In one country in South-East Asia there has been a great deal of change over the last 16 years: economically, physically, financially and spiritually.
The team began developing a language centre platform in the 1990s, and — together with other ministries such as sports, education among the poor, health care, and HIV/AIDS awareness — has shared Jesus’ love across the nation throughout the years. God still has His hand on its people, faithfully caring, loving and protecting them amidst the hardships and challenges.
“When I joined the team all those years ago,” Sayar* said, “It was a good time. Local people were friendly and open. Workers could come from overseas to invest in partnering with us, as businesses were growing through foreign investment.”
Sayar’s father, a pastor, had encouraged his son to serve in the Kingdom of God. “After high school in my home state, he sent me to Bible School, not university, in the capital city. During that time, I met other OM leaders [overseas]. When I returned, I volunteered with OM locally. That was 16 years ago; and I am still here,” Sayar said with a smile.
The team had always been committed to showing the real difference Jesus’ love makes in His followers’ lives and to serve communities in practical ways. They equipped and sent local people out to the vast unreached areas and communities where over 80 per cent of the country's population live. Other local workers already living sacrificially in these areas partnered with national full-time workers, encouraging, discipling and helping them in their passionate commitment to seeing people come to Christ and live out their faith. In this way, the network of believers from least-reached areas was born, sharing and living as witnesses of Jesus in areas where He is not known.
“I never expected, or wanted to be [an OM country] leader,” reflected Sayar. “I just wanted to go and serve in the least-reached areas. That is where my heart and thoughts are.”
Changing times
Over the last 16 years, civilian life in the country has vastly changed. The escalation of poverty amongst its people has increased to the point where over 18 million people need aid and/or financial support. Lack of financial investment has led to collapses in the national infrastructure to combat national and man-made disasters — causing international investment [and workers] to withdraw. Many people no longer have jobs, incomes or financial support on which to live and raise their families. It has become a cash-based society: for those who still have cash.
“When I first joined the team, my father and other family members supported me [financially], as well as some believing fellowships,” Sayar explained. “We were involved together in the work. I was able to live in the house my brother had bought, so I had somewhere to live — I still do. But now, finances are very difficult. Inflation is very bad now, [over six times higher than 20 years ago], the exchange rate to the US dollar has risen by 5,000 per cent. Many are now jobless and in financial trouble. That makes for challenges in the team. In the past, most had jobs that paid, and worked with the team part-time; they didn’t need financial support from the church or the organisation. But now, everything is increasing but the salary is not increasing. That's why it's so difficult. There are a lot of material needs.”
National instability has provided enormous challenges, negatively impacting the infrastructure of services such as the Internet and available commodities. Additionally, while the team once welcomed workers from outside of the country, due to visa restrictions put in place a few years ago, that is no longer possible.
“We are now 11 on the team in the capital, all nationals, including an overnight security man in the office. In our authority-registered kindergarten, we have four national staff. There, we can still share life values with both the children and their parents. At Christmas, we can openly speak of the Bible. At WaterFest [a yearly national festival in April], our children's camp gives us opportunities to tell about the life of Jesus,” explained Sayar.
‘Everyone needs love’
After governmental changes a few years ago, life became more restrictive, particularly for those eligible for conscription between the ages of 18 and 35.
“Young people don't want to go out after 18:00 at night,” said Sayar. “Although there is no official curfew, militia are looking for any young people they can take to areas where there is fighting. It feels oppressive; personal security is endangered. There is violence on the streets, too. The military are not in control; some seize their opportunity to take what they want, using violence." Sayer feels there is little people can do to defend against such threats to personal and judicial safety.
The team used to regularly connect with those living in unreached areas, visiting, praying and fundraising for the essential motorbikes that enabled local believers to travel.
“Now, we connect by phone and, if at all possible, by wifi,” Sayar said. “There is a lot of fighting in the various townships; some [local believers] are unable to get out. Others have had to run away from the danger. Many people, even the pastors in the small churches, are running away [from the military], and worried for their children’s future. One of our partners is in a leprosy village where he's shared a lot in the past. He is now struggling and needs prayer to know where they can live safely for the next six months — and how to pay [exchange-rate inflated] rent. Another team member is three months pregnant and still travels by motorbike to find safety. Even the police station in their home village wasn't safe,” said Sayar.
Over three million people are currently displaced from their homes. Sayar’s eldest brother and mother lived far from the capital. Leaving to escape the fighting and civil unrest, they joined him in the capital.
"Mum is 88. She wanted to stay where everything is familiar, but it is dangerous there. In her township, around 4,000 houses are empty, where inhabitants have fled. It is like a 'ghost town' with no life. A lot of other townships are like that,” reflected Sayar.
“In the capital, we can get the internet and phone line so we do Zoom calls to encourage, strengthen and pray together. Everything is by Zoom. As travel between areas is very difficult because there are a lot of restrictions,” explained Sayar. “Here, we can go to visit people we know: to bring rice, help, pray, care and share the gospel through our life values. Everyone needs love. It seems little, but this is all we can do at this time.”
Please pray with us for all the Jesus followers, OMers and those in the villages. There is so much fear, especially in the townships, and also in the internally-displaced peoples camps. Millions are separated from their homes and livelihoods, with little hope of returning any time soon.
Pray for young people who are afraid of being forced into fighting. It is risky and they need God’s protection.
Please pray with us as we choose to believe, and live out, that God is still faithful in His love and commitment to His world and His people, even here, amongst all the pain, hardship and restrictions.
Pray for God to bring law and order to our nation, to our authorities and those who govern here, and to our financial instability. May His wisdom and righteousness rule over the chaos, lawlessness and misuse of power, to bring harmony, peace and security.
*name changed