Churches mostly became from fellowship groups. Over seven years ago, Thapyegone fellowship was appeared during the time of construction of new Capital City Naypyitaw in Myanmar. Construction workers and civil servants had to move during that time and some had to leave their families and churches where they belong to. There is an old city called Pyinmana situated near Naypyitaw. Most Christians could not go to the churches in Pyinmana because transportations were not settled. One Karan Lady, a midwife, opened her home to Christians for worship and fellowship every Sunday. Senior pastor from Pyinmana Baptist Church, sent some Pastors every Sunday. When the group became large, it was not enough the pastor coming only on Sunday.
Whilst Jesus is our Shepherd wherever we are, believers
need a Pastor to look after closely in spiritual and in human life as a guide on
behalf of Jesus our Shepherd. Believers requested Senior Pastor to send one shepherd
for fellowship group, who could stay in Naypyitaw. The Fellowship group got one, not an ordained
Pastor but dedicated couples with two children. Now blesses with more children.
Fellowship group
was poor in new life. Salary was very
low although some are senior position in the civil service. Some are
construction workers when engineers could be count less than five fingers
attending fellowship. When our tithes was
around 10000 kyats, and offerings were between 50 to 500 kyats, transportation charges
cost more than offerings amount. There was no public transportation. Most
people had to send some amount of income back to their families who could not
follow them. During the struggle time, the fellowship group became bigger and
bigger. As I say in the beginning of this paragraph, fellowship group was very poor
in new life but strong in faith. Under the scorching sun, they had to walk
until they got cycle taxi after service around at noon. Fellowship building is
two stories bamboo hut, like a manger where Jesus was born. When the place is crowded, the building was
slightly swinging back and forth during service. Under the roof of the bamboo hut,
believers came from different churches and various denominations gathered with
one goal to build spiritual home church for those who have to come in Naypyitaw
on
duty or visiting.
It was like
a saying in Myanmar; “An ant with weak waist to fight a big mountain.” The Bible said that if you have faith as
small as a mustard seed, you can move a mountain. Therefore believers started a
plan with a scripture; “Let the hands be strong that the temple might be
build.” (Zechariah 8; 9). It was a motto
for calling to build spiritual home.
Then we worked various ways such as giving
Tithes, First fruits of work, offerings, and fund raising among the groups, and
sending donation voucher books inside the country and abroad. Whilst church fund for construction was
increasing, the price was rising sky rocketing. After three years, some were retired and some
got transfer orders. We cannot control the real situation. Nevertheless, we
were working, working in hope, keep in faith .
One day my husband
and I went to Maymyo, a city in Mandalay region to give a lecture at a
Christian summer camp. The pastor from AG church invited us to attend Sunday
service when we were there. When we
arrived and saw the church, we thought this church got a sponsor from foreign
countries. My enthusiastic question was come out to the Pastor. We were amazed
when we heard his answer. There were no sponsors from foreign donors. His
answer was rather simple and precious. The
answer was “We built this church through Dawn Prayer Service.”
Since 2013,
after coming back from Maymyo, Thapyegone fellowship has been conducting morning devotion.
Believers worked with strengthen hands in human efforts but God leads us to
strengthen the weak hands for praying and some believers knelt down before Him
at dawn prayer service.
In 2016
December, our Pastor of Thapyegone fellowship who came from Pyinmana Church,
was ordained. On Christmas day 2016, Thapyegone fellowship was recognized by
Myanmar Baptist Convention (Upper Myanmar) as a full-fledged church known as
Union Baptist Church, Thapyegone, Naypyitaw. For Northing is impossible with
God and blessed those who believe in him. Thanks be to God what the Lord has
done.
Walk with
God. Work for God for His will by the guidance of Him. Then, He will help you in
needs and lead you in the right path.
Ju Ju Lay. (16
/ 1 / 2017)
