"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Nations."

(Matt. 12:18)

---

MYANMAR REPORT

April 2006

MINISTRY REPORT FROM MYANMAR AND INDIA - Preparing the church for the return of Jesus Christ.

Bruce and Jean Manning have recently returned from a 2 week visit to Myanmar followed by 3 weeks of ministry in India and bring an encouraging report of “the fruit in the field”. The purpose of the trip was to move in obedience to the Lord’s gifting of Eph 4:11 “for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ” (v.12) “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (v13-16). In both nations we were joined on team by men and women whom we disciple through email from Toowoomba. These folk worked alongside of us, gaining further experience to minister the word and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Jean taught in 4 Bible schools in Myanmar. These schools equip young people as well as mature believers to be able to minister the truth of Scripture both in evangelistic situations and in their local fellowships. In these schools we saw a working together of leaders to share their giftings.

House church meetings are very powerful and effective in promoting the gospel and in bringing the saints to maturity.  We ministered in house churches in the evenings and saw signs of the kingdom. God was releasing understanding upon the word and conviction to obey.

We revisited many of the orphanages that we have been relating to over a long period of time and were impressed with the development in the facilities and also with the care given to the children.

In a couple of areas where we have established relationships we saw the people involved overcoming great difficulties in their circumstances and fruitful ministries emerging.

 

India

Much of the ministry in India was in the north east amongst Nepalese born people who are permanent residents of India, and some folk from Bhutan and Manipur as well as to the local community. Again God released revelation upon His word. In Jaigon, Siliguri and Darjeeling, leaders and pastors attended the meetings. 

One young pastor who was part of our team returned to his area 2 days ahead of us to prepare to receive us there, and before we arrived he assembled the elders of his fellowship and spoke to them of the things he had heard in the previous 4 days in our midst. That fellowship moved in one accord to put true scriptural practice in place when we arrived – a fulfilment of 2 Tim.2:2

In every place truth was brought to replace man’s rituals and traditional practices. There was recognition that there needs to be “the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Heb.12:27) in preparation for living in the kingdom.

 

Ministry in Kanpur, east of Delhi, was exciting and challenging. The pastor had stepped into apostolic ministry in obedience to the Lord after a visit there in 2003. Since that time he has taken the gospel to 50 village communities and raised a team of disciples to minister in these villages.  Praise the Lord!

He and his wife very excitedly introduced us to babies born as answers to prayer from previous visits and shared other answers to prayer with us. For 3 days Jean taught the disciples and in the evenings we ministered to a large body consisting of disciples, mature and new believers, and their unsaved friends and neighbours. The Lord healed many and cast out a demon which manifested in a young woman. This same woman returned with her mother who received Jesus as her Saviour and Lord 2 nights later. A 14 year old boy who was paralysed from the waist down also received Jesus and joyfully joined in the worship in subsequent meetings.

The disciples who remain in these nations are faithful. 

 

RMA materials in local languages

Before we left Myanmar, we were distributing some of the teaching materials that we use translated into the Burmese language and some of our manuals are in the process of being translated. In India we were presented with 2 manuals translated into Nepali.  The newsletter regularly goes out in Hindi and now into Nepali.  These translations so bless the pastors and leaders.

 

There will be that fulfilment of Scripture that “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” a glorious church will arise, built by the Lord Jesus Christ, ready to reign on this earth.

Bruce and Jean Manning

February 2005

 

A team visit by Revival Ministries Australia, 4^th to 16^th Feb. The team were: apostle Paul Galligan, Janet Barton and sister Libby Esselink.

 

THE MESSAGE OF SONSHIP

We were sent to Myanmar to share the message of sonship and this has happened through many and various ways of presenting the word of God; from foundations to the walk in maturity; from understanding baptism to receiving the revelation of the mystery; through teaching in a training school, sharing in local churches, teaching in an open seminar of up to 300 people, including pastors who travelled a long way to be there, and intensive teaching in a Bible College for three days, before graduating 15 Bachelor students and 2 Masters students on the 4^th day. We have seen ministers and ministers-in-training being impacted by the message and some radically changed.

 

One key leader with over 40 daughter churches, a Bible College and an orphanage has become a son to Paul in the ministry. Paul was able to sit with this apostolic leader and ten of his pastors, some from far away places and share the message of sonship, receiving feedback and answering genuine and searching questions over a meal. It was such a blessing, a unique, divine appointment with historic consequences for the establishment of God’s kingdom in Myanmar.

 

It was amazing to open up the word in a Bible College to students who were completing four and six year courses to find that nearly everything we taught from the Scriptures was new to them. The Principal, who is a Doctor of Divinity, made the comment “we have studied Systematic Theology but we have never before heard apostolic theology”! At the graduation service Paul and the team were able to lay hands on each graduate and commission them and a prophetic word was given to each one of them. The principal told us a few days later that the students were very encouraged by the words given to them.

