ANTIOCH MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, CRAZY LOVE MINISTRIES, YWAM KONA & IHOP KC ANTIOCH MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, CRAZY LOVE MINISTRIES, YWAM KONA & IHOP KC

30 Days of Prayer for ANTIOCH MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, CRAZY LOVE MINISTRIES, YWAM KONA & IHOP KC

ANTIOCH MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, CRAZY LOVE MINISTRIES, YWAM KONA & IHOP KC Design: Abby Beard Photo: Abby Beard “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence... No eye has seen a God besides You, who acts for those who wait for Him.” - Isaiah 64:1,4

Known as Burma from its colonial days, Myanmar is home to over 54 million people from over 130 ethnic groups. Boasting the world’s highest proportion of Buddhist monks and nuns in the world, Myanmar is staunchly Buddhist (over 85% of the population) with a minority of Christian, Muslim, and Hindu believers. The stronghold of Buddhism and idol worship has centuries-deep roots in this beautiful, diverse land.

On February 1st, 2021, Myanmar’s military undid a decade of democratic transition and took control of the country. Since then, the nation has spiraled into a growing storm of violence, chaos, and despair. Tens of thousands in Myanmar have raised their voices to denounce the coup, thousands have been arrested for dissent, and over 800 people have been killed in the military’s violent crackdowns. No part of the nation has gone untouched by the rising tide of uncertainty, turmoil, and death.

In the midst of this darkness, we believe that the Lord’s heart is for Myanmar. As the young, fragile democracy of Myanmar seems to dissolve before our eyes, we know that there is a Kingdom that never passes away - and the King has proven time and again that He doesn’t need freedom of speech, , or democracy to advance His Kingdom in unbelievable ways. The story of His redemption in this nation isn’t finished yet, and He has given us a part to play in shaping that story through prayer.

As we join the global body of Christ in interceding for Myanmar over the next 30 days, we hope that these daily prayer points will guide and fill your heart as we wait on Him together. May the Lord give us His heart for Myanmar and rend the heavens on behalf of this beautiful nation! 01DAY ONE Death of Democracy? “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.” - Daniel 4:34

Within days of Myanmar’s coup, thousands of civilians poured into the streets in anger to protest for the release of newly-elected officials and restoration of democratic rule. Many waved pro-democracy flags and slogans, flashed the three-finger salute from The Hunger Games books, and used social media to broadcast their surge of daily protests to the world. Many believers participated, but as one ministry leader wisely cautioned, “The demonstrations for democracy are important and we support them. But we also know that in Jesus’ day many of God’s people confused the overthrow of a brutal military regime with the coming of the Kingdom.”

1. Pray for believers and unbelievers alike to put their hope in the unending Kingdom of God instead of the passing shadow of Myanmar’s earthly governments.

2. Pray for Christ-followers in Myanmar to engage these perilous times with the eyes and heart of Jesus, seeing and living out His vision for the Kingdom as He did. 02DAY TWO Suffering with Them

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” - Isaiah 53:4

The people of Myanmar are well acquainted with suffering. They have endured decades of ethnic armed conflicts, steep poverty that affects millions, and 50 years of brutal rule under . The recent coup is only the latest in a long train of their trials. More than ever before, Myanmar needs to know that Jesus not only reigns even in the darkest hours, but that He is the Suffering King. He once was crowned with thorns - and He, more than any other, understands Myanmar’s pain and despair.

1. Pray that the people of Myanmar would know the King who suffers with them and suffered for them on the cross.

2. Pray that we, as Christ’s followers, would share in His suffering love for the hurting people of Myanmar. 03DAY THREE Civil Disobedience “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” - Philippians 2:4

One of the most widespread forms of protest in Myanmar has been the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). As many as 3 out of 4 civil servants (over 75,000 workers) have refused to go to work, paralyzing banking, transportation, and businesses in an attempt to get the military to relinquish control. Many civil workers have held their ground even when threatened by the military or evicted from their government- provided housing, and some have chosen to sacrificially continue serving their people outside of governmental avenues.

1. Pray for God’s protection over civil workers who are courageously risking and sacrificing to continue serving others while defying the military.

