Ambassadors of Hope

Love For Myanmar Ministries Update

Christ Centered, Servant Hearted, Myanmar Focused

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

The soul beneath our governance centers upon unity, a civil interaction of perspectives which reap mutual benefits and blesses this country with the best within us. There is an opportunity for Christians to help this country break through the barrier of fear Americans have about connecting with those who have different governing values than ourselves.

It seems at the core of the dilemma is an unwillingness to genuinely understand one another’s views. The result being a comfortability with growing a list of people we quickly declare as being unfit for being understood. They are judged to be an assault on our patience, a collection of people whose common sense is obviously misguided, and for whom even hope speaks against.

Christianity demands that Christians bear the assault on our values and beliefs for no one should be forsaken for championing differences or have our respect withdrawn or have their ideas placed in cultural isolation simply because they interrupted our thinking. However uneasy it may be, this is not the time for Christians to withdraw from people whose ideas and actions may disturb us. Unless we are willing to more fully understand their reasoning, we will be helping to preserve a fractured foundation for this country’s future. As Christians, let’s with clarity and love help bring about the unifying potential of Christianity among our fellowmen and women. Christian values and beliefs can positively contribute to the solutions of our current dysfunctional governments at all levels. Too many delicately appreciate this country, its freedoms, and its laws.

Too many of us seem to think that by our vote we have assigned all governance matters to elected officials. In other words, our job as an American citizen is done. However, it is important to remain mindful that every Christian is personally accountable to God, and although our act to vote is meaningful, it does not absolve us from our further responsibility as citizens of God’s kingdom which goes well beyond an election day. Our compassionate labor is required beyond an election cycle. Our expectations for this country need a concerted effort on our part to suppress feelings of revenge or vindictiveness, and move forward with grace and kindness.

We must demand accountability from ourselves for the care and responsibility we contribute to the privilege of living in a democracy. Let’s not sit back and just worry about our governance, but act to unleash the powerful force of God’s love to reshape the character of this country. It is imperative that our Christian hands are outstretched to others not seeking to transform, but to understand. This is a time meant for Christians to help steer this country towards a more respectfully tolerant society. We need to regain the courage to embrace the difficulties of being a Christian, and become the ambassadors of hope our country desperately needs.

Gary Watkins, LFM Co-founder

• Prayer Request: (Myanmar coup day 1,447)
  Please pray that political leaders throughout the world will no longer allow the violent situation in Myanmar to continue so humanitarian aid can be safely distributed across the country, and the healing of the Myanmar people can begin.

1. Presently, over 21,499 individuals are still detained for protesting against the coup, and more than 9,958 have received prison sentences that range from one year to the death penalty. On January 4, 2025, 5,864 prisoners were granted amnesty including 600 political prisoners according to the junta government; however, only 344 of them have been accounted for by independent sources.
2. Despite the recent numerous military successes of the pro-democracy forces, they continue to struggle against the junta’s air superiority. Attack helicopters, jet fighter aircraft, and drones supplied by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are facilitating the mounting civilian casualties caused by indiscriminate bombing raids on innocent Myanmar villagers. Nonetheless, over the past year resistance forces have seized control of significant territory in Myanmar, with an estimated 19.1 million people living outside of areas of junta control.
3. The junta administration in Karen State announced a “shoot on sight” curfew, and a ban on any gathering of more than five people, via loudspeaker, between midnight and 4am on Bogyoke Road in the capital Hpa-An.
4. The ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies are attacking junta positions in the district capital of Bhamo on the Irrawaddy River after seizing neighboring Mansi Township. The district capital is now completely encircled as the KIA and its allies have also seized Momauk. The junta has been forced to airlift ammunition and food to its troops.
5. Worsening blackouts have left Myanmar’s commercial capital Yangon and other cities with only a few hours of electricity per day since the start of 2025. Starting with the new year, the situation has deteriorated as the junta ordered only four hours of power a day followed by an eight-hour blackout, so residents have to endure 16 hours a day without electricity.
6. Approximately 400 Christian villagers from Sappalaw Ah Nount Gone Village in Lahe Township recently pledged allegiance to Buddhism in front of local Buddhist monks who were providing food aid. The villagers signed a document vowing to leave the village if they ever convert to another faith. Food scarcity is driving religious conversion. The pledge-signing event, where villagers had to promise not to convert from Buddhism to other religions, emerged as a result of the abbot redistributing the donated supplies to impoverished villagers. Promises were signed under duress.