 

What is exciting is to actually see the word working as apostolic relationships are formed, as leading brethren come and humbly acknowledge and confess their need for and acceptance of a spiritual father. We see Malachi 4:5-6 being fulfilled. We see the prodigal sons coming home to the father’s house. We see the servants of God being released from the servant mentality, realising they are called to be sons and responding to the call with great joy. The result of this is an immediate experience of security coming into the heart of the leader enabling them to release that security, into the body, which is a tangible expression of the love of God.

 

THE RHEMA WORD

Colossians 4:2-4 was a rhema word from God we received and shared as we left Australia. We had many people praying according to this word for us and we also prayed in this way: “that God would open for us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, … that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

 

IMPROMPTU HOUSE MEETINGS

We have come home enriched in every way. One of the delights of ministry in Myanmar is the spontaneous house meetings that happen when we visit friends or we are invited to go and pray for a sick person in a house. In these impromptu house meetings we experience the house ministry we read of in the book of Acts:- the sick are healed, the word is taught; it seems like an invisible message goes out that the team is present as people gather and awesome things happen. This is a very rewarding ministry.

 

VISIT TO VUNGH CIN MUNG AND CIN PU’S ORPHANAGE

We visited their orphanage, mostly boys and a few girls. We were able to deliver some clothes, some of which had been purposefully made by a sister in Brisbane. We were able to make a contribution of 200 USD out of orphan funds specifically given in Australia for Myanmar orphans. The average cost of keeping a child is $25 AUD per month.

RMA is currently personally involved with five orphanages being well run by very trusted and capable Christian ministers and leaders. We were particularly impacted by the ‘father’s heart’ that we saw in Vungh Cin Mung and the mothers love that flows out of Cin Pu for the 30 children. This ministry couple and the children have adopted RMA as their apostolic leadership and family and they all pray for us by name everyday.

 

The children participated in praise singing and sharing of the word for about three hours. They were so willing to receive. We taught them a number of new songs in English that they learned readily. The team were deeply impacted because we had been in a house of love; the presence of Jesus was there. Vungh Cin Mung and his wife’s ministry is known as Myanmar Children’s Ministry. Through their local church ministry they reach up to 300 children. They are currently planning an outreach into another township. The monthly rent on their orphan’s house, where they live with the children is $60 AUD per month. If someone would like to commit to that, it would be an enormous blessing.

 

VISIT TO TWANTAY

On Sunday 13^th Janet and Libby went to Twantay, a large town across the river from Yangon, about one and a half hours travel. They visited a couple in ministry who eight years ago were commissioned by Paul and the team to plant the church in their own town. Each visit over the years, RMA teams have noticed growth in this couple and their ministry has grown and expanded. On this trip they received the spirit of sonship. Janet and Libby both shared in their morning meeting. They were impressed when the whole group, young and old, recited Psalm 91 off-by-heart. In the afternoon more than 25 people gathered to specifically receive the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit fell on all of them mightily.

 

AN APOSTOLIC COMMUNITY

Tuesday 15^th, our last ministry day in Myanmar was awesome! We were driven two hours north of Yangon to a village area by a young apostle who is a son to this ministry. He and his wife (Arno & Tess) look after 50 orphans from one to eighteen years old. Five years ago they moved to the country, where they had purchased 12 acres, with 50 children and no buildings. Today they are largely self-sufficient with livestock, crops and fruit. With help received from overseas and local donations they have well-built separate houses and shower/toilet blocks for boys and girls, a house for Arno and Tess, a worship centre, and a dining house is currently under construction. There are plans for a clinic and a library. A number of families live on the compound: some are helpers in the ministry; others are poor families who have found refuge in the Christian community. There are 18 daughter churches, 10 church planters/pastors in training and 12 disciples in a full-time training course. This was an experience of an apostolic company forming; of an apostolic company being built; of “an oasis in the desert”; “the desolate places being rebuilt”.

 

THE BIBLE COLLEGE

The Bible School where we taught and graduated the students is known as ‘Reaching the World Bible College’. In the last academic year there were over 50 students studying at various levels. They expect a new intake of similar numbers to those who have graduated, in the new year which begins in June.

 

The College operates eight months each year, and they have requested help from Australia to augment their income to enable them to meet a very modest and carefully planned budget. We recommend this Bible College highly, having come to know the calibre of the Principal, the faculty and the students. This College will be much more apostolic in its approach from now on, inculcating RMA materials into their curriculum. We are seeking financial commitment to help this College. The total amount needed is about $4000 AUD for the year – any contribution on a monthly basis or a one off gift will bear much fruit.

