Myanmar
Population 51,486,000 | Buddhist 80% |
Unreached People Groups 49 | Evangelical 5% |
Overview
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also known as Burma, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. It is very diverse ethnically, representing eight major national races and 135 sub-groups and tribes. Although the country is rich in natural resources, most of the people live in poverty or at subsistence levels. Two-thirds of its children are malnourished, and the majority survive on less than $1/day. Inflation, political isolation, and the devastation of cyclone Nargis in 2008 combine to intensify the pressure on an already impoverished populace.
In Myanmar, the majority religion is Buddhism, representing more than 80% of the population. And although the constitution technically grants freedom of religion, many of the Christians experience persecution from religious and political majorities. Authorities generally disallow the construction of new church buildings and also severely limit the importation of Christian literature. Buddhism is deeply entrenched in the ethnic groups, and most of the children are educated in monasteries. Only about 5% of the population is evangelical, of which almost all are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Pray for a greater openness to Christianity and a more significant move of God's Spirit among the majority people groups.
Sources: Wikipedia, Joshua Project, and Operation World
HeartCry Missionaries
Tan Thang
Church Planter - Myanmar
Tan was born in 1986 and converted by a missionary in our village, and later attended Bible school. Afterward, Tan moved back to his village to preach the gospel and gather the converts into a local church... read more
Davamoe Lyan
Church Planter - Myanmar
Davamoe was saved at ten years old through the ministry of a traveling evangelist. In Bible College, he developed a deep burden for sharing the gospel and reaching the lost... read more
Htat Win
Church Planter - Myanmar
Htat grew up in a Christian home and came to faith in 2004 at the age of 12. After attending Bible college, he felt a call to move to the Tanitary Division to serve as a missionary... read more
Peter Mang
Church Planter - Myanmar
Peter is planting a church away from home in a delicate area of Myanmar where people are resistant to the Gospel. The influence of a strong Christian upbringing and four years in bible... read more
Zaw Kyaw
Evangelist - Myanmar
Zaw was raised in a Christian home and was saved at 14. After attedning Bible school, he felt a strong call from the Lord to be an evangelist. Now he goes out every day to do... read more
Htoo Aung Kyaw
Church Planter - Myanmar
Htoo is the pastor of Redeemer Bible Baptist Church in a village in Yangon. The church was formed after Htoo finished Bible school and began doing evangelism in that area. Now... read more
Nakaji Ro
Church Planter - Myanmar
Nakaji serves as a missionary among Burmese and Shan people in Shan state. Although coming from difficult family background, he is thankful that God has worked... read more
William J.
Church Planter - Myanmar
William J. serves as a director of a church-operated seminary, serves as a pastor of a local church in Western Myanmar, and manages Christian translation of theological... read more
Yi Cho
Pastor / Church Planter - Myanmar
Yi Cho serves as a missionary among an ethnic people in Shan State, Myanmar known as the Lahu people. Yi serves in a hostile area among animists... read more
Rufus J.
Pastor / Church Planter - Myanmar
After straying from his Christian roots, Rufus was convicted by the gospel preaching of a pastor in another town. After his conversion, he moved there to be part of the local church and prepare for ministry...read more
Soem A.
Pastor / Church Planter - Myanmar
Soem was raised in a Christian home and was converted at the age of 14. His clear sense of God's call to ministry led him to attend Bible college and then to go on to earn his Bachelor of Theology...read more
Mah Nu
Pastor / Church Planter - Myanmar
Mah Nu was taken to church as a child but was not saved until hearing the gospel proclaimed at an evangelistic meeting. He later attended seminary and was eventually led to a village where the people were unreached with the gospel...read more