2. Pray that the Lord would miraculously turn the hearts of the military regime to relinquish their tight hold on Myanmar’s reins of power. 04DAY FOUR Women “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” - Galatians 3:28

Women have been fighting against the military coup in a surprising way: stringing clotheslines covered with Burmese sarongs, which women traditionally use as undergarments, across their city streets. In Burmese Buddhism, men are considered to have greater spiritual superiority (hpone), and a man’s hpone is sapped by touching or passing under the “uncleanness” of a woman’s undergarments. Hanging up these clothes has been an effective deterrent for women against Burmese soldiers coming into their homes, one that both leverages and undermines Buddhist traditions.

1. Pray that God would reveal to that they are precious in His eyes, and that men and women are equally valued in Christ.

2. Pray that this weakening of Buddhist traditions would open the door to more Buddhist men and women receiving the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 05DAY FIVE Military Brutality “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.” - Psalm 140:1-2

The brutality of the , Myanmar’s military regime, knows no bounds. Crackdowns on anti-coup protests began with rubber bullets and water cannons; since then, soldiers have killed hundreds of unarmed civilians, even firing on funeral attendees and first responders caring for wounded protesters. On this year’s Armed Forces Day, March 27th, soldiers hijacked an ambulance and drove around a city with their guns sticking out of the windows, shooting civilians on sight. Soldiers often kidnap young people from their homes and off the street in the dead of night, making it impossible for many civilians to sleep for sheer terror.

1. Pray for the power of the Tatmadaw to be broken, so that they will no longer terrorize their own people in Myanmar.

2. Pray for the Lord to soften the hearts of many soldiers and police officers, to realize their need for the forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus. 06DAY SIX Turning from Idols in “...you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” - 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Nestled in the heartland of Myanmar, Mandalay is the nation’s second largest city and a yearly religious pilgrimage site boasting a large number of temples and shrines. Dozens of anti-coup protesters have been killed in Mandalay by the military, including a 19 year old girl who became a fallen hero of the pro-democracy movement. In the midst of this violence and chaos, a team of evangelists have been faithfully sharing the Gospel and caring for practical needs, touching the lives of over one hundred families with the hope of Christ. After much prayer, one lady gave her life to Christ and cleaned out all the idols and shrines in her home.

1. Pray for continued boldness for evangelists in Mandalay and throughout the country, so that many more souls would be saved from God’s wrath.

2. Pray that Mandalay would no longer be known as a stronghold of Buddhism and idol-worship, but a city filled with Christ-followers who serve the true and living God. “Why, O Lord, do You stand far away? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’

His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. He says in his heart, ‘I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.’

His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.

The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.

Photo: Abby Beard He says in his heart, ‘God has forgotten, He has hidden His face, He will never see it.’

Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account?’ But You do see, for You note mischief and vexation, that You may take it into your hands; to You the helpless commits himself; You have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till You find none.

The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from His land. O Lord, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”

Psalm 10 07DAY SEVEN Economy Strangled “He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap…” - 1 Samuel 2:8

Between COVID lockdowns, military curfews, and the Civil Disobedience Movement effectively freezing every system the country depends on, the is being strangled. In March, the cost of fuel rose 15 percent nationwide, and food prices climbed as much as 20 or 35 percent in some areas. Many people stand waiting for 4-6 hours at the ATM, desperate to withdraw some cash to feed their families, only to walk away empty-handed.

1. Pray that the Lord would supernaturally, richly provide for needy families and the ministries sharing Christ’s love with them.

2. Pray that the Lord would end the conflict soon and restore Myanmar’s economy, lifting up millions of needy and vulnerable people from the ash heap of poverty. 08DAY EIGHT Defectors

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” - Psalm 34:4

Myanmar’s military regime uses fear not only to control civilians, but also its own soldiers. A growing number of soldiers have defected from the military since the coup began, saying they could no longer bear to carry out orders to shoot unarmed people. Some have boldly joined the Civil Disobedience Movement, while others have fled into hiding in . Some report that there are many more soldiers and even officers who want to defect but hold back out of fear.

1. Praise God for all those who have bravely defected from the oppressive ways of Myanmar’s military, and pray that many more would have the courage to do the same.

2. Pray that civilians and soldiers alike would seek the Lord and find that He can deliver them from all fear. 09DAY NINE No Heart Too Hard “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” - Ezekiel 36:26

Tung Maung Naing* shot and killed many innocent people as a Myanmar navy soldier. After discovering that he was HIV positive, he resigned from the military. In 2013, he and his wife heard the Gospel for the first time through an evangelist; three weeks later, he gave his life to Jesus! Since then, Tung Maing Naing has brought many other HIV positive people to Christ. His life is living proof that no heart is too hard and no life too broken for Jesus to redeem. *Name changed for security reasons.

