In recent weeks, I’ve been keeping an eye on two dramatic stories in Southeast Asia: one in Myanmar where a military coup has left many nationals feeling hopeless, and one in a neighboring country where the government is desperately trying to discourage the spread of the Gospel.

I’m grateful for your partnership in mission as we together seek to make an impact in places like Southeast Asia, where we are contending for freedom. More than ever, we want to see the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed, as it addresses the deepest needs of human hearts.

In Myanmar, as the country is in turmoil and hundreds of thousands of people are protesting, our partners have been standing with local believers as they turn to God in prayer and speak a message of hope to all those who will hear. So many people are discouraged. Days after the coup, we received this report from one of our partners who lives in the capital city of Yangon. She shared this intimate encounter with a neighbor:

In the evening, as I stepped out into our backyard to watch the setting sun, my neighbor waved to me and walked slowly over to our shared fence. She is a strong woman who has been so positive about the country’s progress, even in recent weeks. However, seeing her face that evening, I knew that there would be no optimism and no small talk. The conversation turned quickly to the coup.

“This is our fate,” the woman said somberly. “You know, other countries are moving on, but this is the fate of our nation. There is no hope for us.”

My heart goes out to this woman and her people. We believe that Jesus can bring hope to their lives. In the past five years, we’ve seen ten churches planted in Myanmar and hundreds of new believers baptized. Our national partners there are asking us to invite people like you to stand with them in praying for peace and in supporting them as they continue to proclaim the hope of the Gospel among those who are despairing.

In another Southeast Asian country, we were involved in Christmas outreaches that saw about 1800 villagers respond to the Gospel. These new believers are from a tribal people group that has been marginalized for many years within this nation. Now they are finding true freedom and dignity in Christ.

However, as soon as they declared their faith in Jesus, local authorities swiftly and brutally opposed them: houses were destroyed, families were driven away from their villages, and leaders were arrested. These people desperately need our prayers and support. In the face of persecution, they are persevering and proclaiming Jesus as their only hope. Despite hardship, recent reports confirm that this new mission movement is continuing to spread. 

The powers of darkness in this country have been disrupted. These new followers of Jesus have broken allegiance with evil spirits, causing spiritual and social unrest. Until authorities also come to understand the life-giving power of the Gospel, the Church will be perceived as a threat to the current system.

As we partner with this persecuted church, the leaders are inviting us not only to pray but also to provide practical assistance. Our local partners are actively supporting church-planting efforts by training leaders and supplying urgent relief.