Whatever it's called, this kite-shaped country is about the size of Texas and is home to twice as many people. The tail of the kite is caught between the Indian Ocean, Thailand, and the South China Sea. India and Bangladesh lie to the west, China is north and east, and most of southeast Myanmar borders Thailand. It was this strategic location that made the Burma Road such a valuable asset to the Allies in World War II. From 1938 to 1946, it was a vital inland supply route from India to China.
Earlier, over the course of three nineteenth-century wars, Great Britain conquered Burma, ruling it as a province of India from 1886 until 1937, when it became a self-governing member of the British Commonwealth. Not until 1948 did the country gain independence. Its recent history has been rife with internal conflict, marked by military control and accusations of human-rights violations.
Conflict has also plagued the Methodist church in Myanmar. Myanmar has two separate groups of Methodists. The Methodist Church (Lower Myanmar) began in 1879 when Dr. James Thoburn—a US missionary and later a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church —came from India to Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar) at the invitation of Calcutta converts who had moved to Burma to start a church. Around the same period, in 1885, missionaries from Britain came to Mandalay and started British Methodist work there. The resulting church in the north is known as the Methodist Church (Upper Myanmar).
The Methodist Church in Lower Myanmar split twice, in 1966 and 1994. The 1994 split and its aftermath were described to the Cabinet of the General Board of Global Ministries a year ago by a GBGM executive, Dr. David Wu. "The Methodist Church in Lower Myanmar was hopelessly paralyzed for the past six years," he wrote, "in a state of bitter division between two rival groups, each headed by their respective bishops....The GBGM has taken an active role from the beginning to bring resolution to the conflict. This year [2000] we made yet another attempt by inviting Bishop Philip Tseng of Taiwan to work directly with...the districts where the seed of conflict originated. He made two trips to Myanmar and invited a former retired bishop, U Hla Sein, to convene a conference to elect a new bishop. The position of the two previous bishops, whose terms had exceeded the disciplinary limitation for retirement, were declared invalid. An election was called and the Rev. Zothan Mawia [pronounced MOY ah] was elected on the first ballot, receiving 37 out of 40 votes cast in the conference."
The consecration service that followed on July 16, 2000, was attended by three bishops from the Methodist churches in Asia—Bishop Tseng, Bishop Emerito Nacpil of the Philippines, and Bishop Kiam Thou Wong of Singapore—and by Dr. Wu who was representing the GBGM. "Representatives from different denominations in Myanmar also participated in the service," Wu reported, "to show their support for the newly elected leader of the now reunited Methodist Church in Lower Myanmar." A further building of good relations took place when Bishop Mawia was invited to speak at the Conference of the Methodist Church, Upper Myanmar.
Nine months after his consecration, Bishop Zothan Mawia came to the United States to attend the GBGM's Spring Board meeting, bringing with him a 10-year plan for church development. On April 26, I had the pleasure of interviewing him and meeting his wife, Caroline (see p. 44 of the print issue).
AG: From what I've read about you, Bishop Mawia, you have brought people together in reconciliation after a long period of strife. How did you do it?
ZM: I said that everybody has to work together. I was elected bishop by the Grace of God. I was surprised. I didn't expect that. But it confirms for me that God wants us to work together, and God is giving me the strength.
Reconciliation is very important. We have to understand others' hurts and their feelings, and we have to forgive one another. In February, we had our Reunited Special Conference—the first conference after reunification. After seven years of tension and difficulties, everyone came and met together, working together. The joy and unity were fantastic. It seems that when you are forgiven, you feel forgiveness for others, and there is a beautiful spirit.
Our leaders like to do mission work. We want to catch up with other denominations. We are far behind because of the split. So I say: "Hey, let's come on! Let's do it together!" We are now going to reach out to the ethnic minority groups, many of which are in remote areas.
The Burmese people are the major ethnic group in Myanmar; they represent about 65 percent of the population. The other 35 percent includes 135 ethnic groups. So we are trying to reach out not only to the Burmese and Chinese in Myanmar but to some of the smaller ethnic groups. This is a very new thing that we are going to do as the Methodist Church of Lower Myanmar. The Upper Myanmar Methodist Church has been reaching out among the Chin and the Lushai people. Now we are trying to reach out also because all the people need Jesus. Spiritually and physically and socially we have to reach them.
The Burmese people are Buddhist. Buddhism is rooted in their hearts and culture. Many pictures and statues of Buddha in Myanmar look very Burmese. When you share Jesus Christ, sometimes the people realize that Jesus is a savior. But they have difficulty accepting him because they feel that Jesus is very foreign.
We were a British colony for over 60 years. Many of our people still have bad feelings about some of what happened under colonialism. They know the British are Christians. They believe the Christians in Myanmar are friends of the British. So they have difficulty accepting Christianity. They think that when the people of Myanmar become Christian, they are not being loyal to their own sort of life.
