Mission Magazine | May-June 2014

Myanmar is a nation in the midst of dramatic change.

For almost 50 years, the people lived under a repressive government that controlled most aspects of their lives. A little over two years ago, restrictions were lifted. The cities are booming and investment is coming into the country. There is an excitement in the air and change is now an everyday occurrence. Communication opportunities that were unheard of just a few years ago are now available to a growing number of people. In less than 18 months, over one million people are using Facebook.

When a country goes through massive changes, there is an opportunity—a moment—when people are open to exploring new ideas, to even consider the gospel. This is especially true with the young.

Myanmar is a priority country for Asia Pacific Media in 2014.

The nation is strongly Buddhist.

Among the Bama people, the largest group in the country, there [2.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.

are only three Christians for every 50,000 people. The national church has invited our team to help them seize the moment.

They realize that strategic use of media can help multiply God’s message in this land. We’ve responded and will continue to respond over the next year. The church has the unusual opportunity, right now, to create media that is every bit as good as any secular company. As media is emerging from the dark ages in Myanmar, our Message can be as attractive and powerful as any other in the market. This is a very strategic time to tell God’s story through the lives of people whose lives Jesus has changed.

In this issue, learn about Myanmar, its history and its people, and an amazing God who knows what He will do even before we can see the future.

Thank you for your support of Asia Pacific Media as we serve the church in Myanmar.

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“You are here at the right time to help us impact this country.”

The time is now. The country is Myanmar. The “you” is Asia Pacific Media. And the general consensus of Burmese local church pastors is that their nation is open for the positive effect media can have on their culture.

But this openness is a new openness.

From the early 1960s until 2012, Myanmar was under a military dictatorship that controlled every aspect of the people’s lives.

“During my first visit to Myanmar, in the mid-1990s, I discovered that there was one television station for the whole nation, government controlled, and there were two radio stations for the whole nation, government controlled. The communications media center was behind high walls with barbed wire fences, and military was positioned at the gates to the communications [4.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.

center,” Bill Snider, director of APMedia, says. Phone calls—if a person could even use the phone—would cost as much as $8 per minute.

Despite the restrictions, in the mid-90s, APMedia began bringing media to Myanmar in the form of radio. Bill met the general superintendent and pastor of a great church in the capital city, and over several visits, he trained him and a group of people in his church to use radio more effectively. APMedia also helped the church to set up a recording studio for radio programs and music. The pastor began doing broadcasts, using international shortwave, coming every morning across the nation, and the programs were having a great effect over time.

“On one of my visits, I met a number of men who were now pastoring churches, and each of

them confessed that they had been a former Buddhist monk and had come to hear about Christ, first through his radio programs and then by visiting the church,” Bill says.

In 2012, Myanmar changed and opportunity expanded when a new leader was put in position, and he began to open the country to some forms of democracy.

“When I arrived again in Myanmar, in early 2013, I was shocked to see that the television in my hotel room had cable,” Bill says. And in this country where, just recently, using the word internet would have put a person under the scrutiny of public security, internet cafes were up and running.

“Later in the year I was with friends, and noticed they were using Facebook on their phones to communicate with one another,” Bill says. “The change has been that dramatic.” But Myanmar, being a poor nation, has a long way to go media-wise. While the cities show a lot of growth in media and freedom, media access is limited to the more rural, provincial areas of Myanmar.

Internet access across the country is still less than 10 percent.

Responding to the need, APMedia is laying a foundation for people to be reached in Myanmar through media, and Bill says it begins with multiplication through training.

“Primarily, what we are doing with the church, is helping them understand what media can do for them. It’s starting from very little understanding because they never could do it before,” Bill says.

In 2013, APMedia conducted a scriptwriting workshop where professionals from the U.S. trained 16 pre-selected people in writing dramatic script. And in 2014, APMedia will be working with a select group of people in telling dramatic stories of people who have come to Christ.

“It is an unusual moment for us in that we’re basically starting at square one,” says Bill. “The secular media in Myanmar is of poor quality. What we’re producing at this point will be as good as anything that is in the country.

