Struggling in Myanmar

A cordial greetings to you from Myanmar. I hope and pray that everything is going well with you and your larger family. As for me and my family, we are doing well. Thank God.

The work of evangelism in Myanmar has been restricted by the pandemic and the coup. Now the third wave of covid-19 is spreading again and taking many lives especially in Chin state and Kalay area. Many are sick and shortage of treatment.

We loss brother Thian Lian on June 27 which is a great and terrible loss for the work in Myanmar. He is like a father to me and to many others for our spiritual journey and a great leader in the work of the Lord in Myanmar, but we trust that God must have another, better plan for us. We also lost a good teacher and faithful brother Edward from Shan state, the eastern part of Myanmar on June 27. He had stroke before.

The worst thing about the situation in Myanmar is no vaccines, not enough hospitals, doctors as many doctors protest the coup by Civil Disobedience Movement, and not enough supply of oxygen and other equipment to treat the victims of covid above daily needs. Moreover, the peaceful demonstration is still going on with fighting in some parts of the country. Almost a thousand people had died since the coup. The civil people ask the junta to accept the result of the election in November 2020 and the junta will do whatever to protect their power and some foreign countries endorse it. Sorry for telling all about the trouble in Myanmar.

Brother Sian Thang and his family visited his native place in Chin state because of the coup and unexpectedly loss his elder son in accident on the way on March 18. They are still being locked down in their place due to covid-19.

Meanwhile, God opened some doors for us to travel and evangelize to some areas where the covid-19 and the protest are not high or partly lifted. On May 22-28 of this year, myself with other two evangelists traveled to Ngaphe township in Magway region and visited two congratulations and work with them. We brought some relief funds that we got from the brethren from USA to the brethren as people have been struggling with covid-19 and the coup. The help in need is more appreciated though a little and everyone expressed deep gratitude for the help.

God touched the hearts of people through His power of the gospel as we presented it as simple as it is and two persons (mother and daughter) gave their lives to the Lord by being baptized on May 23 after worship service. Pictures attached. We had such a good time of fellowship with other brethren after a year and a half of separation.

We could make another trip to Pyay, Thayet and AungLan townships on June 5-9. We visited four congregations and worked with them as we distributed some relief funds. The results of the help and preaching brings the same respond every where. On June 5-6, we had Bible study with young people in Pyay and two young man and one young girl obeyed the gospel on June 6. We rejoiced with the brethren and with heavenly hosts as people are being saved and added to the family of God. Those newly born into the kingdom are in the care of older Christians and leaders to grow. Let's keep them in our prayers.

There are two booklets that have been translated into Burmese ( Back to the Bible- written by Charles Box and Lessons on the Church of Christ-written by W.C. Graves) which need to type and do the proceeding work when the situation of our country get better and funds available for it.

We the Christians in Myanmar express our deep gratitude and heart felt appreciation for your undying support for the work and time to time help as needed. God has been using you to meet the needs of His people and others around the world including Myanmar. Even though you cannot visit us, we thank God for the technology to get help from you. Your second mile help for the covid-19 lockdown and the coup struggle are greatly appreciated as the ordinary people are suffering emotionally and physically. I trust that the same fellowship will remain in the future.

Brother Thian Lian, before he died, was distributing some rice to three congregations in Chin state as we got relief funds from World Evangelism Team, and the result was three souls being saved by the Lord. Whenever we got relief funds, we tried to distribute it to all the churches depends on the amount and the needs of the people as fair as possible.

Once again, I would like to express my deep gratitude and heart felt appreciation for your love and undying support for the work to continue. I trust that you are praying for us and we are praying for you.

Yours in His kingdom work

Philip Van Biak Lian

Instruction and evangelism in Myanmar

In late January I was able to honor the request from the school in Myanmar to come teach a short course. This was the first time my schedule had allowed me to do so in Myanmar and I couldn’t have been more pleased with what I found. The church in Myanmar is still relatively young and so the work we are doing in training preachers will bear dividends for decades to come.

The students were attentive and engaged and Director Philip Van Biak Lian is doing an excellent job. The day after I left, the students went out on a campaign and below is Philip’s report about that.

Keith Kasarjian

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After the school in January, we as a Bear Valley group, visited the delta area, which is about 160 miles from Yangon and did some mission work of edifying the brethren and also preaching to Buddhists. Brother Simon shared the word of God on Sunday worship (Jan. 26) and after the service we had Bible study for three hours as one precious soul is willing to give her life to the Lord. After Bible study, she baptized. We all rejoice. 

