11 Rangers Make Public Display of Faith

Tyler Bradley
Jun 23, 2023
5 min read

Updated: Oct 8

Karen State, Burma

" For everyone. For the people to be safe during this difficult time. I know that God can save us all." - Saw Ahde, newly-baptized Ranger.

The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is made up of people of many faiths and ethnicities and all are welcome as we serve together for love. For many of us, Jesus is the source of that love and baptism is a sacred display of commitment to follow Him and love others as He first loved us. On December 30, 2022, 11 Rangers decided to proclaim their faith in Jesus through baptism before many fellow Rangers, instructors, and community members. For some, this decision is one that will be celebrated as they return home to their communities. For others, this bold proclamation is accompanied by worry as they return to family and communities hostile to Christianity. All stated in their own words that during FBR training God touched them in some way, whether through the instructors, community, or prayer. These newly-baptized Rangers, many who are young, ask you to pray for their health, their families, and repeatedly, for their country. More than anything, they pray for peace for their people and their enemies. Please join us in praying for and congratulating these amazing men and women of God!

Thank you and God bless you,

Dave, family, and FBR

Below are photos and brief interviews with the 11 newly baptized Rangers.

Kant Nyar is Burman and was a student before the coup. He was a Buddhist but found God when he joined Ranger training. When asked how we could pray for him, he said, "Please pray for the IDPs to be able to go back to their homes. And for us revolutionaries, I want you to pray that this will all be over fast without losing a lot more lives." — **Kant Nyar** is Burman and was a student before the coup. He was a Buddhist but found God when he joined Ranger training. When asked how we could pray for him, he said, "Please pray for the IDPs to be able to go back to their homes. And for us revolutionaries, I want you to pray that this will all be over fast without losing a lot more lives."

John is a 23-year-old Karenni Christian who was a farmer before the coup. He joined FBR to help himself and his community. Before joining FBR he was a Christian because of his parents but then he learned that getting baptized is related to a person’s own faith. As he prayed about it, many prayers were answered, and so he decided to get baptized. When asked how we could pray for him, he said, "I want these IDPs to know God and I want the Burma Army to have a change of heart. I want you to pray for those things." — **John** is a 23-year-old Karenni Christian who was a farmer before the coup. He joined FBR to help himself and his community. Before joining FBR he was a Christian because of his parents but then he learned that getting baptized is related to a person’s own faith. As he prayed about it, many prayers were answered, and so he decided to get baptized. When asked how we could pray for him, he said, "I want these IDPs to know God and I want the Burma Army to have a change of heart. I want you to pray for those things."

Thet Htoo Oo is 18 years old and from Karenni State. Before the coup he drove excavators and cars. When he was young, he was a Buddhist but has been a Christian for a few years now. It was in Ranger training that he learned baptism was about him and his close relationship with God. When we asked Thet Htoo Oo how we could pray for him, he said, "My prayer request is for the revolution to be successful and for the Burma Army to have a change of heart. And for the revolutionaries to be able to go back to their homes safely in freedom." — **Thet Htoo Oo** is 18 years old and from Karenni State. Before the coup he drove excavators and cars. When he was young, he was a Buddhist but has been a Christian for a few years now. It was in Ranger training that he learned baptism was about him and his close relationship with God. When we asked Thet Htoo Oo how we could pray for him, he said, "My prayer request is for the revolution to be successful and for the Burma Army to have a change of heart. And for the revolutionaries to be able to go back to their homes safely in freedom."

Nway Nway is a 21-year-old woman from Shan State. Before the coup she attended school. She says she joined FBR because “Rangers ‘love each other.' Even to the enemy. And follow God’s guidance, unlike other organizations. They also put God first.” Before coming to FBR she was a Buddhist. When asked how we could pray for her she said, “Please pray that if possible, there won’t be any loss from our side. And for the revolution to be over soon. And for the other side and Min Aung Hlaing to surrender. If that happens, it will be over. The main thing is their hearts. If their heart is changed. I don’t want our people to get hurt anymore.” — **Nway Nway** is a 21-year-old woman from Shan State. Before the coup she attended school. She says she joined FBR because “Rangers ‘love each other.' Even to the enemy. And follow God’s guidance, unlike other organizations. They also put God first.” Before coming to FBR she was a Buddhist. When asked how we could pray for her she said, “Please pray that if possible, there won’t be any loss from our side. And for the revolution to be over soon. And for the other side and Min Aung Hlaing to surrender. If that happens, it will be over. The main thing is their hearts. If their heart is changed. I don’t want our people to get hurt anymore.”

