“Singing in a Strange Land: Learning from Myanmar Immigrants” (Psalm 137:1-4)

by Mary Wood, Pinnacle Associate

Psalm 137:1-4

For those who relocate from Myanmar (a war-torn country located in Southeast Asia also known as Burma) to American Western culture, the experience is frightening and traumatic even for strong, faith-filled Christian ethnic groups who place all their trust in Jesus Christ.

Many Christians who were born in the United States may not understand the effects of war, nor understand the experience or history of immigrant communities from Burma. Burma has experienced civil war since the conclusion of World War II. Count the years! That is a very long civil war. For a handful of recent years, small tastes of Democracy were experienced by the people in Myanmar. However, on February 1st, 2021, the people of Burma suffered a brutal military coup which has become like a cancer spreading death. Since the coup, thousands upon thousands of people in Burma fled from their homes in villages and cities to live in jungle areas and refugee camps along the Thailand-Burma border.

The beautiful country of Burma is the same country where U.S. missionaries Ann and Adoniram Judson brought the Gospel of Christianity in 1812, which was a time of war in the United States. Even so, for the next 40 years, the Judsons proceeded to love the people and translate the Bible into Burmese among other languages. Although the work of the Judson’s cannot be underestimated, the most notable contribution of Christian mission came through the lives of those from Burma after the Western missionaries were forced to leave by the military regime.

As happens during times of upheaval and war, refugees often flee from their country of origin to a bordering country, such as Thailand, which provides land and place surrounded by barbed wire. When refugees apply for relocation to a third country, the vetting process is very long and takes many, many months of interviews and waiting. Often families from Myanmar who apply to go to a third country are separated and relocate to a variety of countries, such as Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America.

For decades now due to the civil war, hundreds of churches in America have welcomed immigrants from Burma. Welcoming immigrants is no easy endeavor. Understanding one another’s cultures, customs and values takes patience, love, care, understanding and intentional listening. Although resettled refugees strengthen and renew older, declining mainline churches when partnering with them, misunderstandings among the communities leads to a deeper a sense of disconnect among immigrants and third country communities. Understanding one another takes time, resolve and humility. However, as previously mentioned, what many mainline churches have discovered by partnering with immigrant communities is that immigrants and resettled refugees deepen the ministries already present in communities; children’s ministries rapidly increase, budgets multiply, energy soars.

Currently, refugees from the Thai-Burma border are applying to relocate to third countries due to oppression and violence furthered by a political coup by Burmese Military on February 1, 2021. Many of these refugees who resettle in the United States will need supportive partnerships with those already rooted in American context to assist them with the transitions of immigrant life.

How might churches partner with the immigrant community in meaningful ways?

How might understanding context, language, culture and stories build awareness?

How might asking open ended, curious questions that you do not know the answers to strengthen partnerships?

Building partnerships with Christian immigrants who come from war-torn Burma can bring revitalization to communities. You may wonder how that might happen? How can a faith community who does not understand the effect and trauma and war be vivified through an immigrant community whose lives have been affected by war?

Join a free Hospitality Initiative to learn and build capacity among immigrants and third country partners. This 90 minute event will be offered by Pinnacle Leadership Associates at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30 at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

Panelists will include Dr. Rev. Lai Uk Thang, pastor of Chin Bethel Church of Houston; Dr. Yaw Han, Kachin leader; Rev. Dr. May May Latt, Biblical Studies professor, Central Baptist Theological Seminary; Rev. Leslie Turley, former Director of Southeast Asia and Japan, International Ministry (ABC/USA); Dr. Rev. Mary Wood, Pinnacle Associate, missionary, pastor and convener.

If you have questions for panelists, you may submit questions the day of the event or submit ahead of time by email to: calvinucc_revmary@yahoo.com.

Although this event is free, Registration is Required. To register please click HERE. Prior to the event, a Zoom link will be sent to your email.