 

If you wish to respond to orphanage support or Bible College support, please communicate with RMA by email: rma@revivalministries.org.au ,

or to our postal address: Revival Ministries Australia, P.O Box 2718 BC, Toowoomba, Q 4350

 

---

22^nd August to 8^th September

FOCUS – TO RELEASE THE APOSTOLIC MESSAGE

This visit into Myanmar had a very specific focus. The door had been opened through Dr. Thein Htay, an apostle in Myanmar, for Paul to teach apostolic doctrine and release the apostolic revelation in two different locations. The first week was spent in Meiktila, a city in Central Myanmar [11hr. bus trip North of Yangon], teaching 100 students in the final week of their three-month training school. The second week was spent in the capital, Yangon, conducting a five-day seminar for pastors and leaders. Attendance at this seminar was between 250-280 per day. The team of 4 that accompanied Paul went primarily to support through prayer and intercession, and as a ministry team. However, individual team members experienced personal growth in release of gifts and ministry through on-the-job discipleship. Home based ministry opened up in the evenings in both Meiktila and Yangon giving all the team members opportunities to share the word and minister.

MEIKTILA TRAINING SCHOOL

The students in Meiktila ‘received the word gladly’. During the week, Paul brought an understanding of apostles as fathers and father/son relationships. Many responded to the call for emotional healing in this area. Later testimonies revealed how many had been blessed by this ministry which brought freedom for people to enter into sonship with true spiritual fathers. There was a very relevant teaching on spiritual warfare giving the students an understanding of their authority in Christ and how to deal with demonic activity. At the end of that session there was an opportunity for people to have curses broken off their lives and to repent of involvement in occult practises. A demon manifested in one of the girls who responded giving the students a very practical demonstration in the area of deliverance. This girl required further ministry the next day but then was able to testify to a total deliverance and healing in her life.

Church in the house

Paul taught on church in the house, which is very relevant in Myanmar as many of their meetings happen in the home. Other teaching covered areas of ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit, an understanding of intercession, tithing and communion. These teachings are all very relevant to having church in the house. We had a very precious time giving a practical teaching on ministering communion, with the students getting into pairs and sharing the communion with each other.

Day of Commissioning

The final Saturday of the training school was a day of commissioning. Most of the students were being sent out the next week in pairs to many different parts of the country to put into practice what they had been taught. It is literally like Luke 10 where Jesus sent out his disciples. Each student was commissioned by the apostles and elders, which included some of the local leaders, through the laying-on of hands.

PASTORS AND LEADERS SEMINAR, YANGON

The five-day seminar, Mon.-Fri., started at 9am daily with 4 sessions, finishing at 4pm. Paul opened up the apostolic revelation to these leaders, teaching mainly from the new manual "The Spirit and Power of Elijah". Many responded positively recognising that God is calling for a change of leadership in his church from the institutional/denominational to apostolic/prophetic, (Shebna to Eliakim, Isa.22:15-25). Paul taught on Apostles and why we need apostles today, this teaching brought clarity on apostolic ministry and its relevance in the church that is being raised up in these last days. Some found the teaching very challenging while others were speaking of making changes to their practice out of what they had received. Apostolic grace was released, and there were many opportunities for impartation and anointing as the Holy Spirit moved powerfully during ministry times. The leaders also appreciated practical teaching on how to minister in the anointing and release healing. People testified to having received healing through the ministry.

Relationship with leaders

There were many opportunities to have one-on-one conversations with different leaders. The manuals, newsletters and Bibles we had taken were very much in demand. We had a number of the manuals photocopied while we were there so we had more to distribute. Contacts made on previous visits were renewed and strengthened. One brother, a Burmese man, Arno has come into sonship with Paul and this ministry. Arno came to Paul with tears in his eyes asking for a spiritual father. As he comes into sonship he will now begin to function in apostolic ministry. Arno is already planting church and training leaders, as well as looking after 30 plus children in an orphanage.

On the final Saturday, after the seminar, 16 brothers and sisters who had a hunger and desire to know more, came to the Ruby Inn where we were staying, to sit with Paul asking questions and receiving deeper revelation from the word. It was very encouraging to see these ones taking hold of the word they were receiving.

CHURCH IN THE HOUSE IN MEIKTILA

On four consecutive nights, some of the team taught and ministered to a group of up to 25 people who gathered in a house. The power of God was released through the word, words of knowledge and healing. People were bringing friends and relatives to the meetings for prayer. A young girl was delivered from a demon in one meeting and a baptism of another young woman was the result of the teaching in another meeting.

These meetings were a wonderful example of the reality of church in the house, as in Acts 2:42-47.

MINISTRY IN YANGON

Each evening after the seminar two and sometimes three teams went out ministering in different places. In many of these meetings people came to salvation, healings happened and Holy Spirit gifts and anointings were released. Church in the house in Yangon is a very public statement. People live in high-rise apartments where two or three doors all open onto a common landing, or in little bamboo houses built very close to each other. It is a very natural thing to invite neighbours over for the meeting or the take visiting ministry team to their home to pray for the sick.

Testimonies: One of the teams was involved in baptising some new believers. After one girl was baptised everyone became very excited as she raised her finger, pointed to heaven and cried ‘Jesus’. She was 22 years old and had never spoken a word before in her life. In obedience to the Lord she was baptised and He released her tongue.

In two houses believers had collected 15 children from Buddhist families and were teaching them the ways of God. All these children were blessed to experience something of the power of God through the laying on of hands after they had prayed to know Jesus.

Compiled by Janet Barton.