That’s an amazing position for the church to be in.”

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Myanmar, the country once known as Burma, is in transition.

A recent change in governmental power has brought more freedoms to the people. Media access is part of this change, making now an opportune time for Asia Pacific Media to get in there and begin increasing the use of their resources and skills to help the Christian church leaders in the country share Jesus in ways that are accessible to the people. Bill Snider, director of APMedia, had a chance to talk with one of the Myanmar church leaders to get his perspective on how things are going regarding media and the local church and APMedia’s role in bringing the two together.

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BILL: When you have someone to oversee media in the Myanmar local churches, what would you like to see this person produce?

MYANMAR CHRISTIAN LEADER: We hope that they can produce documentaries and realistic dramas, preaching, teaching and videos.

They (our leadership) would like to see something happening in the area of media ministry. They know this is a very effective tool in evangelism and discipleship. But they cannot do much on their own at this point. They are committed to find a place—an office space. For the media department, they do not need to find a huge office space.

Just a room may be enough.

BILL: How have things changed in Myanmar over the last two or three years, and particularly, how have they changed regarding media and what the church can do?

MCL: The private sector has more access to all types of business firms, including the media. …There are more private TV stations. And we just passed a media law a couple of months ago, and that allows TV production or TV broadcasting. …

But you have to be very careful still, because…I don’t think we can set up a Christian TV station.

BILL: What do you see as the church’s opportunity right now for using media, and how different is it than just a few years ago?

MCL: Before, we had very little opportunity to produce Christian movies or Christian media. Now, we have good possibility to produce them. …Many Christian groups have produced a number of Christian dramas, video dramas…. Now Christian churches have access to the media world, of movie production and video production. I think, also, since we have a number of private TV stations…sometimes they would broadcast a Christian program from time to time.

BILL: How can APMedia help the church in Myanmar at this point?

MCL: APMedia can assist the Assemblies of God churches in media ministry by providing the technical training and know-how—

how to produce, from A to Z, a video production or Christian movie. Also, if we want to see things happen, it would be beneficial if APMedia can assist with the financial and the equipment as well, because of how financial sources are very limited at this point. We still need to educate people to become more involved in the media ministry, but the leaders are already seeing the benefits of media ministry—using media in evangelism and discipleship. I think our need is somehow huge. …We have to keep media people inspired, and we have to keep our church leaders inspired in the aid of the media ministry.

BILL: Are you surprised by what is happening in your country with the openness and the moment you have today to more freely share the gospel?

MCL: We are surprised, but the Christian media does not have the full opportunity yet to broadcast Christian programs on TV channels. The private TV channels have a Buddhist TV channel—a whole channel is devoted to Buddhist teaching and events. But [Christians] can’t have a channel like that, yet.

But on some other channels, we can broadcast Christian movies or programs from time to time, as special events. Sooner or later, more opportunity will be available to us. But it is already surprising.

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APMEDIA: Where did you go to college, and what did you train in?

PATRICK: I went to University of Santo Tomas (UST), and I took up a Bachelor’s in Architecture.

APMEDIA: Why architecture?

PATRICK: Our family is really into arts, and as a young kid I liked drawing and doing arts. When the older people saw that, usually here in the Philippines, they would say, “You should be an architect.”

APMEDIA: Tell me about how you came to know Christ.

PATRICK: I’m a second generation Christian in my family. My parents were the first ones who came to faith, in the late ‘80s (maybe 1988).

I was around 12, and as a kid you usually go where your parents go.

So I could say that I grew up in church and in Sunday School. But [8.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.

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my turning point in the faith was when I was 15, when I made a personal decision to follow Christ.

APMEDIA: Why didn’t pursue architecture after college?

PATRICK: Growing up in church, I’ve been involved in the ministry, and when I was in college I was serving as a youth leader, not only in a church but in the network of youth groups in our area.

Going towards graduation, I was sensing a call from God to serve Him, particularly in the youth ministry and then the campus.

When I graduated that summer, I asked God for confirmation if I will pursue doing my ministry as my main career. After summer, I made a decision to serve full time. I have different ministry involvements, but most of what I do leans to ministry.

