Second Thoughts on Myanmar's Bible Colleges

What on earth God is doing in Myanmar? Has He been silent? I would say “NO,” for God has been actively working in Myanmar and marvelously blessing churches and Christian organizations in our land. Churches and Christian organizations such as Bible Colleges have reached out to people in various ways, and many have come to Jesus and have been blessed with a better life. But this has given rise to unhealthy competition among Bible Colleges for students. Why are people studying in Bible Colleges in the first place? What is the role of the Church in relation to Bible Colleges? A second thought on this situation is needed.Yangon has more than one hundred Bible Colleges/Seminaries or Bible training centers while more may be found in other parts of Myanmar. Once Rev. Peter Joseph the secretary of the Association for Theological Education in Myanmar (ATEM) said, “Bible Colleges and Christian Orphanages are mushrooming.”(Chiansachaung neh mibameh gayha hmupoh talu poh re). Under the ATEM umbrella alone there are 27 schools with about 4,000 students who are enrolled in theological colleges run by mainstream Protestant churches (2006). I roughly estimate that Myanmar has between 8,000 and 10,000 Bible School students, and about 2000-3000 of them graduate every year. Apart from this, thousands of students are studying overseas. If we look back ten years this means about 20,000-30,000 students would have graduated to-date. But where are all these graduates gone?Bible Colleges compete in various ways, which is commendable. But when they compete for more students, questions are raised about the way it is done. They may say, “We have more students than the other colleges. Our college is the biggest, our facilities are better and this year we have this number of graduating students, etc.” Moreover in competing to sponsor more students to their own colleges, they make claims such as, “Come to our college, we will find you a sponsor,” or “If you join our church we will also employ you as a fulltime worker upon completion of your course.”As a result when a student is unable to finish his course in one particular college due to academic reasons or violation of rules, another college happily accepts him. The increase of enrolment or the numbers graduating may be good but mostly the quality of the students is compromised academically and spiritually. This leads churches to complain and put the blame on Bible Colleges and their lecturers. They say, “What kind of students are you producing? What did you teach in the Bible College?” Therefore Bible Colleges should be more concerned with quality and not quantity. They should compete to produce quality students instead of seeking increase in numbers alone. Unfortunately, many people go to a Bible College for the wrong reasons. For instance, instead of disciplining their own children, parents send them to a Bible College in the hope that their children will become better persons. Then there are parents who cannot afford an education in conventional secular schools for their children. Due to the ongoing economic crisis in Myanmar, these parents have little choice but to look to Bible Colleges for sponsorships. They also believe theological colleges will teach their children English and enable them to cope with modern life. The failure of Myanmar’s education system has resulted in many parents believing that theological college graduates are “better educated” than their counterparts in government-run secular colleges. On the other hand, there are those who fail their matriculation examinations and cannot further their education. As a last resort their parents send them to a Bible College. There is no doubt that many come to Bible College because they really want to dedicate their lives to God and serve Him, but their number is few. When these students complete their courses they are sent to various churches. In fact a Bible College is one of the ministries of the Church. If there are complaints, churches should therefore also examine themselves and their relationship with Bible Colleges and students to see if there are shortcomings. What then are the roles the Church in Myanmar should play in relation to Bible Colleges and students? 1. Churches are responsible to send only those who are willing to serve God in full time ministry, and those who qualify as pastors and fulltime workers. The sending church should then support these students. 2. Churches are to provide on-the-job training. Bible Colleges emphasize mainly theory, and a little practical. The church is the real field for practical training.3. Churches should work closely with Bible Colleges to support and train students instead of depending on foreigners for support.4. Churches should explore ways to upgrade the academic quality of Bible Colleges and their facilities.5. Most importantly, churches are to pray for Bible Colleges and their students.I truly believe there are some benefits in the rising number of Bible Colleges and students in Myanmar. Although there are shortcomings and unhealthy competition, many good students are still being sent and supported by responsible churches. Nevertheless, let us think again: What are Bible Colleges for? Who is studying in our Bible Colleges? Is there enough support for Bible Schools? Why depend on foreigners for support? In other countries various churches come in unity to support a Bible College, but it seems this is not so in Myanmar. As much as we are thankful for our many blessings, let’s give the state of Myanmar’s Bible Colleges a second thought.

Ral Pel EFC Golden Jubilee

My mother church Ral Pel Evangelical Free Church is going to celebrate it's 50th Aniversary in the coming Dec 27-29, 2007. What a privillege to be able to celebrate 50th Anniversary. Praise God.
It was my grand father Mr. Mangzela who found the church. My grand father who is still alive preached salvation by grace alone not of the good things we do, and emphasized praising God in singing (Lenkhawm zai). Because of these two issues the American Baptist Mission council in Chin state decided as follows:
1. Those who sing Lenkhawm zai are out of our church.
2. Those who play drum (Khuang) are out of our church.
3. Those who wear shawl (Mizo puanfen) are out of our church.
4. Those who use Mizo language in worship service are out of our church.
These are the basic reasons that my grand father had to start another church not knowing any thing to do. Most of the church members follow my grand father decision and from there there is no Baptist church in my village until 1995.
I am proud of having such a grand father who stood firm for his faith in spite of much criticisms. The church had to stand alone, depending on God alone because more than 90 percent of the christians are Baptists during those days. But he stood for his faith and trusted God for his guidance. And by the grace of God he found a denomination ( Evangelical Free Church of Myanmar) to join.
Praise God that the church could produce several full time ministers such as pastors, missionaries, and lecturers. I am sure that it is by the grace and guidance of God. Ral Pel EFC has been a mighty instrument in the hands of God.
I am proud and give thank to God that my father is right now the chairman of the church since they don't have a pastor. I am thankful to God that he chose me to serve him in full time. I served as a pastor in Myanmar for six years and now studying God's word in Malaysia.

Thank God for how He enabled my grand father to start a new church, how he blessed the church in producing full time workers in God's vineyard, how he guided the church. Especially how he guided our family. God has been helping us until this day. 'EBENEZER'.

Joy and Sorrow Mixed

As we plan to go back for Christmas. As we look forward to seeing our family and friends our joy and sorrow mixed because atleast four of our close relatives and friends are no more. They passed this world of trials and went to be with the Lord. I am sure they peacefully live with the Lord. But we human beings are here weeping for them.

Anyway it is our prayer that our presence with the remaining family will bring comfort, joy and blessings. The Lord has been good to my wife and me in our bereavement. Especially my wife knows how to take strength in the Lord. Even I wonder how she could go through all the bereavements. She instead comforts me from Philippians saying "Rejoice in the Lord always". She always says God is with us and helping us in our struggles. I really appreciate her prayer life. That give us joy.

We give thanks to God for providing us the airfare for going back to our family. We rejoice in the Lord, but at the same time even as we are in this world of trails we sorrow for the loved one who passed away in our absence. When we go the family will weep again but I pray that God will use us to bring comfort and joy to our family and friends.