“People amazed at love shown by Christians” – Myanmar earthquake one year on

It’s a year since an earthquake brought unspeakable devastation to parts of Myanmar. Thousands were killed, wounded and displaced, as a country riddled by civil war – which has exacerbated the persecution of Christians – was dealt another wretched blow. We caught up with a pastor who is seeing God work powerfully and unexpectedly through your support for our emergency appeal.

“When I heard about the earthquake, I was terrified,” Pastor Joshua recalls. He was leading persecution survival training in a region far from his home in Mandalay, one the areas hit. He desperately tried calling his family, but the phone lines were dead. “I could no longer facilitate the training.” 

More than a day later, the pastor made contact. “My wife told me that our family was safe and our house had only minor cracks. She also shared that church members were safe, though two people were injured and were receiving treatment.” 

The relief was immense. “A heavy burden was lifted from my heart. I returned to the village and continued the persecution survival training.”  

Pastor Joshua’s immersion with the training – which equips believers to stand strong amidst persecution – has greatly helped him in leading efforts to reach people affected by the disaster. In doing so, he’s seen God move in extraordinary ways – and your support has been absolutely crucial to this. 

Sharing love and shifting perceptions 

Pastor Joshua returned home a week after the earthquake. His church, together with Open Doors local partners, promptly distributed aid to affected believers, including food, water, solar lights and medicines, as well as pastoral support.   

Once the church had taken care of its members, focus shifted to the wider community, particularly those who had received no external aid. “We first listened to their needs”, explains the pastor. “Then we openly shared God’s love and words of encouragement, showing them how we could help and build mutual understanding.” 

The scale of devastation was huge, with people desperate for shelter, medical care and emotional support. “Fear was everywhere,” the pastor remembers. “People had lost hope. Even though other religious groups were also helping, people were unexpectedly open to Christians and to hearing about God’s love. It was totally different from earlier times, when they totally shut Christians off. The change is amazing. 

• Finding peace in a shaken land

“We Christians helped them to the best of our ability and provided shelter for them. They began to understand what true love is, and it opened doors for us to share God’s love and the stories of Jesus Christ. People were amazed at the love shown by Christians. They wondered how Christians, despite being of a different religion, were able to love others.” 

To many Buddhists, Christianity religion has negative connotations because of its links to the West and its worship of someone who died. The love shown by believers, which has enabled them to share what Christianity truly means, has dramatically altered many people’s perceptions. “Now I understand that God has a plan even through the earthquake,” Pastor Joshua says. “He has opened doors for the good news. Praise the Lord!” 

The pastor is keen to stress just how significant your support has been. “If we had not helped people with immediate needs like food, shelter, prayers, encouragement and rebuilding livelihoods – there would have been rising depression, anxiety and even suicides. This would have closed the doors the Lord had opened. Volatile and tumultuous possibilities have been minimised through the contributions of churches and Christians who supported us.” 

• What’s it like to be a Christian in Myanmar? 

Smiling again 

You’ve also provided trauma care for believers. “It’s helped them voice the fears they experienced during the earthquake,” Daisy Htun*, a local partner, explains. “As they shared and listened to others, they began to understand and support one another, which helped them cope with the trauma.” 

“The trauma debriefing did not merely bring relief; it helped heal them inwardly,” Pastor Joshua adds. “For me, the trauma healing training did not just relieve external pain, but brought inner healing because it is based on the Bible. Church members are no longer afraid to come to church. It releases them from fear. They can now go where they once did not dare to go. 

“We thank the brothers and sisters all over the world who have prayed for us. We are also very grateful to you for visiting us in person. Your presence and your words of encouragement have brought comfort not only to us Christians, but also to many non-Christians. When you came with your smiling faces, warm handshakes and embraces, you helped them release their trauma and reminded them to smile again. Many believers have grown in faith and strength.” 

Overflowing church 

Pastor Joshua’s church is now brimming with revitalised believers and those new to faith or exploring it, leaving with them a nice problem to solve.  

“Before the earthquake, we worshipped only once every Sunday. Our church conducted outreach ministry and even distributed gospel tracts, but many people refused to listen and ignored us. After the quake, God opened doors and opportunities. By the grace of God, more people are coming to church – those who are thirsty to know about the love of God and those seeking peace in Jesus Christ. Our church cannot accommodate everyone, so we are now holding two services every Sunday,” Pastor Joshua shares. 

That they can use the church building at all is also down to your contribution. After it was damaged by the earthquake, local partners helped with the repairs. The reinforced building stands as a beautiful picture of the church itself, which now stands even more firmly rooted in faith, nurturing believers and providing a safe place for seekers.  

“Even though it is hard to understand why disasters and wars happen, it brings Christians closer to God and open hearts of those who thirst and seek him,” Daisy Htun says. 

Thank you for your generosity towards the church in Myanmar following last year’s disaster. People are still hurting and recovering, and local partners continue to come alongside those affected by the earthquake as well as those impacted by ongoing persecution in the country. But as Pastor Joshua excitedly says, “God is continuing His work in Myanmar,” and your role in that cannot be overstated. Thank you!