Dear BPCWAians, Every Tuesday during our prayer meeting, we pray for the Myanmar Literature Ministry to forward God’s truth in Myanmar. This work is supported by BPCWA every month as part of our missionary support. With English as the main language used in the commercial and business world, much of the available Christian material is written in mainly in English. Through this literature ministry in Myanmar, good articles in English are translated into Myanmese and Chin language. BPCWA has requested for some of the translated Myanmese articles to be sent to us, so that they can be a potential resource for our own outreach to Myanmese friends or people that we come across. Appended below is an article written by Rev Biak of First Bible Presbyterian Church that describes more about the work of this ministry. I hope that by knowing more about the work, we can pray more effectively for the work that they are doing.

Yours in our Lord’s service

Pastor

Update on Myanmar Literature Ministry by Rev Biak

I am pleased to give you a short update on the literature ministry of First BPC, for which you have been praying and giving support.

By the grace of God, Living Word Literature, a ministry of First BPC, has been endeavoring, in keeping with its commitment, to produce good and faithful Christian literature. The publications are selective, ranging from articles to books. Allow me to share as follows.

“Christian Beacon”

Christian Beacon is our church’s important organ by which our literature works go forth to people at large. Published in Chin, one of the many dialects of Myanmar, Christian Beacon is issued every four months. Each time, 1000 copies are printed and they are freely given out to parts of Myanmar as well as to overseas, such as Malaysia and USA.

The articles in Christian Beacon aim both to give instruction in the truth and to address current theological issues among our people. They are chiefly contributed by Rev Lian Uk and myself, with a few contributions by our co- laborers in our church. Sometime articles from The Bible Witness magazine of Gethsemane BPC of Singapore and some publications from Calvary Pandan BPC are also translated and published in the Christian Beacon.

We thank God that Christian Beacon is well received by its readers, and we have received good feedback. There is a Chin brother in the USA to whom we regularly send the soft copy, who gets it printed and given to people. Also starting from this year, we have another Chin Pastor in Malaysia who enthusiastically agrees to print the Christian Beacon and distribute it to Chin people in Malaysia.

Articles and Books Published from May o December 2017

Articles. The following articles published in the Christian Beacon, May- December last year: (1) The Life and Works of John Wycliffe, (2) The Life and Works of John Huss, (3) The Life and Works of Martin Luther, (4) The Life and Works of Ulrich Zwingli, (5) The Life and Woks of John Calvin, (6) The Life and Works of John Knox, (7) RC’s Blood Shedding History – Timeline, (8) Why Reformation? (9) Five Solas, (10) The Bible and the Reformers, (11) The Bible of Reformation, (12) Spiritual Reformation, (13) Five Effects of the Reformation, (14) Human Traditions of RC Exposed, (15) Reformation Spirit: The Need for An On-going Reformation.

 The above articles were written for two purposes: (1) To give thanks to God for His glorious works during the 16th century Protestant Reformation, and (2) To ignite a “Reformation Spirit” which is most needed in this time of rampant compromise and apostasy. Significantly, the above articles were published in 2017, a year when the Pope made his first historic visit to Myanmar. Thank God that there was one Pastor who was very happy about the articles that he requested for a number of extra copies to give to a village which is dominated by Roman Catholicism.

Book. By God’s grace, Living Word Literature was able to publish its first book last year, The Westminster Confession of Faith in Chin language. A total of 500 copies were published, and distributed both in Myanmar and overseas, free of charge. (A few copies will be sent to BPCWA via Rev Paul Cheng of Bethel BPC.)

Plan for 2018

We have prayerfully planned the following books, tracts and pamphlets for publication in the year 2018.

Articles. These are the articles published for the January-April 2018 issue of Christian Beacon include: (1) You Must Be Born Again, (2) False Views on Salvation, (3) Assurance of Salvation, (4) Salvation in the Old Testament, (5) The Eternal Security of the Saints, (6) Is There Opportunity for Salvation After Death? (7) Salvation, Christian Life and Law.

Books. (1) Why I Believe in the Doctrines of Grace. This is a booklet authored by C H Spurgeon. Translated by Rev Biak, this small book explains and defends Calvinism against Arminianism. The book is presently under circulation.

(2) Charismatism Q & A. God willing, another book we have planned to publish within this year is Charismatism Q & A, authored by Dr Jeffrey Khoo. It is translated by bro Van Thawng as his thesis project at FEBC. This book is presently under editorial scrutiny, and God willing, will be published soon. The publication of this book will be particularly significant, as there is an on- going controversy among Chin people on the works of the Holy Spirit, such as tongue-speaking, “slaying in the Spirit,” miracles etc.

(3) The Clock of the Sevenfold Will of God. This is another book being attempted, authored by Rev Dr Timothy Tow. Translation work is in progress.

(4) All of Grace. This book was written by C H Spurgeon. An easy to understand exposition of the doctrine of salvation, this book can be used for both evangelism to the lost and edification for the body of believers.

(5) Myanmar RPG. This is another on-going publication, and will continue to be so.Charismatism Q & A. God willing, another book we have planned to publish within this year is Charismatism Q & A, authored by Dr Jeffrey Khoo. It is translated by bro Van Thawng as his thesis project at FEBC. This book is presently under editorial scrutiny, and God willing, will be published soon. The publication of this book will be particularly significant, as there is an on- going controversy among Chin people on the works of the Holy Spirit, such as tongue-speaking, “slaying in the Spirit,” miracles etc.

Gospel tracts and pamphlets. As for gospel tracts and pamphlets, these are what we have planned for translation and publication both in Chin and Burmese: (1) Excuse Me, (2) What If … It Were Me, (3) What Is Worship? (4) New Evangelicalism Is Dangerous, (5) What Does The Bible Say About Separation? These are good tracts and pamphlets, which we obtained from Calvary Pandan BPC of Singapore.

Thanksgiving and Prayer Requests

We praise God for His goodness and faithfulness upon this aspect of ministry. We thank God for the privilege to proclaim God’s truth by means of literature. We want to give thanks to all of you for your constant prayer and financial support. We are very encouraged to know that you are always praying for us. Please continue to pray for God’s sustaining grace, guidance and blessing upon the literature ministry. Particularly, we want to request your prayer for God’s provision of a faithful and capable technician who can help us in the area of computer etc. None of us who serve in the literature ministry is good in computer and technical thing. We face such difficulties as virus attack on computer, the designing and layout of publications, etc. We need someone who can really help in this area. Please continue to pray that the truth of God’s Word will continue to go forth through Living Word Literature. “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Cor 13:8).