Then, Titus and another brother made preaching trip to six different places where there are only few Christians and encouraged. All this happened because of God and His generous people in USA. Thank you very much. 

I and other students really enjoyed your teaching and express our gratitude to you. May God bless you.

Yours in His kingdom work

Philip Van Biak Lian

Myanmar

Classes in session in Myanmar

Dear brethren,

I am so pleased to inform you about BVBI of Myanmar. We resume our five weeks classes on October 7 and will go until November 8. On the first week of our school, we had only five students but since the second week, we have seven students. If I am included in the lists of students, then we are eight. It is a big challenge to have more students and regularly as some students are working and even some went to abroad to work for a living.

Please continually pray for us to have more students who is really dedicated. We will cover five subjects again in this session. After the school, the students will be going out for campaigns and going home to share what they have learned.

I am so happy to work with you in training effective preachers for Myanmar. It is doubtful to me that all students will become a great communicator of the gospel but if one become, I believe we are not wasting our time and money.

Thank you so much for your fellowship in the gospel.
Philip Van Biak Lian

Classes in Myanmar

Dear brethren, 

I am so pleased to inform you about our school in Myanmar. We had five weeks classes from March 18 to April 19, and covered five subjects: I Corinthian with Dr. Steve, I&II Peter and Jude with Justin Guin, Christian Evidences with Jerry Bates, the Book of James with Jerry Bates and Personal Evangelism with Jon Lucius. Eight students could come this time. 

Now the students are going out to do practical work, as a team and also individual. Our next class will begin on October 7 and go until November 8 for another five weeks. The subjects and teachers are already scheduled by brother Wayne. 

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for your insight in opening the school here in Myanmar and for financing the work. 

Yours in His service

Philip Van Biak Lian

Bear Valley serving the young church in Myanmar

Dear brethren,

I am so glad and honor to inform you about the work in Myanmar. We had another good classes from October 1 to November 9 for six weeks and covered six subjects. We are going to have another classes from December 31 2018 to January 18 2019 for three weeks, to cover three subjects and another classes in March 18 to April 20 2019 for five weeks to cover five more subjects. 

We have thirteen students in Myanmar but only eight could come this time. For those students who could not attend regularly, they will take the subjects that they missed later when we teach again. 

After the school, students went out to do practical work and learn to grow. Five of us went to the delta area called laputta on November 10-12 and did some evangelical and edification work.  The students in Kalay and Chin state are visiting some congregations and do night Bible study. Some of them are still traveling to villages distributing correspondence courses and correcting them as there is no good post office. This help the students have personal discussions and contacts. 

In last January and February, some of us had traveled to four different villages In Magway and Rakhine regions ( there will be no test on the name of the places that we visited) and did Bible Camps and in April and May we could visited some other villages in Chin state. On that trip in khawdar village, a young girl was baptized. Then upon invitation we went to another village in Tedim township and had four days and five nights Bible study with so called Christians but never heard of the pure plan of salvation of the Bible. We should focus to this place for future work plan as well. 

Some of us visited the eastern part of our country Shan state on November 22 to December 3 and had some Bible discussions and visited a new city called keng Tong and planned to have one week camp there in the first week of February 2019. From December 17 to 23, next week, we (with two other brothers) will be going to a Buddhist village  in Magway region where we had gone before and hold night camps. Cover your prayers.

There are many many cities in Myanmar where there is no church which means we have a big and great responsibility and so few people are willing and capable of doing it. Therefore, this is my hope and prayer that the BV in Myanmar will meet some of the needs and fulfilled the great commission. 

May God bless our effort and partnership. My heartfelt appreciation to all of you who made the Bear Valley school possible in Myanmar.

Yours in His kingdom work

Philip Van Biak Lian.

Classes and campaigns in Myanmar

We had a great study for five weeks from March 19 to April 20 2018. The first two weeks were taught by Dr. Steve Christian from Double Springs, Al. The church of the Bible and The Life of Christ (four gospels). The third and fourth weeks were taught by Jerry Bates, Church planting and the book of Acts. The fifth week was taught by Jon Lucius from AL, the Godhead. The students took as much advantage of the knowledge of the teachers as possible and busy with paper work and tests. I keep all the records.

After the five weeks school, six of BV students went with me to Kalay for one week Youth Camp. Seven precious souls obeyed the gospel during our Youth Camp.  After the Youth Camp, we visited four villages and conducted Bible campaigns in Chin state. One precious soul was baptized in Khawdar village.

