Adam Sa Kyaw Thu Ya tells us how he ended up graduating from Bible college with a Bridgeway Bible Commentary and Bible Dictionary from SparkLit.

 

“Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.”

 

In desperation I prayed to our Heavenly Father: “If you help me pass this exam, I promise that I will go to Bible college.” When the results came out, I was relieved to find that I had passed. I intended to enrol at Holy Cross Anglican Theological College, but in the end I did not go. I broke my promise to God.

 

A broken promise

 

My name is Adam Sa Kyaw Thu Ya. I was born in Mya Goe Gyi, a Karen village on the Irawaddy Delta. I am a fourth generation Christian. My parents, my four brothers and my two sisters all serve the Lord. Before he retired, my father served as an Archdeacon in the Anglican Church.

 

I left home to go to secondary school in Myaung Mya. I stayed at a church hostel. I first felt that God was calling me to full-time ministry while I was studying for my final high school exam. I was very worried that I would not pass this exam. So I began to pray to God by reminding him of what Jesus says in Matthew 7:7–8.

 

Exile

 

Instead of going to Bible college I returned home and spent four years working in the village bakery. In 2004 I went to Malaysia to look for work. In the city of Johor Bahru I attended a Baptist church and became involved with the Myanmar Christian Fellowship. The fellowship is a network of home-based Bible study groups. My group met every Wednesday and Friday.

 

In Malaysia I met a lot of nonbelievers from Myanmar and had many opportunities to proclaim to them Jesus Christ and his Good News. I helped grow the Myanmar Christian Fellowship in two other cities, in Masai and in Johor Jaya. I am very fond of this ministry and stay in touch with my Myanmar Christian Fellowship colleagues.

 

God is faithful

 

In 2008 I returned to my village in Myanmar. I worked on farms and in workshops. Whenever I had the opportunity, I helped at our church. However, I faced many troubles and felt very restless. During this season I sensed God’s calling again and remembered my broken promise. I finally decided to give my life fully to the service of Jesus. I enrolled at Holy Cross Anglican Theological College and by the grace of God I graduated this year. Studying at college was the most enjoyable experience of my life.

 

Being a disciple means being a disciple-maker. I have a vision for participating in God’s mission in Myanmar. I hope to disciple laymen and train them to disciple others. Please pray that I will faithfully build up the body of Christ in love.

 

I thank God for giving me the opportunity to serve him and I appreciate your interest in my testimony. God bless you.

 

Adam Sa Kyaw Thu Ya is a promising graduate from Holy Cross Anglican Theological College in Yangon.

 

$40 will provide a Bridgeway Bible Commentary and Bible Dictionary to graduates as they take up their pastoral duties throughout Myanmar.

Stephen Than Myint Oo’s courage and vision are God’s timely gifts to the people of Myanmar as they prepare for historic general elections.

 

I decided to tear a strip off my longyi and hang myself. Prison had broken me. Torture petrified me. Cruelty depressed me. Why do human beings oppress and torment each other? I was a Christian leader and Bible teacher. My heart trusted God but my mind was full of doubt. I had lost hope. It was time to die.

 

Through the darkness

 

I had always intended to be a priest. I was born in a Karen village on the vast Irrawaddy Delta. As a child I loved singing choruses and learning about Jesus and I admired our archdeacon’s flowing robes.

 

When I was four years old fighting broke out and I was sent to Yangon for protection and schooling. As my family was poor the Burmese Air Force was my only prospect of gaining a tertiary degree.

 

In 1982, when I was 24 and close to completing my training as an Air Force engineer, I was arrested. I was accused of being a spy and sentenced to death. I had no idea why this was happening.

 

Every morning, cells would be opened and prisoners were taken. They were never seen again. When a voice cried out we assumed someone was being hanged.

 

Into the light

 

It was midnight. From my cell I could hear church bells ringing. So, I was going to die on Christmas Eve. I had always been a Christian. Now, I was going to die like a Christian. I knelt down and started praying.

 

I opened my eyes and I saw a tiny cross coming towards me. I tried to catch it, but it flew away. Again I tried to catch it, and again it eluded me. It became bigger and faster. As soon as I caught it, I fainted and fell into a deep pit. When I hit the bottom I was enveloped in light. I heard a very soft voice say, “My son, I am with you always.”

 

I woke suddenly. The doubt in my mind had gone. I shouted, “My God is real! God is with us!” The guards threatened to kill me, but an officer said, “Don’t worry, he’s mad!”

 

A prisoner started singing a Christmas carol. Others joined in; Communists, Buddhists, everyone! A Korean started singing in his own language. Then a Baptist pastor began preaching. Others sang Karen songs. I was so happy. I was no longer afraid of dying.

 

Please pray that English and Burmese editions of a biography of Archbishop Stephen will reinforce his leadership and inspire his people as he guides them through this time of transition.

 

The Most Reverend Stephen Than Myint Oo is the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Myanmar.

 

Adapted from Dancing with Angels by Alan Nichols.

 

$5,000 will finance the publication in Yangon of the Burmese edition of the biography Dancing with Angels.