Keeping in Touch with our Global Partners

Theological Education for Myanmar Pastors

Submitted by, Rev. Bill Walker, GBWM Co-Chair

For some time now, the EMC, through its Board of World Missions, has sponsored several EMC pastors in Myanmar in pursuit of a Master of Theology degree. This was a deep desire and vision of the late Rev. Dr. Lal Duh Awma (former General Superintendent of EMC Myanmar). Generous EMC donors make this possible.

I am pleased to announce that Rev. Malsawm Sanga has just completed his graduate degree at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in India (SAIACS). https://www.saiacs.org/

The following are excerpts from a recent email he sent to me.

“First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Triune God for guiding me throughout my theological education journey and enabling me to earn the degree of Master of Theology. I will always be indebted to the Evangelical Methodist Church (USA) for its financial and prayer support throughout this process. I appreciate that the EMC places a high value on quality and doctrinally sound theological education.”

“I hope that what I have learned from my specialized discipline will enable me to preach and teach sound Christian theology and doctrine to the people whom I serve. It will also help me be able to defend the church from false teachings and guide the church to the right doctrine.”

“My prayer is to become an effective pastor and to have a fruitful ministry in my country (Myanmar), and that God will not let all that I have learned be in vain, but rather will use it for the glory of His name and the extension of His kingdom in the country of Myanmar.”

Rev. Sanga is assigned to serve in the village of Tuingo, near EMC Myanmar headquarters in a region referred to as “the Chin hills,” and will be moving there very soon.

This area has recently seen intense fighting between the Myanmar military and a “people’s defense force” (PDF, something like a civilian militia). The fighting filled the headquarters property with nearly 100 refugees for several weeks.

Pray for all EMC pastors in Myanmar. We are featuring Rev. Sanga because of his recent graduation, but each of our faithful pastors are highly valued; they all need our prayer and deserve our respect. The people of Myanmar desperately need well-trained and spiritually sound ministers.

Thank you to all who give for advanced theological education!