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.