Saturday, July 7
220th General Assembly (2012)
Myanmar (Burma)
A new convert participates in his baby's baptism. Photo by Will Browne.
Myanmar is a beautiful land with a rich heritage, wonderful people, and deep traditions of tolerance and patience. The Presbyterian Church of Myanmaris committed to sharing the gospel. Church members, while often hard-pressed themselves, bear fruit as they reach out to care for the widow and the orphan and those who struggle with poverty and disease. They see their church and themselves as evangelists and are passionately committed to helping others know Christ as Savior and Lord. As the church grows in numbers and mission, it seeks both to share the gospel in the language and culture customary to those who receive it and to share the gifts of church life that have worked so well for them. Those gifts include a common body of hymns known and loved; work by pastors and elders to accompany people in moments of crisis; service by the young adults who accompany families in which there has been a death; such resources as Sunday school materials and hymnals developed in common with the Mizo-speaking Presbyterian Synod of Mizoram, across the border in India; and the well-run Tahan Theological Seminary, founded in 1978 and offering both B.Th. and M.Div. degrees.
The General Assembly meets in February each year, and in 2011 its theme was "Pay attention to the path on which you are going'' (Haggai 1:5). In just 55 years, this church has grown to 29,410 members in nine language-based synods with 106 pastors.
- Rev. Dr. Will Browne
Let us join in prayer for:
Partners/Partnerships
Presbyterian Church of Myanmar: Rev. Vanthawma, moderator, Rev. Zomawia Sr., secretary, Upa Malsawma Jr., secretary, Up Van Lal Vuan, finance officer * Myanmar Council of Churches: Daw Yin Yin Maw, president, Rev. Dr. Pa Sang, vice president, Rev. Dr. Zaw Win, vice president, Rev. Zaw Win Aung, vice president, Rev. Harberta, vice president, Rev. Saw Shwe Lin, general secretary, Rev. Dr. Yam Kho Pau, treasurer, Mrs. Nant Aye Mu Mu Aung, associate general secretary, Ms. Ruth Lun, admin. officer * Myanmar Institute of Theology: Simon Pau Khan En, principal * Tahan Theological College: Rev. Pek Muan Cuang, principal
C(USA) Agencies' Staff
Jennifer Lenard-Benson, GAMC
Ruth Leonard, GAMC
Let us pray
Dear God, please bless the witness and ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar and of other Christians in that land. May others see in them your grace and love and be drawn to know you in your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask it in his name. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 122; 149
First Reading Numbers 24:12-25
Second Reading Romans 8:18-25
Gospel Reading Matthew 22:23-40
Evening Psalms 100; 63
