In April, Pastor Al McClaran and I had the opportunity to visit ministries in Myanmar, Nepal and India.  Although possibly the most physically exhausting two weeks in my thirty-two years in missions, those days were ones of tremendous blessings and challenge.  Please allow me to share several highlights. 

In Myanmar (formerly Burma) we met with the leadership of several tribal churches.  My heart was touched as an elderly man stood to his feet in that meeting.  Reading from a statement he had prepared, he thanked us as “American Christians” for taking the gospel to his people many years ago.  The first American missionary, Adoniram Judson, ministered and died in Burma in the early nineteenth century.  In a land dominated by Buddhism, there is a growing community of believers and many strong churches.  In obedience to our Lord’s great commission, these believers are actively involved in evangelization and church planting – not only in their own country but also across the border into communist China.

The beauty of the Himalayas was awe-inspiring as we arrived in Nepal.  In what has been termed the world’s only Hindu kingdom, the Word of God is changing many hearts and lives.  During one church service in Katmandu, we rejoiced as a new believer was baptized.  A former Hindu, this young man is the only believer in his village and faces persecution for his faith.  Often in dangerous situations, national evangelists are faithfully sharing the gospel throughout the country.  Several new congregations have begun in remote areas.  The Collins Children’s Home in Katmandu now ministers to twenty-five orphans.  It was thrilling to hear these children enthusiastically sing gospel choruses.

Nestled between Nepal and Bhutan is the Indian state of Sikkim.  Arriving by helicopter in the capital city of Gangtok, we were able to spend several days with national missionary Athem Khiang.  What a joy it was to observe God’s blessing upon the ministry of Athem and his wife Indu.  People in the Ranka community had been invited to a special dedication service for their beautiful infant daughter, Grace.  That Saturday afternoon, numerous Buddhist and Hindu neighbors sat respectfully as Pastor McClaran brought a clear presentation of the gospel.  Children from several of these families are presently attending the children’s school directed by Athem and Indu.  In addition to the school and new congregation, Athem is training national workers through Vision 2020 Asia.

Throughout our visit to Asia, I was impressed with the evangelistic outreach of these national believers.  Souls are being saved and churches begun in areas that some may consider “closed” to missionary endeavor.  This emphasizes the importance of training and encouraging nationals for the work of the ministry!