Churches and mission partners have sprung into action to support the relief effort in Myanmar following the catastrophic earthquake which shook the nation last month. However, military control and violence still persists amid stories of gospel opportunity.
The southeast Asian country was devastated by the 7.7 magnitude quake which has killed more than 3,600, and the nation’s church community has crossed denominational divides to support the relief effort.
Platform 67’s Andrew Dudgeon told en that partners across Myanmar have been encouraged to find that amidst the challenges of supporting local communities, with much of the Myanmar population already living in poverty before the earthquake, opportunities for witness are “plentiful” amidst their relief work.
David Nyi Nyi Naing, the Bishop of Mandalay, updated en on how Christians have responded to the crisis in his city and in the neighbouring city of Sagain: “All [of Mandalay’s] 125 churches have come together, not only to [support] church members, but also the community.
“We also have a Medical Mobile Team for the community, which will be there for two months. In the meantime, the Anglican church are also responding. There are eight churches affected in my diocese and more than 50 affected across all denominations in Mandalay. Please pray for these things. Your prayers and support are our hope and strength.”
However, logistical challenges due to the ongoing civil war remain. Dudgeon stressed the need for a longer-term ceasefire to take shape to bring an end to the widespread violence which has persisted following the earthquake, as this hinders the relief effort. Various ceasefires have been called, broken and reintroduced by military forces since the quake, leaving the country’s people in a state of tension and uncertainty.
Additionally, permission is required from the authorities before aid can be officially delivered to people, meaning it can be difficult for workers to deliver aid to Christian and other communities. A local believer told Open Doors: ““All the relief agencies must ask for official letters from the state government, which is very difficult. From Yangon to Mandalay, all the relief vehicles are being questioned and detained. It is very hard to reach the Christians in need.”