APMEDIA: I understand ChInese families have a difficult time letting their sons pursue ministry. How did your family respond to your decision?

PATRICK: Well, I graduated in my early 20s and, as a very idealistic person, I just made a decision on my own to do ministry.

Though my parents are long-time Christians, at first they did not really understand my decision, especially going full-time. And being in a Chinese family, my father had a business, and he expected the eldest son to take over and help with the business.

But I had a different direction, and the first years of doing ministry, going to the seminary, were quite difficult, especially with my relationship with my father. He’s the one who really didn’t understand and sort of was hurt about my decision, which I realized is a decision that should

be considered with the family. So I had those challenging moments.

It was like trial by fire. After a few years, we were able to resolve our issues, and my father began to accept what I’m doing, and today we’re good. Both of my parents are supporting what I do.

APMEDIA: How did you get interested in graphic and web design, and what led you to APMedia?

PATRICK: After the first year of architecture, I realized that there are other courses that were a fit for me, like advertising and fine arts, which I didn’t know when I came to college. But I still pursued architecture and continued to work on arts. It was a time when the internet was getting big and the - continued May/June 2014 [9.]

internet community was growing, and there was a demand from companies who wanted to have their websites done or to have their portfolio online. It was a good time, and it pushed me to learn the crafts of graphic design and web development.

It was in the middle of my college years when I learned about what APMedia is doing, and somehow it resonated with my passion...of using creativity, using media, to communicate the gospel. I did some freelance projects with APMedia before.

But after graduating from the seminary, there was this awareness that I had to make my mark not just in the youth and in the campus, but with creative arts. Not make a mark for myself, but somehow to leave a legacy that will impact generations and nations.

APMEDIA: Jesus told us to go and make disciples among all nations. What role does media—the creative arts— have in that today?

PATRICK: Before Christians reach the unreached, somehow the media goes ahead of the person in bringing the gospel. Media today is powerful. It can get to places where a Christian person sometimes cannot go. And with the internet and the digital age, the channel is more open. And also creative communication is the [10.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.

façade—the forefront—of how to get an unbeliever hooked into the message. If we don’t provide excellent creative communication, we lose them.

APMEDIA: What is something you’ve done with APMedia you are excited about?

PATRICK: We just completed our new APMedia website. Alex [Lyons] and I worked on it, and I’m excited about it because we were able to apply our skills and creativity in doing it. ...It’s current.

It’s competitive with secular work.

That’s why I’m pleased about it, and I’m happy that it is available for everyone to see.

APMEDIA: How do you feel about the decision you made to go into full-time ministry?

PATRICK: Of course there are challenges, but I made the right decision. Because I cannot see myself doing other than what I am doing right now. When you think about the impact of how God is using the talents and the resources that you have, you know that you have made the right decision.

NEWS BYTE:

As the only son in a family of nine, family has great value to Pastor Edgar Diaz. He learned the importance of caring for, providing for and serving one another in the family early on in life. So when he started his own family, he looked for ways to continue to serve God and provide for his family.

Like other Filipino families, his family was looking for sustainable ways to raise a daughter and provide for her education. He sought the Lord for wisdom and direction, knowing one possibility would be leaving his family to become an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

“When my only child was in high school, that’s when I began to feel the crunch of finances and needing ways to send her to college. I told the Lord, ‘I still want to serve You, but I still want to provide for my family.’ That was my prayer, and the Lord answered by opening up opportunities.to go over-

seas, but my heart was still here in the Philippines,” Pastor Diaz says. “During that time, the Lord opened every possible opportunity so my mind could set on going overseas. In March 2005, I went to another country for the first time as an engineer.”

During his time as an OFW, Diaz was thankful to find a Christian

church to serve in. He also helped to establish a women’s ministry and was able to be an encouragement to others. Although the time away from his family was

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NEWS BYTE: difficult, his ministry grew and he developed a passion to minister to OFW families.

