Christmas in a Buddhist nation

As most of you know, Love In Action helps spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the tiny Asian country of Myanmar (former Burma), through indigenous pastors and a small Christian college that prepares students to go into the mission field of their country.
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Myanmar's population is more than 53 million and 80 percent of them are Buddhists. It is estimated that 40 million have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's why we are excited to help spread the Gospel in this nation ... to reach the unreached.

Jesus says in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." The word "nations" refers to people groups, and there are many people groups within Myanmar that have never heard the Gospel.

Our brothers and sisters there are extremely poor, but they do incredible work with very limited resources. There are several goals we all pray to accomplish such has purchasing property to build the college and church so they don't have to keep moving when rent increases. Another is to purchase a vehicle so they can pick up people for church and do more outreach.

But this month we were thankful to be able to help with their Christmas celebration. At the college, they celebrated Christmas with a church service on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning and Christmas night.

I thought about that this morning. Christmas Day in the U.S. usually focuses on gift giving and Santa Claus. In Myanmar, they focus a lot more on Jesus. In his epistle, James writes in chapter 2 verse 5, "Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?"

The more I travel to Third World and Developing nations and minister and fellowship with our brothers and sisters, the more I understand what James wrote. No matter how poor they are, how many disadvantages they have, or we perceive they have, the happier and more joyful they are. They walk with Jesus unlike anyone I know. They are truly rich in faith. I've experienced it in Myanmar, Philippines and Haiti. 

One year, if God wills, Martha and I will spend Christmas in Myanmar, and another year in the Philippines. When we spent Christmas in Haiti two years ago, it was the best Christmas we ever had. There was no commercialism, no frantic pace, it was a celebration of Jesus, and people were saved that Christmas Day.

Thanks to a local married couple who give to LIA to support an indigenous missionary in Myanmar, more of the unreached are hearing the Gospel. On Christmas day, Bro. Solomon reached out to Buddhists living in thatch huts around near his home. He was able to share the great news of the birth of Jesus with 60 people. Praise God!

I have posted photos with this blog that shows their Christmas celebration in Myanmar. I thank God for our Myanmar brothers and sisters. Please keep them in your prayers, and please pray about helping us with our work there. Bro. Solomon is a graduate of the college, and our goal is to sponsor more graduates to go into the mission field to share Jesus with the unreached of Myanmar.

Your financial help could help that, and could also help us with helping them rent their current facilities, which as you can see are extremely modest. You can also help us provide food for the impoverished and malnourished, especially the children.

If you would like to help us in Myanmar, please mail your tax deductible donation to: Love In Action International Ministries, P.O. Box 85, Dothan, AL 36302, and write "Myanmar" in the memo of your check. You can also give online via PayPal by clicking on this link, http://tinyurl.com/h8s8zyl