Burmese Refugees Find New Life in Christ

BANGKOK -- Human rights abuses, constant fighting, and poverty are forcing tens of thousands of people to flee the Asian nation of Burma, also known as Myanmar.

Many have sought refuge in neighboring Thailand, who has hosted refugees from its neighbor country for more than two decades. Most of these illegal migrants live a life of uncertainty, but many have found sanctuary and a lasting peace.

Sai Myint was 15 years old when he joined a rebel group in Burma. "Our family became very poor after my father who was a soldier, lost his legs while fighting and eventually he also lost his job," Myint said. "We had no money to buy food. I only reached second grade in school. When I became a teenager, I had no direction in life. I joined my friends to go to the mountains and joined a rebel group."

After three years, Myint was tired of fighting. He crossed the border to Thailand to find a job, but like most illegal immigrants, he was soon sold into servitude. A fisherman paid an agent $300 for Myint, but the young man had to work off twice that amount to buy back his freedom.

"It was very difficult but here I have a chance to find a job and have a better life," Myint said.

Myint was a Buddhist, but in 2007 he found new life when a friend brought him to the Myanmar Christian Assembly, where Burmese refugees like him learned about the love of Jesus and have been transformed.

Like Myint, the former Buddhists were baptized into the Christian faith after learning about God's love for them. "While we were praying, I saw in a vision, the statue of Buddha collapsed and I saw Jesus standing before me," one new convert said. "He said, 'I am the Lord above all gods and idols.' I used to be a Buddhist but now I worship Jesus Christ in my life."

"In Thailand, the Burmese (are) open to the gospel," said Pastor Zaw Min, who leads the Myanmar Christian Assembly. "The reason is they want to grab something that is real. That's the only message we give. First they should experience that Jesus is alive then they receive Jesus as their Saviour."

Pastor Min said their church is training its members to be evangelists and missionaries so one day they can go back to Burma and preach the gospel.

"One day when the country is open, they will go back and be missionaries to their own home and their villages," Min said. "I like to share with my family how Jesus has changed me," Myint said. "Before I used to drink and do drugs, but all that stopped when I surrendered my life to Jesus. I am very happy now and I want my family to be happy too."

New British PM an Answer to Prayers for Unity

When Britain's political future became uncertain following the country's May 6 elections, hundreds of Christians gathered to pray for their nation. Attendees at the Liverpool Cathedral "Heal Our Land UK" concert sought God for unity in the nation politically, and for a new spirit of evangelism. Many feel those prayers were answered when Britain's Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats joined this week to run the country under a coalition government.

Conservative David Cameron replaced former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. At 43-years-old, Cameron is now Britain's youngest prime minister in nearly 200 years. In past comments about his faith, Cameron said he has a "classic" Anglican background.

"I am a Christian, I go to church, I believe in God," he once said. "But I do not have a direct line."

He added that while organized religion has its faults, "the Church of England and other churches do play a very important role in society."

Poll: More Americans Oppose Abortions

More Americans have called themselves "pro-life" than "pro-choice" on the issue of abortion, according to the latest Gallup poll.

The survey shows 47 percent said they are pro-life and 45 percent are pro-choice.

This is the third consecutive time Gallup has found more Americans siding for pro-life than pro-choice since May 2009.

The pro-life side has maintained a lead in the poll for a year now, reaching as high as 51 percent to 42 percent last May.

Gallup said more Republicans and Independents have moved to the pro-life side. And the pro-choice label has become popular among Democrats.

The poll, which was conducted May 3-6, is based on phone interviews with 1,029 adults aged 18 and older.

I spent a lot of time long ago, weighing the idea of abortions. I looked at the arguments on both sides because people are so passionately divided on the subject. All I have to do though is look at the youth at church and I know it’s wrong. I once heard a child argue, “What if Mary had an abortion?” I was forever changed.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5