Diaz connected with Asia Pacific Media (APMedia) and found the “Usapang Pamilya” stories to share with his family, the church and colleagues. The 28 DVDs discuss family issues and situations that Filipinos can relate to while seeking guidance to restore broken relationships, overcome temptation and provide spiritual encouragement.

He saw the vast resources available and was drawn to “Usapang Pamilya.” “I was immediately excited to see what this video can do for the church and also for me.

When I saw the different titles of ‘Usapang Pamilya,’ I thought it was very good,” Diaz says. “One of the biggest problems of being an OFW is [leaving] the family. The breadwinner is [elsewhere] and the family is here. The breadwinner is not aware of what is happening in his family. Something must be done so that we all know what the Bible says about this kind of situation.

The Word of God is for everything, especially for the family.”

Like other pastors, Diaz shared the “Usapang Pamilya” series with his co-laborers. He knew it was being used by other pastors and leaders for discussions, so it certainly helps those serving overseas.

“When I bought my first DVD [12.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.

from Asia Pacific Media, I knew I needed to share it with my brothers in Saudi Arabia so they could share it with the church,”

he says. “They were not sure if they had a way to play it for the church members.They said, ‘This video is very important for me.

Now I know that I am not alone in my faith. Maybe the church is only meeting on Fridays, but during the other days, this video can help me a lot.”

Today, Diaz ministers to OFW families at a church in Antipolo.

“OFW families feel alone, like nobody is here remembers us,” he says. “When a family is separated, there will always be a need. We are very fortunate because, even in areas [that are closed], the Lord will always provide opportunities to meet the needs of believers staying there. The church needs to encourage the OFW so he knows he always has a home. He is not alone, and can be an encouragement to other OFWs.” To learn more about the “Usapang Pamilya” series, log onto apmedia.org.

“Bijay” the Movie, is the story of a young soccer player who chooses to live for Christ. A film

by Promise Productions, “Bijay” is being shown throughout Nepal to share the story of Christ and to develop avenues of ministry and outreach, especially to young people and their families.

For “Bijay,” Director Stephen Cadd of Sword Productions and a team collaborated to use movie-making as a tool to communicate the Message of hope in Jesus in a way that makes sense to the Nepalese culture.

Each crew member started out performing the functions of his or her filmmaking position, but trained up to four local workers to take over as the production progressed. The result is a movie 14.

that can compete with anything the general market has to offer.

But the idea of providing quality entertainment to the local population pales in comparison to the teams’ primary goal— spreading the gospel by training young indigenous Christians to be leaders in their countries’ own film and entertainment industries.

“The Nepalese people believe in 33 million gods and goddesses.

[Through this film], we want to show that Jesus has already made the sacrifice for all mankind.”

—Beni Karki, Ministry Partner “This movie is a non-threatening way to share the gospel. People - continued May/June 2014 [13.]

can watch and see how God changes lives.”

—Futila Bhutia, Pastor “I believe this film is going to bring a big revolution to the youth of this country, and they are the future.”

-Abhisek Gengar, Director-Trainee “Football is hugely popular in Nepal, and it gives a place for action to happen, an important factor in a movie targeting youth. But while the movie is set in a village and has a football theme, it is really about how Christ can make real change in our lives.”

–Stephen Cadd, Director, Sword Productions Asia Pacific Media partners with organizations like Promise Productions in training, production and support, in order to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through media. By developing films, documentaries, and teaching tools specifically for unreached peoples throughout Asia Pacific, we are able to work together to communicate the salvation message in a way that crosses cultural barriers and results in changed hearts and lives [14.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.

that have been won for the Kingdom.

Thank you for joining us with your support of this tremendous, dynamic undertaking. Your faithfulness enables us to continue developing high quality, contemporary and effective tools that put effective, versatile, biblical resources in front of millions of people who have never been to church.

Here at APMedia we value your prayer and financial support.

If you’ve not been able to give monetarily in the past, please prayerfully consider partnering with us to reach into the Asia Pacific with the gospel message.

Visit apmedia.org/give or check out page 15 for instructions on how to contribute.

Thank you, again, for being a part of Asia Pacific Media!