. Because there is a great shortage of tin sheets, Harihar could not distribute 1 bundle of sheets but had to be content with half bundle. Also, he could not find painted tin.
In his Koshidekha village if a person took a 6 foot sheet for her/his family, s/he received 6 sheets. If the choice was for 12 foot sheet, s/he received three sheets. I heard women saying that three 12 foot sheets made a cow shed! In theory any person take a 12 foot sheet can cut it into two for 6 foot sheets.
Harihar will distribute another half bundle when more tin sheets become available. Since all of Nepal wants tin sheets, there is a shortage; and the government has given incentives for Nepali factories to work around the clock. Also, more tin sheets will be imported from India.
The village thanks all of you donors for your kindness in providing the funds for the sheets they received today. They will receive more perhaps in a week or later. I will update you again when Harihar uses all the money he has received on more tin sheets.
We are pleased to let you know that all the money has been used for tin roofing – people in Koshidekha in the least have a roof over their heads.
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Syria - War-torn devastation: a Kiwi bloke who went to have a look, and came back changed
LeaDev-Langham’s Finance Manager John Corban (/team) talks about his life-changing experience of meeting Syrian refugees Last month, I travelled to the UK. A Langham Partnership colleague insisted I come and visit him, and my country of ancestry – Lebanon. I agreed (how ‘cool’ to discover my roots) and set off for Zahle, a city 40 km west of the Syrian border, unaware t.. Read more
LeaDev-Langham’s Finance Manager John Corban talks about his life-changing experience of meeting Syrian refugees
Last month, I travelled to the UK. A Langham Partnership colleague insisted I come and visit him, and my country of ancestry – Lebanon. I agreed (how ‘cool’ to discover my roots) and set off for Zahle, a city 40 km west of the Syrian border, unaware that my outlook on life would be forever changed.
I realised that, I had ‘forgotten’ about what was happening in Syria – or perhaps more accurately, had not directly engaged with it. But visiting my ancestral land, I had no choice but to personally experience news headlines, as my hosts took me on a tour of what is their daily, tragic experience of life: thousands of white refugee tents sit on the outskirts of their city, and just a short drive away, ISIS forces are camped on the border with Syria, with the Lebanese army, along with Hezbollah keeping them out of the country. Zahle is close enough to the conflict that with a decent Easterly wind, you can hear the sound of rocket fire and explosions.
Face to face with hopelessness
More than four years since the start of the civil war in Syria, over two million Syrian refugees are still camped throughout the Beqaa Valley and other parts of Lebanon, unable to return home. In Kiwi terms: With 4.25 million Syrians displaced, that is equivalent to the whole population of New Zealand being without a home. Could you begin to even imagine what that must be like? There is immense suffering in every camp: hunger, disease, abuse, and extreme need. Even now, girls disappear from the Lebanese camps, taken by ISIS forces during cross-border raids. Some of the camps closer to the Syrian border are not safe for aid workers to visit as the risk of abduction for ransom is so high.
Escaping from the terrors within Syria is just the beginning of the suffering and tragedy for most families. Lebanon has a population of 4.5m people, and the economy is reliant on tourism. Even before the refugees arrived, unemployment was 15 - 20% as border violence and instability had turned away visitors. Now 2 million Syrian refugees are competing with the Lebanese for low-paid jobs in order to survive. Around 500,000 of the refugees in Lebanon are young children, and most of them have no access to education. With very little money, support, or options, hope is a rare commodity in the refugee settlements. There is widespread prejudice towards the refugees; they know they are not wanted in Lebanon, and are left to scavenge out an existence on the streets, foraging and begging for whatever they can lay their hands on.
Putting a real face onto this wide-scale suffering, at a tent camp on the outskirts of Zahle I met Sara* who is just 16. She is already a widow with two small children, including baby Mohammed* who is two months. She lives in a tent with her parents and five sisters. Sara is the only earner, bringing in NZ$ 275 per month for full time work – that’s under $2/hour. Her sisters remain in the tent all day, afraid to go out, as so many young women have been abducted. The family are originally from Aleppo, one of the hardest hit cities in Syria. This winter, during three heavy snow storms that covered the Bekaa Valley, the family repeatedly scraped snow off their tent with their hands until they bled, just to prevent it from collapsing under the weight of the snow.
To say I found this visit devastating is a complete understatement. Leaving this makeshift and freezing cold new home of the family, absolutely nothing that I have ever known compares to their suffering. As the tears pricked my eyes, running through my mind, is my own daughter who is nearly fifteen years old. I simply cannot imagine her experiencing the extreme suffering and hardship that Sara faces daily. What an absolutely intolerable burden for this young girl and all the others like her!
