For more ways to pray and advocate for those in Myanmar, see information below the audio recording.
The following information is for those interested in knowing some ways to respond and help the people in Myanmar. Here is a PDF version for those who would prefer to download it. This document was compiled from information and suggestions from American Baptist International Ministries. In addition, you might find this PBS Newshour segment on Myanmar from Tuesday (March 16) helpful.
Standing in the GAP for Myanmar
In Myanmar (Burma) the leaders of the coup have extended martial law to more and more areas, and on Tuesday (March 16th), Leslie Turley from American Baptist International Ministries shared that the capital of Yangon now looks like a war zone. I, Judy Sutterlin, have seen pictures showing how terrible it is with fires and smoke and destruction everywhere. It is overwhelming! At least 275 have been killed since the beginning of the coup, many have been beaten and harshly treated in other ways, women have been raped, villages have been burned, some hospitals and schools have been taken over and used by the military as temporary bases, many have been arrested—some in daylight and many in night raids. The horrors continue to be compounded. In addition, it has been announced that all cell towers, all cell tower data, and all internet will be cut from March 18, making it even more difficult to get information about what is happening from that point forward.
A friend of Leslie Turley who is in Myanmar cries out: “Oh Lord, hear our cries! Please don’t let innocent lives be taken away from us anymore!” Leslie also shares another prayer, “Soon…these dark days will be over and we will see the beauty of this entire nation once again. Declaring that in Jesus’ name. Amen!”
Leslie Turley and International Ministries are calling us to consider committing to “Stand in the G.A.P. for Myanmar. What does that mean? G stands for Give; A stands for Advocate; and P stands for Pray. Although she introduced us to praying and its importance even before giving us this acronym, we, as she, will explain them in the acronym’s order as we think about the ways we can respond.
Give: A medical friend of Leslie Turley said, “There is urgent need to support the families of those heroes killed in the protests, those who are injured and a need to support those who have been evicted from their housing.” American Baptist International Ministries is currently collecting funds, 100% of which will be used to assist those affected by the coup. Specifically, the funds will be used to: 1) Assist civil servants and their families who are engaged in the passive resistance; 2) Assist the people who are suffering due to their jobless status; and 3) Help those who cannot afford to pay for medical care and vitamins as well as to pay for tests, medical supplies, and vaccines related to Covid-19. If you are led to give, one way to do so is available on the International Ministries website.
Advocate: Leslie Turley reminds us that “To advocate means to publicly support” and asks us to “publicly support democracy and the call to protect innocent lives.” One way to do that is by writing our senators and representatives, and Leslie provides this link, which can help us do that quite easily. In addition, she reminds that researching the issue and letting others know what is happening in Myanmar is another way to advocate.
Pray: We can pray for and with our brothers and sisters in Myanmar. We can pray individually and we can pray as a church and in other groups whether large or small. I am grateful to those of you who joined us for prayer together last Sunday evening as we prayed for the people and about the horrible situations that they are facing. I am grateful for Pastor Mary who has included our prayers for the people of Myanmar in the “daily” recording we receive on Thursdays. I am grateful for each of you and for others who are praying for the people of Myanmar based on what we are sharing on our church Prayer Wall and/or what you are reading and learning about the situation from other sources. This link gives materials to assist in our prayers and to help us understand more about the current situation. Pray with and for the people of Myanmar and also those in our country who have friends and loved ones in Myanmar. Within our American Baptist Churches, there are over 80,000 who have come here from Burma as refugees, with some of them being in at least four churches in our own region. Please continue to pray!