Bringing Hope to Myanmar

United Reformed Churches in Myanmar By Dr. Moses Ngunhlei Thang

Galilee Church Members

On behalf of the United Reformed Churches in Myanmar, on the far side of the sea, I bring you very warm greetings in the name of our common Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My name is Moses Ngunhlei Thang. Among other things, I am president of the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches Fellowship in Myanmar. This fellowship was organized on September 24, 2005, with ten Reformed and Presbyterian denominations.

Church Board Members

Galilee Church plot of land dedication

The two first missionaries with Galilee church building

If you read the accompanying fact box about our churches, you will notice that we established a seminary in 2002. A church was built beside it. In February 2005, both of the buildings were burnt down in a fire caused by an electrical fault. There was no one inside the buildings when they were on fire, but of course everything in the buildings was lost. The church members have been worshiping at the pastor's house since then.

By the grace of the Lord the wind blew toward a big pond on the other side of the road and it prevented the fire from hitting the surrounding houses. We were then given permission to build on the two plots again, and started reconstruction work with our limited resources. It was while the building was under construction that the cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, and the whole building swayed.

Galilee Kindergarten

Kindergarten Children

And now through the contributions from our churches members and some friends, the reconstruction work has been started. We are indebted to all friends who have helped us in this project through gifts, prayer supports, and with down payments. God willing, the first phase of the project will be completed by the end of November 2008.

When Nargis hit Myanmar, all 60 families from the four churches in Yangon classis suffered a lot. But with help from friends (including you) the relief committee was able to make a relief distribution three times. That helped make our lives easier in the midst of difficulties. The Galilee church building, the North Okkla church building, and some of the houses of our churches’ members were reconstructed. The Covenant Theological Seminary kitchen and dormitory is also reconstructed.Dormitory and kitchen reconstructed

Grace Orphanage Home

In spite of these blessings, there are things for which we still need your prayer and financial support (Editor’s note: Word & Deed is in the process of financially supporting these projects):

1. Grace Mission Center (to complete the center, which was damaged by Nargis)Grace Mission Reconstruction

2. Galilee tube-well (for purified drinking water project)
3. Kathahniyin drinking water (Ayerawaddy Division, Delta Region)

We are in the care of His grace.

Deacons with relief distribution

Church family in their home

Relief to a blind family in their rebuilt house

Dr. Moses Ngunhlei Thang is the pastor at Grace United Reformed Church in Yangon, and chairman of the Interim Committee of the United Reformed Churches in Myanmar.

The United Reformed Churches in Myanmar

• Pastor Moses began the Urban and Rural Ministry among Slums in April 1993 to reach the ‘unreached’ and plant the Reformed Churches in Myanmar

• The denomination now has a membership of about 1500 believers in 20 churches and three preaching stations.

• There are 18 pastors.

• The first Synod assembly was held in March 1995.

• The church adheres to the infallible, inspired Word of God and the Three Forms of Unity.

• The URCM has four mission fields within Myanmar.

• They operate several children’s homes, sheltering a total of 62 children.

• Publishes a quarterly magazine, Thutak Muril (The Outlook).

• Established Covenant Theological Seminary in 2002 in Yangon, Myanmar with 23 students.