The Word in War Zones: Bringing Gospel Resources to Those Under Attack in Burma

Packing the Word: A small team preps Karen and Burmese language Bibles and tracts inventory—the quiet logistics behind every Bible that reaches the field.

The road into Karenni twists past fields littered with land mines, houses burned to the ground, and blown bridges. Our Ranger team moves toward the sound of need with medics equipped with trauma kits, relief workers with tarps and food, and chaplains with Bibles tucked beside bandages. FBR Relief Team Chaplains (RTC) are woven into all FBR team operations, praying with the wounded at the front line and in Casualty Collection Points (CCPs). We open scripture in churches that are without roofs because of Burma Army airstrikes. We preload phones with a film about Jesus to share deep in the jungle where there is no cell service. The Free Burma Rangers have uncommon access on the front lines, in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, and in people's homes who are trapped by the fighting. These places become doorways for the good news of Jesus, which we offer in the hope of freeing the oppressed in body, mind, and spirit.

Local language resources: Tracts and booklets—Victory in Christ, Lessons for Life, and gospel stories—ready for distribution.

Long before a Bible is opened in the jungle, we are working in our office headquarters. The Gospel Partnership Department (GPD) works hard to choose materials so that people can hear about Christ in their heart language. With the help of many hands, we work to upload copies of the New Testament in multiple languages on audio devices, small enough to pack into rucksacks, and ready for use in the field. Audio Bibles are loaded with scripture in Karen and Burmese, only two of the many languages spoken throughout Burma. This last month, we packaged nearly 300 audio Bibles and will distribute them throughout displaced communities, for soldiers and civilians alike. Booklets like 'Victory in Christ' and 'Lessons for Life' are selected and sometimes adapted with care so that the truths of scripture are accurate and alive for all to hear.

Sharing the Gospel at night: neighbors gather for tea, scripture, and prayer as Burma Army rockets fly overhead.

Pray. Think. Act. This is the order of operations for chaplain team leaders as they work with the soldiers and IDPs.

From there, we work through the logistics to make sure all these gospel materials are ready for transport, packaging them in multiple layers of plastic to protect them from the harsh elements. We hope the people we meet in areas where power is scarce and roads are rained out feel God's love through this sharing of scripture. We go where we feel the Lord has called us, and we take the Word with us wherever we go.

We know that blessings do not only come from things we hand out. Though our goal is to get the good news to those who have not heard it, our ultimate strength is prayer to the God who makes our work possible in the first place. On the front line, we try to heal people, but we cannot always save them. Jesus is the true healer who offers eternal life, so in every prayer and every mission, we want people to know Him and the hope He gives, whether we have something to put in their hands or not.

A Ranger chaplain explains the truths presented in the gospel materials.

A wounded soldier listens to his audio Bible while two Rangers comfort him.

Soldiers with their newly received audio players, capable of holding hymns, sermons, and scripture.

The hunger for the Word is powerful. At one Good Life Club (GLC) program, when the boxes opened, there was a scramble for the audio Bibles inside. Teachers and village leaders were so grateful for these small devices filled with Scripture that they could listen to in their own language. For some, this is the first time they have heard God’s Word. In communities where a few paper Bibles have served hundreds, these little black devices became small, durable messengers of hope.

Scripture by the bedside: a patient with a new amputation listens as a chaplain reads and prays.

There is a great need in every corner of the globe, and that is a need for the truth of Christ and the peace that comes along with following Him. We are blessed to play a small role in distributing God's Word and loving those we meet in Burma, as Jesus loves them. Your support has a direct impact on our ability to bring the Gospel into conflict situations and continue to cultivate fellowship with those who are trapped and displaced by the war.

Please pray for the hearts of those in Burma and beyond, that they would be receptive to the gospel message and would turn toward Jesus throughout their hardship.

Thank you and God bless,

The Free Burma Rangers