A good shepherd

Rev. Thomas, 56 years old, is a dedicated Reverend Church pastor who has been faithfully serving in his ministry at Myo Ma Church for over twenty years.  Sadly, he lost his beloved wife to COVID-19 third wave in 2021. He experienced a lot of stress and indescribable emotions upon losing his closest family member. Consequently, he found himself unable to actively support the church activities and lost vision for his ministry.

“It was an inexpressible moment for me when I lost my wife. My loss has depressed me that I could not manage my church and lead my ministry well,” recalled Rev. Thomas.

However, as a servant of God who is dedicated to serving the people and God, he remained committed to his role as a pastor.

 

“I triumphed over pain, depression, and disappointment by viewing them as life lessons. I used these experiences to cultivate hope and aspirations for the betterment of my family and my church.”

 

The cure to his grief

A pastor’s grief started to fade when he joined World Vision’s spiritual nurturing programme, Celebrating Families[1]. The pastor, amidst his grief enrolled in the training and actively engaged in the training, diligently absorbed the lessons alongside the other participants over the course of five days. He expressed that he discovered his inability to actively participate in his ministry. Nonetheless, he gradually regained his strength through the involvement in Celebrating Families training.

“While attending the course, I gained spiritual strength and felt the crucial role of a pastor as a father of the church. I have experienced a gradual resurgence of strength in the implementation and development of church activities, surpassing my previous capabilities.” the pastor commented.

The pastor’s wife, before she went back permanently to her Heavenly Father, had also been actively involved in the church community as a women's leader, spearheading various activities for women. He has recalled the time they had served the church and ministry together sometimes with happiness and sometimes with distress, and how they overcame together. The good memories of his wife remain fresh in his mind which become a push for him to continue his ministry for the church and people of God.

 

 

Replicating the knowledge

Following the pastor’s participation in Celebrating Families training organised for faith leaders, he took it upon himself to share the knowledge he acquired with parents and fellow faith leaders of his church. His goal was to help them experience the love of God, actively engage in spiritual activities that nurture children, and foster a safe and affectionate environment within their families. Responding positively to the pastor’s invitation, the church members willingly attended the awareness sessions he organised.

“There were many lessons, but the main ones that helped me rebuild my life were my hopes and dreams for my family, signs of completeness and signs of brokenness, and joys and pains in recognising the present gave me the best strength for my life," he claimed.

“I triumphed over pain, depression, and disappointment by viewing them as life lessons. I used these experiences to cultivate hope and aspirations for the betterment of my family and my church.” He satisfactorily added.

Pastor Thomas embarked on a mission to provide solace during challenging times to the members of his congregation by personally visiting their homes. His compassionate efforts extended beyond mere comfort, as he actively worked towards fostering family reconciliation and facilitating collective healing.

“The church is meant to be the second home of the children, youth and the families. After the training, I was able to work together as a good and faithful disciple and to focus more on the good work. Currently, I am actively formulating constructive strategies to enhance the well-being of my church,” the pastor shared enthusiastically. 

Moreover, he identified the unique talents possessed by young individuals in the church and successfully assigned them to participate in and take responsibility for various church programmes. This empowering approach not only encouraged their personal growth but also allowed them to assume leadership roles and flourish. The remarkable outcomes of this approach are evident in the substantial progress witnessed within the community.

“In addition, I am organising weekly bible study sessions, providing music training opportunities, and arranging summer classes specifically for the children and youth within the church community,” he proudly added.

 

 

Experiencing the change in the church

“My church members have now actively altered their behaviours and dedicated time to engage with their children, leading them to learn the teachings of the Bible. Furthermore, in collaboration with the church, they have actively created opportunities aimed at promoting the well-being of children,” he shared.

The pastor inspires us to persist in developing programmes that will bring about positive outcomes for the members and children of the Church. “As I grow in strength, I will persist in offering knowledge and opportunities to the children and the families. It is widely recognised that the current situation is a direct result of the church adopting the Celebrating Families approach when nurturing children and the members,” he complimented. 

“I pray that this project will gain God’s blessings as it serves the most vulnerable children. Psalm chapter 118:8-9 serves as my guiding principle. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to World Vision and the Spiritual Nurture of Children project,” he smiled.

 

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Brief Project Summary

The Spiritual Nurture of Children is a three-year project that is currently underway in the Nawnghkio area, Shan State of eastern Myanmar. This initiative commenced in FY23 and is scheduled for completion in FY25. The project focuses on nurturing the spiritual well-being of children and utilises faith and development models, namely Celebrating Families and Channel of Hope. Collaborative efforts with faith-based organisations are integral to executing various project activities. Nawnghkio is a region in Myanmar that experiences frequent clashes due to political instability. Despite these challenges, the community members and religious leaders warmly embrace the Spiritual Nurture of Children Project in their midst. The Spiritual Nurture of Children (SNC) Project partnered with 15 Buddhist and 5 Christian faith-based organisations in the Nawnghkio region. During the period from October 2023 to March 2024, the Nawnghkio project had a positive impact on a total of 3,948 individuals. Among them, 2,161 were children, while 1,823 were parents.

Furthermore, the SNC programme is currently being executed in Pathein and Bogale, situated in the Delta Region of Myanmar. The combined target for both areas is set at 52. As of March 2024, a total of 12,896 individuals have benefitted from the programme, including 6,708, children and  6,188  adults. Moreover, there were a total of 15,546 direct beneficiaries across three projects. Additionally, the project had a significant impact on the lives of at least 70,000 family members who benefited indirectly.