Myanmar was plummeted into insecurity and uncertainty in February, as the military seized power and detained democratically elected leaders, alleging electoral fraud in November 2020 elections won by the National League for Democracy party. However, the Myanmar people are not giving up their hard-won freedoms without a fight, albeit a non-violent one. Many thousands of […]

Myanmar was plummeted into insecurity and uncertainty in February, as the military seized power and detained democratically elected leaders, alleging electoral fraud in November 2020 elections won by the National League for Democracy party.

However, the Myanmar people are not giving up their hard-won freedoms without a fight, albeit a non-violent one. Many thousands of people have gathered in protests across the country almost daily.

LCA International Mission partners with four church bodies in Myanmar through the Federation of Lutheran Churches in Myanmar (FLCM). Although Christians are a marginalised minority in Myanmar, they stand in solidarity with fellow citizens to protest this assault on their democratic rights. One church leader* reports that, despite a military decree that people are not to gather in groups larger than five, ‘the demonstrations are still going on and will not end until we get democracy’.

Tragically, as the protest has strengthened, so too has the military response. The same leader has also highlighted that, as of mid-March, more than 100 people have been killed because of the military’s increasingly violent response to the protesters. ‘Civilians are still arrested by the police and soldiers at night and in the daytime, they brutally crackdown on the peaceful protesters. We need international attention and deeper involvement in bringing down the military regime. Please share and continue to pray for the people of Myanmar.’

With COVID-19 already having devastated the Myanmar economy and severely hampered church activities, the coup has led to greater unpredictability, as worship attendance and church income have dramatically dropped, and the ability to engage in mission projects has been severely curtailed. However, church leaders are concerned, but not despairing. With people’s eyes opened once again to the fact that even good leaders cannot guarantee a secure future or peaceful life, they recognise that the message of the gospel is timelier than ever.

The leaders and members of our partner churches continue in their commitment to share the gospel and offer an everlasting hope amid their current uncertainty. Please join us in praying for a peaceful resolution to the situation in Myanmar, and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. May our Heavenly Father send his holy angels to watch over the churches of Myanmar and the entire country, and use this moment as an opportunity for the gospel of forgiveness, life and salvation to be proclaimed even more widely.

* Names of church leaders are being withheld due to safety concerns

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner churches in Myanmar at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/myanmar/