The Hope of Myanmar
By Myles D. Fish
The devastating cyclone in Myanmar (formerly Burma) stirs powerful personal memories for me. In my childhood, growing up as the son and grandson of American Baptist ministers, I had many opportunities to read and hear inspiring stories of missionaries serving in exotic, distant lands.
None was more memorable than Adoniram Judson, a colorful Baptist missionary who left the comforts of New England to evangelize the Burman people for nearly 40 years during the first half of the 19th century. Judson brought a brand of fiery Protestantism and the first translation of the Bible in the Burmese language to the overwhelmingly Buddhist nation.
Judson’s zeal for touching the hearts and souls of the people of Burma is reflected in his forceful appeal for more mission workers to join him in his efforts. In a letter recruiting reinforcements, Judson cautioned against “the sin of turning a deaf ear to the plaintive cry of millions of immortal beings who, by their darkness and misery, cry day and night, ‘Come to our rescue, ye bright sons and daughters of America. Come and save us, for we are sinking into hell.’”
Those words may reflect the idiom of a bygone era, but they echo with an eerie currency today as an estimated 2 million people in Myanmar - homeless, hungry, and losing hope - look for someone to come to their rescue and respond to their misery.
With the passing of the days and weeks since the cyclone, the sense of desperation - and abandonment - mounts. How long can we stand by? In my role as President of International Aid, I’m eager to deliver desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the precious people of Myanmar, to join with others in the faith community and people of good will in the restoration and rebuilding of that nation.
As it was for Judson two centuries ago, it’s a matter of demonstrating the love of Christ in a tangible, meaningful way. Judson believed the people of Burma are created in God’s image, and are worthy of any sacrifice. This is our belief today. The people of Myanmar are worthy of our support simply because they bear the image of their creator just as we all do.
For those of us who are followers of Christ, we answer to a higher authority. It’s inspiring to me that the biblical passage that precedes Jesus’ great commission to his disciples includes this declaration: “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go into all nations…”
Myanmar may be fading from the front pages, and we may well be numbed by the staggering toll of well over 100,000 people estimated to be perished or missing. But in the name of God, we have the commission and the authority to respond to the physical needs of the suffering. Join me in praying that the doors will be opened - and that the bright sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father will step forward with a strong response.