I wanted to share this Canadian Mennonite article by Amos Chin President of Bible Missionary Church Mennonite, the Mennonite World Conference affiliated church in Myanmar.
The original article can be found on the Canadian Mennonite website. BMC Mennonite is a partner of MCC in Myanmar.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Stepping into a new future is like entering unfamiliar territory. Joshua, too, seemed to be filled with fear when he had to take on the responsibility of leading millions of Israelites into the land of Canaan after Moses was gone. That is why God had to repeatedly command him, “Do not be afraid.”
In this verse, God does not promise there will be no difficulties or enemies. Instead, He gives a promise far greater than any challenge—the assurance of His presence. Courage, then, is not the absence of fear, but the determination to move forward, knowing that God is with us. To be brave means we choose to act and not retreat, even in the face of fear. True courage stems from the belief that “God is with me,” and ultimately, it is grounded in the love of God.
In a country like Myanmar, where Christians are often persecuted, living out one’s faith and engaging in ministry can be extremely dangerous. The risk of imprisonment or even death is real. In such an authoritarian context, preaching a message of peace and nonviolence is daunting. So why do we Mennonites continue to share this message? Is it because we are unafraid of prison? Absolutely not. We, too, are deeply afraid of suffering or death. Yet we do not retreat—we press forward because we hold on to God’s promise. Moreover, we love the Lord. People are willing to sacrifice everything for those they truly love, are they not? If we truly love God, we find courage for His sake. There is no reason to turn back.
To the Mennonites in Canada—living in freedom and material abundance—what does courage look like for you? Is there still a call to be brave? The answer is clear: if you truly love God, you are courageous people. Is your support for brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering and in great need not a form of courage? Your prayers, your financial giving, your willingness to help those in desperate situations—these are your courageous acts. You do these things because you love God and seek to obey His word. Your generosity is your courage lived out in love for God.
The Mennonites in Myanmar are poor, yet they continue to proclaim the gospel of peace. And you, Canadian Mennonites, give generously to support the work in Myanmar. Together, we are people of great courage for the sake of God. If we in Myanmar stop preaching, and if you in Canada stop giving, then we would all be cowards.
Let us unite our courage and work together to build peace—here on earth and in Myanmar.
–Amos Thang Chin, Yangon, Myanmar (Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite)