Restoration in Myanmar for the Church of God
A rift in the Church of God in Myanmar has been healed in what the local church leadership is touting as a miracle of God’s grace.
For years, the Church of God in Myanmar has been in disarray with surmounting problems amongst the leadership and members. The situation came to a point where it was dangerously heading toward a split in the local church.
The situation worsened in 2012 when a younger minister, Sien Kyi, was appointed as the interim representative of the country, taking over the position from Rev Zau Ba. Ba has been the incumbent overseer and served with the Church of God for 40 years. As an elder and in typical Asian culture, he felt he was unceremoniously removed. This began a tumultuous two years of contentious conflicts with Rev. Ba’s credentials being revoked. It also resulted in the Church of God being broken into two camps. The older ministers remained loyal to Zau Ba, while the younger pastors looked up to the newly appointed representative.
Dr. Fred Garmon, superintendent over the Church of God in South East Asia, invited Dr. Fred Toke, national Overseer from Singapore, Bishop Somnuk, overseer of Thailand and Jonny Moore, a missionary based in South East Asia, to be part of the committee to attempt to resolve the impasse. They met in Yangon earlier this month and discussed the right strategy and approach towards resolving the situation. The team agreed to form a new Church of God Council in Myanmar to facilitate the restructuring of the Church’s administration and healing process. Bishop Somnuk was then tasked to supervise this council, made up of five ministers, to be chosen from both camps for the next two years.
When both groups came for dinner together, Sien Kyi stood up and publicly apologized to Zau Ba seeking his forgiveness. In response, Zau Ba forgave them and there was a huge sigh of relief from both camps. The awkwardness of both camps sitting together for dinner left and Zau Ba said, “The dark clouds over our heads have been blown away and now the sun is indeed shining.”
Myanmar church leaders pray over the future of the Church of God during the historic gathering.
“This is a miracle! If I did not witness this first hand, I would not believe that this is actually happening!” said Robin Kung, a Burmese serving as the local representative of People for Care & Learning in Yangon. “Only God could perform what we just stood and marveled.”
When the pastors from both camps came together again the next morning, it was a mere formality in choosing the five representatives. There were no objections to Sien Kyi being included in the council and the pastors and leaders from both sides began praying for the new council.
“It all started with Dr Garmon’s humility in offering his apologies to Rev. Ba,” Toke observed. “To an Asian, we are not accustomed seeing an elder or leader doing such. This courageous act then cascaded downwards and it led to Sien Kyi doing the same. All the years of conflict were resolved in a matter of two days due to humility, vulnerability, and a willingness to forgive. Now the Church of God in Myanmar is ready to move on to their ‘true north’ leaving their past behind.”