Face to face with hope
Then I met a group of people who are responding to the suffering that surrounds them. Instead of dismissively shrugging their shoulders, they are getting on with what they can do – and as a Kiwi, I could get that. In spite of the vast ocean of need all around, in spite of the looming ISIS forces just kilometres away, in spite of the daily reality of death and destruction on their border, they have taken a stance of serving, loving and helping those who are suffering right in front of them, and doing it in the name of Jesus Christ.
Esther*, who heads the group, has a simple and pragmatic stance: “Where there is a need, we will respond.” What I saw as she and a nurse took Sara some milk powder for baby Mohammed, is that one refugee at a time, one tented-family at a time, one child at a time, the practical love of Jesus Christ is being spread: “When you do it to the least of these, you do it to me”. And the people are responding to this love.
Esther’s ministry provides several different and effective services to refugee families, including: new-born and mother care (milk, nappies, medicines, visits and education); teenage and child trauma counselling (many young people have been raped and have witnessed extreme atrocities at close range); schooling and school equipment provision; and winter packs – blankets, clothes, fuel and shoes to get through the winter snowfalls in a tent.
Esther and her co-workers are doing heart-wrenching, amazing work every single day. I like their approach to this tragedy; for me as a Kiwi it has a bit of a ‘no. 8 wire’ feel about it: I can’t solve the big picture problem, but I sure can get stuck in and respond to the need right in front of me. It gives me a way to respond, it gives me realistic hand-holds. I can’t shift my family to Zahle and do tent visits, but I sure can financially support Esther and her team as they do. Together you and I can stand with them and help to supply their needs, as they directly strive to meet the needs of suffering refugee families and children. Join with me as we support this remarkably courageous ministry.
*Names changed
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Leaders are able to take compassionate action
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Find out how to get involved
because essential relief and aid are provided by generous supporters
Myanmar - A sponsorship for one young leader provides home and hope for orphaned children
My name is Mang Mang and I live in Yangon, Myanmar, in a small apartment with my wife and young son, and twenty-one orphaned boys. Over one million children in Myanmar are orphaned or abandoned; many are dumped by parents who cannot afford to keep them. You can be a part of the solution for my country. In Myanmar, we have a terrible problem; over one million babies and children are orphan.. Read more
My name is Mang Mang and I live in Yangon, Myanmar, in a small apartment with my wife and young son, and twenty-one orphaned boys.
Over one million children in Myanmar are orphaned or abandoned; many are dumped by parents who cannot afford to keep them. You can be a part of the solution for my country. In Myanmar, we have a terrible problem; over one million babies and children are orphans, most of them living on the street. Children as young as three are rejected and abandoned, begging in the street simply to have enough food to stay alive. Often they are stolen, sold and badly abused. Child labour and child sex trafficking is a big problem here.
Although there are 24 of us living in our small apartment, we always have a wonderful time. The boys are all so lovely. We eat together, suffer together, pray together, and sing together.
I know that if these orphans are to have a good life, they need to be educated. Half of the children over 13 years old in Myanmar are no longer attending school. Extreme poverty forces young children to work to survive – dangerous work for long hours and in terrible conditions. Most of them only earning the equivalent of NZ$5 per month.
I would like to tell you how it has happened. Some years ago, the Lord gave me a vision to serve Him amongst these precious children who have been orphaned. I knew that this would be my life’s work and so I would need more education to fulfil this vision. I applied to Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (MEGST) and I was very happy to be accepted to study for the Master of Divinity (Missions) degree.
My only concern was that of finances. My income was not enough to pay the fees, so I was deeply humbled to find out that Student Sponsors in NZ were paying $50 every month towards my study costs.
Because of the generosity of my Student Sponsors, I am so proud to now be a MEGST graduate. But I am just one man - and we need many more strong men and women to be educated!
That’s why I am asking you to give each month, so more future leaders like me can receive a life-changing education. Right now, there are over one hundred young future Christian leaders, waiting for student scholarships so that they can receive an education.
Not only has attending MEGST changed my life, it has changed the lives of the orphans we care for. There is much change needed in Myanmar, but for this to become a reality we need more humble servant leaders who have been biblically trained. It is encouraging for me that there are many wonderful young men and women who have applied to study at MEGST this year, each of them following great visions and plans given to them by the Lord. Each of them has a dream to see transformation in this country and to be part of the solution. The only issue is that of finances.
The school year is about to start in Myanmar and there are students awaiting sponsorship, but without support, the future of these wonderful young people is uncertain.
You too can change lives by becoming a Student Sponsor today. Thank you for your support and commitment."
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because their development is made possible by generous supporters.