Saw Lee Lu, a 20-year-old man from Karen State, joined FBR because he heard that “Rangers are helping the people." Although he was a Christian before he came to FBR, he says it was while he was there that he decided to get baptized. He said that he “heard the teaching and the gospel from the instructors and it touched my heart”. When asked how we could pray for him he said, “Please pray for myself, for my family, and also for the whole Burma and the whole world to have peace.” — **Saw Lee Lu**, a 20-year-old man from Karen State, joined FBR because he heard that “Rangers are helping the people." Although he was a Christian before he came to FBR, he says it was while he was there that he decided to get baptized. He said that he “heard the teaching and the gospel from the instructors and it touched my heart”. When asked how we could pray for him he said, “Please pray for myself, for my family, and also for the whole Burma and the whole world to have peace.”

Sender Htun is 20 years old. His dad is Dawei and his mom is Karen ethnicity. Before the coup he was studying and a Buddhist. He joined FBR because he was interested in humanitarian work. While at FBR, his interest in Jesus grew and he enjoyed the teachings and he decided to get baptized. When asked how we could pray for him, he asked for us to pray that his upcoming mission would go smoothly. — **Sender Htun** is 20 years old. His dad is Dawei and his mom is Karen ethnicity. Before the coup he was studying and a Buddhist. He joined FBR because he was interested in humanitarian work. While at FBR, his interest in Jesus grew and he enjoyed the teachings and he decided to get baptized. When asked how we could pray for him, he asked for us to pray that his upcoming mission would go smoothly.

Bue Reh is 17 years old and from Karenni State. He was attending school before the coup. When we asked how we could pray for him he said to pray “for peace in our country’s politics.” — **Bue Reh** is 17 years old and from Karenni State. He was attending school before the coup. When we asked how we could pray for him he said to pray “for peace in our country’s politics.”

Saw Ney Htoo is 18 years old and from Karenni State. Before the coup, he was helping his family farm. When asked why he wanted to get baptized he said, “I want to obey God and have faith in him.” He asks for prayer for his family, specifically for his mother and father who he has not seen in a while. — **Saw Ney Htoo** is 18 years old and from Karenni State. Before the coup, he was helping his family farm. When asked why he wanted to get baptized he said, “I want to obey God and have faith in him.” He asks for prayer for his family, specifically for his mother and father who he has not seen in a while.

Saw Soe Doh Htoo is 19 years old and from Karenni State. Before the coup he worked at a motorbike repair shop. Before he joined FBR he was a part of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and his leaders at the KNLA are the ones who sent him to FBR. He was a Christian who decided to get baptized while at FBR. He asks for prayer for his family who he left behind and for himself as he goes on mission. — **Saw Soe Doh Htoo** is 19 years old and from Karenni State. Before the coup he worked at a motorbike repair shop. Before he joined FBR he was a part of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and his leaders at the KNLA are the ones who sent him to FBR. He was a Christian who decided to get baptized while at FBR. He asks for prayer for his family who he left behind and for himself as he goes on mission.

Saw Blute Wah Htoo is a 22-year-old Karen man. He said that before the coup he used drugs, drank, and wandered around all day. He joined FBR to help him get sober. While at FBR he decided to get baptized as a "true Christian." When asked how he could be prayed for he said, “Please pray for me to be able to cut off the drugs.” — **Saw Blute Wah Htoo** is a 22-year-old Karen man. He said that before the coup he used drugs, drank, and wandered around all day. He joined FBR to help him get sober. While at FBR he decided to get baptized as a "true Christian." When asked how he could be prayed for he said, “Please pray for me to be able to cut off the drugs.”

Saw Ahde is 43 years old and works with FBR. When the coup started he went to the border area in order to avoid the oppressive regime; it was there that he met FBR and began working with them. He was previously Buddhist although he had been to church before. He says he decided to get baptized because "It is my own faith and choice." When we asked how we can pray for him, he asked to pray "For everyone. For the people to be safe during this difficult time. I know that God can save us all. And also for my family and everyone to be healthy." — **Saw Ahde** is 43 years old and works with FBR. When the coup started he went to the border area in order to avoid the oppressive regime; it was there that he met FBR and began working with them. He was previously Buddhist although he had been to church before. He says he decided to get baptized because "It is my own faith and choice." When we asked how we can pray for him, he asked to pray "For everyone. For the people to be safe during this difficult time. I know that God can save us all. And also for my family and everyone to be healthy."

FBR chaplains baptizing Saw Ahde. — *FBR chaplains baptizing Saw Ahde*.