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Protect a Child

Category: Uncountable Grace for Myanmar

Despite Another Coup, Never Give Up Hope

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(originally posted in February 2021)

A few short weeks ago we penned the words: “Against the tightening restrictions and COVID-19 breakouts seemingly not slowing down, we nonetheless hope for good things to happen in 2021. Political tensions are in the news every day. The Good News, is that despite this chaos, God is still on the throne. Not only this, He cares for us.”

This truth will never change, even though on February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military seized power in a coup against the democratically elected government. While this website is not a political platform, for anyone who has been in Myanmar (Burma), you would have seen how fragile things are for most of the population there. For the vast majority of them, this is a tremendous setback. Our ministry partners recently communicated that there is much fear in the land. They know what it was like being under a military dictatorship before. Having a democratically elected government gave them new hope for the future of their country; however, many have learned that true hope is found only in Jesus, for He alone is the hope of the world. We ask that you will join us in prayer for Myanmar.

Father in heaven, we pray for Myanmar.  We pray first of all that you will protect your bride, the Church, in this much troubled country.  We pray for peace and that evildoers will remove their unjust grip from power.  We pray that you would bless our partners and their ministry there.  Keep them and the many other ministries that have prospered these last few years in your loving hands.  No matter what, continue to build your Kingdom in Myanmar so that many may continue to grow in relationship with you. We pray this in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, amen.

Changing Communities for the Better

Sometimes, as a donor, I wonder what difference the money I give really makes.  Let me assure you that the quarterly reports that come to Good News International from our overseas ministry partners make me excited that much is being accomplished!  Let me share a few highlights from Thailand.

Your funds are used for daily life, school, meals for the kids both at school and home.  These parents build up and disciple the children so that when they return to their villages, or wherever they go after graduation, they will have a good impact in their own communities.  We see this with our first girls who are sponsored to go to university or have graduated from nurse’s aid training. 

I am also amazed at how generous our partners are when they have so little.  They have been known to help cover costs for a grandmother with kidney disease or help a family send their children back to their school dormitory so they can continue their studies.  Sharing Christ with others is their focus as they travel to several villages for Christmas outreaches and weekly ministry.

It’s hard to place a monetary value on the relationships that our ministry partners form with others as they teach guitar to those who want to serve on a worship team.  Other times they counsel individuals and celebrate when they see people freed from addictions.  Their hearts break when, sometimes, the temptation proves too great and some stumble back into their addictions.  The fight also continues as our partners pray for people who have been trafficked and teach others how to stay safe, to protect people around them as well as their families from being trafficked. 

While the cost of a meal for one child may only be a dollar or two, seeing a child grow in her faith or a grandmother venture forward to receive prayer and inquire about God is priceless!

Be Encouraged!

With the pandemic and political messes going on – that there is precious little good news to be found these days.  

Some two thousand years ago, things weren’t much better.  However, it was at that point in time that God reached down into our lives to make things better.  Jesus said:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19, NIV).

We are grateful to have ministry aimed to bring Good News to the poor and oppressed.  We hope you will find the stories and happenings we tell you about encouraging.  Though most of our stories are centred in South East Asia, we believe that Jesus is the Good News that is for the whole world.  

Stay tuned for GIVING TUESDAY (December 1)! We are joining the party (even from a distance) to bless our dear partners in the ministry of “UNCOUNTABLE GRACE” in Myanmar.

Blessings to you all! Stay safe and keep your eyes on Jesus!

Robert Griffioen (president of Good News International Ministries)

Good News for Troubled Times

  • Preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ in K village

Our partner Steve* (name changed for protection) is deeply grateful for all who pray for him and his ministry in the volatile opium-producing hills of eastern Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).  We recently received an update from him regarding his latest evangelistic foray to a village far from his home. 

While is was still considered safe to do so, on a recent outreach trip he had discovered an unreached village in the Shan State hills (we call “K” village). He met with the headman and received an open invitation to come back and tell them about Jesus.  Steve* wanted to get back quickly as COVID-19 is presently on the rise in Myanmar.  Although it has mainly been affecting the western states and districts, the government is again closing schools and shutting down cities in many regions of the country. 

Steve* assembled a team of seven men and they headed off to bring the Good News to “K” village.  Several are his apprentices and others are mature followers of Jesus from his church.   They travelled through muck, crossed swollen streams and made the trek of hundreds of kilometres safe and sound. 

On the trail to K village

Here is what Steve reported:

  • When the team arrived they were welcomed into the animistic village by the headman.  
  • *Steve was able to share the whole gospel story two full times with the villagers.  He said:
    • “I preached the full gospel. I preached about creation, the fall of man, the Saviour being born, Jesus dying on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins; Jesus risen from the dead and being taken to heaven; and that he will come to take all who believe in him one day.

*Steve’s team was forced to leave as opposition from some outside influencers arose; nonetheless, he is happy that they were able to preach the clear and full gospel message to these dear people.  Once the pandemic is over, he hopes to return to baptize those who believe in Jesus and help strengthen them in the faith. Even though there was resistance, our prayer is that these people turn from animism to fully follow Jesus.

  • “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Please pray for “K’ village, as well as *Steve and *April’s entire ministry of UNCOUNTABLE GRACE. We provide refuge and education for 24 vulnerable children in their care.   Pray for health and safety of all and protection from the pandemic, but most of all that God will bless them and their amazing ministry in huge ways. This ministry is still less than half supported.

We need another $2500 per month to meet their needs.  If you would like to partner with the UNCOUNTABLE GRACE ministry to the poor and oppressed in Shan State, please click this link A FUTURE AND A HOPE FOR SHAN STATE or send a cheque to GNI Ministries (see address below). In Myanmar believers in Jesus love to bless people by saying “Piya-da-kein kaun-zyi-beh-bah-seh.” May God bless you!

– Robert Griffioen