1. Pray that God would raise up more faithful evangelists like Tung Maung Naing, using their past brokenness to bring the Gospel to many others.

2. Pray that Jesus would soften more hearts in Myanmar’s military, so that these hardened soldiers would encounter Him and find salvation. 10DAY TEN Children “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” - Matthew 18:4-5

When a nation is in turmoil, children always pay a price. Schools in Myanmar have been closed for over a year due to the pandemic and now the coup. Sixty schools and counting have been taken over by the Tatmadaw. Over 80% of families countrywide reported having their income cut by half at the end of 2020 due to COVID, greatly increasing the risk of child malnutrition. Childhood trauma is heartbreakingly likely in the rising tide of violence and instability. At least 43 children have been killed in the military’s harsh crackdowns, including a 6 year old girl who died in her father’s arms.

1. Praise for the children of Myanmar as chaos and violence surround them, for God’s protection over their eyes, ears, minds, hearts and lives.

2. Pray for peace to be restored to these children’s lives, and for their eyes to be drawn to our Heavenly Father who loves them. 11DAY ELEVEN Escalation of Violence “For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born… and His name shall be called... Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:5-7

When anti-coup protests first broke out all over the country, they were staunchly peaceful. As the military junta’s brutal crackdowns steadily worsened, more and more protesters began choosing more aggressive, desperate forms of self- defense: firebombs, bows and arrows, makeshift firearms, and even combat training from ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar’s borderlands. Bombs have started going off daily in some cities without anyone claiming responsibility. Myanmar’s shadow civilian government declared it legal for civilians to use force to defend themselves and has formed a “People’s Defense Force” to resist the military’s brutality.

1. Pray that the Lord would bring this escalation of violence to an end.

2. Pray for Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to reign over Myanmar, and for the true and lasting peace that only God’s Kingdom can bring. 12DAY TWELVE Starvation in the Slums of “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” - Psalm 107:9

As the economy of Myanmar staggers on the edge of collapse, the poorest of the poor have suffered the most. In the worst slums near Yangon, families that were barely surviving during the COVID lockdowns found themselves having all means of provision cut off. Some families resorted to eating watercress grass just to have something to fill their stomachs. One ministry partner has tripled its food relief to feed over 5,000 people daily in the slums. Still, for many families, it is their only meal of the day.

1. Pray that God would save these families from starvation, supernaturally providing to satisfy the hunger of their bodies and souls.

2. Pray for God’s immeasurable provision and protection over the ministries that are keeping families alive with the compassion of Jesus.

Watch the stories of some of these desperate families here. 13DAY THIRTEEN Danger in Ministry “But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” - 2 Chronicles 15:7

Ministry has become increasingly dangerous in Myanmar. Believers risk their lives every time they go out to evangelize or serve. The military has made food distribution illegal in any area where protests are taking place, which is almost the entire country. Local leaders have asked the global church to pray for their people to have courage and a willingness to continue despite the risks.

1. Pray for God’s supernatural protection over His people as they risk their lives to serve the needy and share the Gospel in difficult places.

2. Pray for believers to take courage and persevere in their labors, abiding in Jesus and trusting that He is faithful to reward their efforts and sacrifice. 14DAY FOURTEEN Civil War?

“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.” - Psalm 46:9

As international outcry has grown over Myanmar’s coup, many have warned of the growing threat of civil war. What many fail to realize is that Myanmar has already been locked in civil war for over 70 years. Conflict between ethnic groups extends back to warring empires centuries before Burma’s independence from the British in 1948 and continues to this day. The Bamar, Myanmar’s ethnic majority in the nation’s heartland, have long dominated every sphere of life, and over 20 armed ethnic minority groups have fought for their independence against the Burma Army in pockets of conflict around Myanmar’s borderlands for decades.

1. Pray for the peace of Jesus to break into the decades, even centuries of violence and hatred between ethnic communities in Myanmar.