It takes time to heal that misconception. One day they will be able to realize that Jesus Christ is for everybody—for the Burmese, for the ethnic minority groups, for every human being.
AG: Probably images of Jesus looking like a native of Myanmar would be of help.
ZM: Last December, our Methodist English Church in Yangon [the international congregation is English-speaking] represented a nativity scene. Herod was dressed like a Burmese king. Joseph wore a Burmese longyi, a kind of sarong. The scene was totally Myanmar. Even some non-Christians came and looked and said they appreciated it. The people can become very close to Jesus Christ when he's shown as looking like them.
AG: Bishop, where did you grow up? Where is your native place?
ZM: I was born in Yangon. My father was an army officer and we went wherever he was transferred. So I was brought up in Maymyo (now called Pyin Oo Lwin), about 42 miles from Mandalay. I studied at Mandalay Arts and Sciences University and then at Rangoon Arts and Sciences University.
My parents were Presbyterians but joined the Baptists because there were mostly Baptist churches in Myanmar. Then we rented a house that had been the parsonage of the Methodist pastor. Next door was the Methodist church. They invited us to come and join them. Later, at age 17, I became a local preacher.
When I was a student at Rangoon University I was an evangelist. We university students called ourselves "The Revivals." We used to study, but mostly we spent our time sharing the Word of God. Some of the students were Communist in their views and some were Buddhists. They called me the Class Pastor because, whenever we sat together, we [the Revivals] told them about Jesus Christ and all the good things he had done. We would also preach the Gospel in the streets and by the markets and would take part in worship services on Sunday, often in funeral houses. We shared the experience of John Wesley—the warming of the heart. Now we must pray that we get that Wesleyan spirit and scriptural holiness back again. We'd like to have that Wesleyan spirit in our context and to study and share the Word of God.
AG: In this country, most people don't feel comfortable speaking about their faith.
ZM: To me, evangelism is sharing the things that you enjoy, like having peace of mind in the midst of difficulties and having eternal life. When you keep the blessings God has bestowed upon you, if you don't share them, then the blessings become a curse. For example, the Sea of Galilee became a blessing. There were a lot of fishes in it and green trees around it. It was nice and clean and brought good blessings for the people and the creatures nearby. But the Dead Sea was different. There was no outlet, so that sea became a curse—all salty and all desert, with no living creatures. So, though we don't have much, we have to share from the things we do have. When you share, you feel, "Oh wow, I'm glad that I'm a channel for blessings for someone."
Even if we are poor we can give many things still. I am blessed with the Word of God, with salvation, and with eternal life. I have to share those things with others. I believe that I am blessed and that I may be a blessing for others. The message in my heart is sharing.
II Timothy, chapter 2, verses 1-7 is a passage that tells us to pass on the ministry. "What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well." The message is that you pass on the things that you have learned to others.
In April, Bishop Mawia presented the GBGM with a 10-year plan for Lower Myanmar Methodists. The plan focuses on Spiritual Renewal, reviving the Wesleyan spirit with vibrant worship and class meetings; Development Programs to train disciples, evangelists, and teachers; Leadership Promotion programs for ministers and lay leaders; and Literature Development, Scholarship programs, and Fundraising initiatives. By 2010, the goal is for each local church existing in 2001 to plant at least one new church; for the Methodist Church in Lower Myanmar to have at least 10 full-time ministers and 60 evangelists and missionaries; for 25 Gospel (or Mission) Centers to be opened; and for Myanmar to have an internationally accredited seminary.
Bishop Zothan Mawia has been diligent about continuing his own education. After university, he studied at Union Biblical Seminary in India for three years, later finishing his bachelor of divinity degree at Sarempore College in 1979. In 1990 he attained a master in ministry degree from Trinity Theological College in Singapore.
The bishop has requested that the GBGM provide financial undergirding in this critical period of rebuilding the church and setting up a new conference office. The church needs a pastor-salary subsidy of $30 per month and needs funds to restore old buildings.
During the split in Lower Myanmar, the GBGM did not know which side to support. Now the reunited church provides a fresh opportunity for the funding of mission work in Myanmar, contributing to programs for church renewal, evangelism, lay training, and work with women, children, and youth. As Bishop Mawia put it: "We would like to have you as a channel of blessings. In sharing with us, you are equipping us to better serve our people."
You may support the Methodist Church, Lower Myanmar, through Advance Specials such as Christian Service Gospel Center, #011181-0 and Continuing education for pastors, #011766-7.
Text and photographs copyright 2001 by New World Outlook: The Mission Magazine of The United Methodist Church. Used by Permission. For reprint permission, contact New World Outlook by E-mail at nwo@gbgm-umc.org.