The forth village that we visited was a new place for the NT church. They never heard of the church of Christ and the NT teaching about salvation and worship. We had a great discussion with many individuals and one lady was baptized after we left. We need to visit that village again and do more Bible teaching in the future. The students also distributed correspondence course to many villages and later they collect and graded them. This tool gives the students to do personal evangelism which we planned to continue. The other three students will do the campaigns at their places. 

My heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who make possible for BVBI-M. I hope and pray that this school will help the church in Myanmar to grow and strengthen. 

Yours in His service

Philip

Continued growth in Myanmar

We have had a great study for five weeks. The first two weeks was taught by Dr. Steve Christian from Double Springs, Al. The church of the Bible and The Life of Christ (four gospels). The third and fourth weeks were taught by Jerry Bates, Church planting and the book of Acts. The fifth week was taught by Jon Lucius from Florence, the Godhead. The students took as much advantage of the knowledge of the teachers as possible and busy with paper work and tests. 

We also had Myanmar Bible College at the same time  and seven people baptized during the session. 

Now I am in Kalay for Youth Camp with six BV students. After one week Youth Camp, we are planning to do some other campaigns in the hill areas as a part of learning and practical work. The other three students will do the campaigns at their places. 

My heart felt thanks and appreciation to Bear Valley. I hope and pray that this school will help the church in Myanmar a lot. 

Yours in His service

Philip, Director BVBI-M

Upcoming courses in Myanmar

Dear brethren,

Greetings. I hope and pray that you are doing well and has been busy in the work of the Lord.

I am happy to inform you that our school begins on March 19 and ends on April 20, for five weeks in this session. The students are coming and we will have ten students. Five subjects will be taught in this session by three visiting instructors: NT Church and Life of Christ I by Dr. Steve Christian, Acts and Personal Evangelism II - Church Planting by Jerry Bates and The Godhead by John Lucius.

We are expecting and praying to have a good school again and covet your prayers.

After this school session, we plan for campings again with the students who can join and those who cannot join, they may have their own plan of evangelism.

Yours in His service

Philip Van Biak Lian

Director, BVBI-Myanmar

Mark Reynolds goes to SE Asia

Trip Report for Cambodia and Myanmar

January 14-31, 2018

Norman Light (an elder and close friend for many years) and I arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia the evening of January 16. We began teaching the next morning. I taught The Preacher and His Work each morning from 8:30-12:00, and Norman taught the book of 2 Corinthians each afternoon from 1:00-3:00. We also enjoyed a time of singing and preaching each evening.

On Saturday, January 20, the local brethren had organized a lectureship using Norman and me along with several Cambodian brethren. Although we could not understand the brethren when they preached, we could certainly tell they were well prepared and that their lessons were well organized by viewing the PowerPoint presentations they had made, the handouts they used, and their outlines they wrote on the white board. The students did well on their exams and took exceptional notes. Their genuineness and desire to learn was easily noticed. Three very capable men, Phanat, Darat and Piseth, lead the school. They will hold their graduation ceremony later this year.

Myanmar

We left Cambodia on January 24 and arrived in Yangon, Myanmar that evening. We were greeted at the airport by Philip Van Biak Lian, the director of the school of preaching and Winsome the secretary for the school. We enjoyed dinner at the hotel and discussed the plans for the week. I taught Old Testament 1 to the students four hours each day, and Norman taught the account from Jacob to Joseph’s death in great detail two hours each day. Since these students (eight men and one woman) are from various parts of Myanmar where different dialects are spoken, the common language among them is English. We enjoyed getting to teach in our native tongue. 

In all we enjoyed five days in the classroom, a gospel meeting on Saturday, and two worship services on Sunday where Norman and I both spoke. The church meets in the homes of members each Lord’s Day. Their worship, especially their singing, was very uplifting. The school is brand new, but is way ahead of schedule as far as their organization, quality of students, and foundation. There are some wonderful brethren who have been working in Myanmar for many years without whom this work would not be possible. We stand on their shoulders! 

Classes and campaigns in Myanmar

Dear brethren,

Greetings in Jesus's name. I hope and pray that this mail finds you well. 

By God's grace and through your help, we could have our classes from January 8-19 and 25-30. Students participated at Pyay seminar with brother Daniel Hamm from January 20-23. Our classes went very well I keep all the record of attendance and grades. It was so good to meet brother Mark and and sit at his feet. He is such a wonderful teacher. 

From February 1-14, with three BV students and two other co-workers, we are going to some other parts in Myanmar to do some field work of evangelism and to encourage our brethren in those little  congregations. We really covet your prayer. 

Thank you very much for all you do and praise God for His love and grace which bind us together for this great work.

Humbly
Philip Van Biak Lian