Myanmar

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