2. Pray that God would end Myanmar’s long-running civil war, and transform this long legacy of ethnic division and warfare into a true love and unity only He can give. 15DAY FIFTEEN Karen Refugees in “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a for us.” - Psalm 62:8

For over 70 years, the have struggled for independence against the Burmese army. The coup shattered a fragile ceasefire agreement and reignited the worst hostilities the Karen have seen in 20 years. In late March, the Burma Army began bombing Karen villages daily for almost a week, killing over 40 villagers and driving thousands to flee towards Thailand. Several ministries joined forces to serve the over 40,000 Karen refugees hiding in jungles and caves, distributing over 90,000 pounds (yes, 90,000!) of to needy families. The fear of airstrikes persists, however, and the need continues to be overwhelming and ongoing.

1. Pray that God would be a Refuge and strong Provider for the Karen people, especially the thousands hiding along the Thai-Burmese border.

2. Pray that Karen believers would be powerfully contagious carriers of the Gospel, and that their hope in Christ would shine brightly in their difficult circumstances. 16DAY SIXTEEN Seen “So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly here I have seen Him who looks after me.’” - Genesis 16:13

The Tatmadaw is determined to keep the world from seeing its actions in Myanmar. The junta has arrested over 80 journalists, cracked down on independent news outlets, and crippled communications by shutting off countrywide mobile internet in early April. Reporters and brave “civilian journalists” have used VPNs and every means possible to continue sharing with the world what is happening in Myanmar, but it is increasingly dangerous work.

1. Pray for protection, endurance, and open avenues to communicate to those who are bravely telling the world about the Tatmadaw’s brutality.

2. Pray that the people of Myanmar would know that no matter how much or little the world sees their plight, God sees them and knows their suffering. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

Photo: Abby Beard Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place — the Most High, who is my refuge — no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. ‘Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.’”

Psalm 91 17DAY SEVENTEEN Digital Evangelism “...for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” - 1 Corinthians 16:9

The military junta has killed Myanmar’s internet in an attempt to suppress dissent and anti-coup organization, even cutting physical wires and holding technicians at gunpoint. Prior to the coup, digital evangelism was taking off in Myanmar: Over 11.7 million people had seen Gospel ads on Facebook, over 19,500 had been ministered to one-on-one by indigenous digital evangelists, and over 455 made a profession of faith in Jesus. The internet shutdown blocked all attempts to connect these new believers to local churches and pastors, and all efforts to continue using Facebook to seed all of Myanmar with the Gospel.

1. Pray that the Lord would faithfully shepherd and guard these new believers, making them strong in faith and fruitful in His Spirit.

2. Pray in bold faith that a great and effective door for the Gospel would be re-opened in Myanmar through digital evangelism. 18DAY EIGHTEEN Resistance in Chin State “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” - 2 Corinthians 10:4

By far Myanmar’s most heavily Christianized tribe, the Chin have long suffered under an aggressive campaign from the Burma Army to assimilate them into Burmese culture and Buddhism. In the town of Mindat in mid-May, Chin militias armed with homemade hunting rifles made a valiant stand against the heavy artillery of the Burma Army, inspiring anti- protesters in other parts of Myanmar to cheer them on. As the military indiscriminately rained bombs, RPGs, and gunfire on civilian homes, the Chin militias finally chose to withdraw to reduce civilian casualties. Around half of Mindat’s population (10,000 people) fled into the jungle as the Burma Army took full occupation of the town. Ministry teams are braving the risk to visit those in hiding where possible, but the necessity of getting in and out quickly makes it difficult and dangerous work.

1. Pray for God’s mercy on the thousands of Chin in hiding or under military rule, for supernatural provision and comfort in the Holy Spirit.

2. Pray that our Chin brothers and sisters would tenaciously wage spiritual warfare against their true Enemy, tearing down his strongholds in their land by the divine power of Christ. 19DAY NINETEEN Ethnic Unity “For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility… [that He] might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” - Ephesians 2:14,16

Hostility between ethnic groups in Myanmar runs centuries deep, often dividing believers just as much as their unbelieving countrymen. The past few months, however, have brought a surprising shift: some ethnic groups have begun to unite as they stand in solidarity against the military coup. Even a growing number of Bamar, the ethnic majority represented by the Tatmadaw, have started voicing painful regret for not standing with ethnic minorities in the past, realizing that they are now experiencing the same atrocities they once ignored that minorities have known for decades.

1. Pray that the Lord would bring true reconciliation between divided ethnic communities and tear down walls of ethnic prejudice and hostility, including against the Bamar majority.

