“I LOVE JESUS AND WO MY NAME IS THUZA.* I was born in Myanmar (sometimes known as Burma), Southeast Asia, nearly 40 years ago. I grew up in Mandalay, the ancient capital city. My father, who has now passed away, was a Christian pastor and my mother is a minister, too. During our lives, we have encountered many difficulties and dangers for our Christian faith. My father was in prison twice for three months each, simply for sharing the Gospel. Every week, we were served a warrant and forced to appear at the courts. I’ve grown up with fear. However, I love Jesus and even in my childhood, I worried for lost souls. I was baptized at the age of 19 and since then, I have served in music ministry and with Campus Crusade for Christ. I have also served as a radio announcer and sometime as a preacher for Word of Hope Radio Program (Lutheran Hour Ministries). I first read and learned Luther’s Small Catechism from Rev. Ted Na Thalang (LHF’s coordinator for projects in Southeast Asia). I’ve studied Lutheran Doctrine more and more from pastors and professors at the Luther Institute of Southeast Asia (Bangkok), again with the help of Rev. Na Thalang. I am a Lutheran because I simply believe the Word of God. On October 7, 2007, I was confirmed in my Lutheran faith. My father knew the Bible very well and could recite most of the books from the Bible. When I finished reading the whole Bible for the 12th time at the age of 20, he had finished reading the whole Bible 65 times! (It takes 70 hours and 40 minutes for reading the whole Bible one time.) Even thought he was not a Lutheran, my father respected my beliefs. But most people looked down on me when I became a Lutheran.
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Here in Myanmar, Buddhist leaders instigate Christian persecution in predominantly Buddhist communities. The radical Buddhist movement believes itself to be the protector of Buddhism, the country’s national religion. Local government officials, especially those in rural areas, are biased toward Buddhist leaders. This means that Christians, who often happen to be both religious and ethnic minorities, are often discriminated against. Christians who come from Buddhist, Muslim and tribal families experience this persecution even within their own homes, because their family and their community see their conversion as betrayal. In most places, even well-established historical churches experience attacks. More than 100,000 Christians live in IDP (internally displaced) camps, deprived of access to food and healthcare. In some instances, Buddhist monks have invaded church properties and built Buddhist shrines on church premises. The Buddhist, Muslim or tribal families of converts persecute believers, who are often ostracized from society. Communities who aim to stay “Buddhist only” make life for Christian families impossible by not allowing them to use community water resources. We are not free to share Gospel. It’s prohibited to do it. In some places, people throw stones while we share Gospel. We are very careful when preaching the Gospel and doing mission work. Despite these things, my vision for my life and country is very clear and simple; to fulfill Christ’s
* Not his real name. For his personal safety, Thuza’s real identity must be concealed.
