Burmese School of Christ Update
by David Jacobson School of Christ Director
No one would have ever considered that the Burmese School of Christ would eventually lead the team from Mandalay, Burma to Amarillo, Texas. But as a result of our extended 12,500 mile trip visiting the various Karen groups scattered across America, we have been able to met with a Burmese pastor from the Chin tribe of Burma in that city.
Having been introduced to him through the Karen, we met and fellowshipped with Pastor Titus. As we conversed, we soon learned that all of our contacts for that school were close friends of his. We hadn't met by accident. Afterwards, we sent him a Burmese School of Christ and waited till he had time to look over the school.
He later contacted us about coming to Amarillo to hold a revival among the Chin people in May of 2011. So in May, we were greatly blessed as the Chin youth showed a genuine hunger for more of God and received the teaching that Pastor Somchai and David Jacobson shared with them at the nightly meetings.
They literally pleaded with us to return in the future. Even the tradition bound leaders were touched during the Sunday service; and allowed Pastor Titus to attend for one week the English School of Christ held in Beaumont, TX held in June 2011.
As a result of that school, Bro. Daren Downs and David Jacobson made plans to place the School of Christ into the Chin language in October 2011.
While in Amarillo during that May visit, we ministered during the day to the Karen there as well. We met with Du Noo and his family and ministered to him, his wife, and his children in particular as they provided an open door to the Karen community.
We had all been filled with excitement in anticipation of a great move of God during the Chin School of Christ in Amarillo. Pastor Titus accompanied us on Monday and Tuesday as we prepared for the Wednesday night opening of the school. We all had great expectation as Bro. Daren arrived on Wednesday afternoon just in time for the start of the school.
Due to a cancellation of Bro. Daren's flight and his resultant delay, we were not able to start at the scheduled time. So we set a new time; but as that time drew near, there were very few Chin at the church.
It soon began to be too late to wait any longer or we would have had no meetings that night at all. With few in attendance and a very late start, we began with the first lesson of the Conflict series entitled, "The Conflict." Little did we realize we were already in one.
The next day, again very few showed up at the church. Pastor Titus was very, very disappointed with his people and said, "Out of 500 people only these few came. The majority are only Sunday Christians." His very countenance mirrored his disappointment.
During prayer before the start of Thursday's school, we prayed for and encouraged him. "God only needs a remnant, we said. Don't let the small number of the people attending get you down."
However, Thursday night more people began to come and by Friday the group was growing steadily. By Saturday, the church was 80% filled.
We experienced a breakthrough as even the elders began to come and listen attentively to the lessons. On Saturday afternoon, an altar call was given for those who wanted God to move in their lives like in the Book of Acts and everyone came forward for prayer. They were broken with tears running down many of the faces.
The anointing continued to increase as well as the attendance of the people. Truly God had captured their hearts.
On Sunday morning, Bro. David went to the Karen Church of Amarillo while Bro. Daren preached at the Chin Sunday morning service accompanied by Bro. Noah, who was recovering from an attack upon his body.
At the Karen church, God gave Bro. David great favor with these traditional Karen. They sang, worshipped, and Pastor Jim from the Baptist church preached a message to them. Afterwards Bro. David was invited to share a short message with the congregation. The Lord moved mightily as he shared his 16 year mission with the Karen people from the Refugee Camps to America. He concluded by inviting them all to sing two Karen songs along with him.
After it was finished, the congregation broke out in spontaneous clapping as the Baptist pastor thanked Bro. David for bringing joy to these Karen people. An effectual door to the Karen has been opened.
Sunday afternoon, the youth asked Bro. Noah to share with them. He shared a message with them entitled, "Don't play games with God." They received it so well that they asked him to preach another message immediately after the first one. He shared, "Many are called but few are Chosen" from the Revival series of the School of Christ.
After the Sunday evening service, prayer requests and testimonies began to come forth. We prayed for many needs from healings, to salvation of family members, to rededications to the Lord. One of the youth leaders said after having shared Acts 2:1-8, "You have planted precious seed amongst us this week; you must come back and water it."
Another youth leader testified that he had become discouraged and was about to quit the ministry but he had been touched by the Lord and was now ready to go on.
We were told by Pastor Titus that the entire congregation coming forward at the end of the service as they did, showed that they really received the teaching. Even the elders were touched and all want us to return in the near future. We agreed to return to Amarillo again.
The Spirit of revival is now upon the Chin church of Amarillo. The youth have been challenged and have accepted that challenge.
As Bro. Noah and Bro. David drove back to California from Amarillo, Bro. David received a phone call from a 72 year old Karen woman (Pee Ta Ooh) who had attended the School of Christ in Beaumont, TX in June of this year. She had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at that school and testified that God has given her a vision to take the message of Pentecost to the traditional Baptist Karen. She was calling from Fort Wayne, Indiana where she was asked to speak. She shared boldly that without the Holy Ghost, they could do nothing and had no power.
They received her words. We're expecting to hear more from her as she travels to other Karen cities with this message. God is pouring out the Spirit of revival upon the Asian American population. Praise the Lord.
David Jacobson
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