2. Pray that believers, who are sadly often as divided over ethnic differences as the rest of Myanmar, would set an example as the unified body of Christ. 20DAY TWENTY Surveilling Eyes “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.” - Psalm 17:8-9

The military regime in Myanmar has eyes everywhere. Reports have emerged that the military ordered spyware technology months before the coup, allowing it to monitor civilian calls, texts, and web traffic. The junta also makes use of “dalans,” local informers forced to spy on their neighbors. A ministry that had been bravely feeding thousands in the slums daily had almost 20,000 lbs of rice stolen by soldiers due to a dalan informant.

1. Pray that the Lord would make ministries laboring for His Kingdom invisible to the eyes of Myanmar’s junta.

2. Pray that He would hide the people of Myanmar in the shadow of His wings and keep them from violence. 21DAY TWENTY-ONE Survival in “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.” - Deuteronomy 10:17-18

Home to Myanmar’s second largest ethnic group, Shan State has some of the country’s most heavily armed ethnic militias, who sometimes fight not only the Burmese military but also each other. Hostility between ethnic armed groups has destroyed thousands of homes. In late May, about 25 houses were burned down in the small, quiet village of Man-li, forcing villagers to flee from artillery fire. Villagers have had to rely on their creativity to survive, building makeshift transportation from old farm tractors and repurposing rain tarps for water purification to safely nourish their children.

1. Pray for the generations of Shan believers whom the Lord has placed for such a time as this, that they would trust in His might and kindness to sustain them.

2. Pray for resettlement efforts of displaced Shan families, and for the Lord God to reunite the weary into His heavenly kingdom. 22DAY TWENTY-TWO “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” - Revelation 7:14

Thingyan is Myanmar’s New Year and the beloved Water Festival season. This year, instead of light-hearted water fights and symbolic acts of washing away evil, the streets of Myanmar were soaked with the blood of its people. Protesters called for boycotts on military-sponsored celebrations, repurposed traditional Thingyan practices as symbols of protest, or cancelled the festival altogether to mourn the hundreds killed in military crackdowns. For many, it was a time of grief and defiance, not celebration.

1. Pray with us that all of Myanmar would be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ - the only thing that can truly wash away evil.

2. Pray that out of this time of deep grief and anger, many hearts would be made new in Christ and given reason to truly celebrate. 23DAY TWENTY-THREE Social Punishment “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” - Romans 12:19

Some young people have taken up a controversial social media tactic to resist Myanmar’s coup. Known as “social punishment,” anti-coup protesters use social media to publicly shame military family members and celebrities that have yet to openly denounce the coup. They often disclose their pictures, details of family connections, even workplaces and phone numbers. One Christian girl, targeted for being the granddaughter of a former military general, has found that being socially punished has opened the door for her to minister to family members and relatives terrified of becoming targets themselves.

1. Pray that the anti-coup movement would leave vengeance in God’s hands instead of using social media to wage retaliatory attacks on their perceived enemies.

2. Pray for God to protect innocent people targeted by social punishment, and for the Lord to open more doors for believers to share God’s love with them. 24DAY TWENTY-FOUR National Unity Government “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” - Colossians 3:14

On the final day of Thingyan, a coalition of pro-democracy forces joined forces to announce a new “National Unity Government” (NUG) in opposition to the Tatmadaw’s military regime. Composed of deposed civilian leaders, the anti-coup protest movement, and some ethnic armed groups from Myanmar’s borderlands, the NUG sees itself as the legitimate authority in Myanmar chosen by the people, not the military junta. As the NUG opens the possibility of ethnic groups uniting in an unprecedented way, it raises a key question for Myanmar’s future: Is this new unity held together by a mutual commitment to one another’s well-being, or only shared hatred for the Tatmadaw? If the military is removed one day, will this unity hold together?

1. Pray against hatred, bitterness, and a desire for vengeance in the hearts of all ethnic groups that have been oppressed by the Tatmadaw.

2. Pray for enduring unity between ethnic groups in Myanmar, held together not by hatred but mutual understanding and true compassion one’s neighbors. 25DAY TWENTY-FIVE Prisoners

“Let the groans of the prisoners come before You; according to Your great power, preserve those doomed to die!” - Psalm 79:11

Since the coup began, the Tatmadaw has detained over 4,000 members of opposition to their regime. Released prisoners have reported that soldiers beat them with glass bottles and whipped them with cable wires during their imprisonment, and the Tatmadaw itself has released pictures of tortured detainees as a fear tactic. In February, the junta released thousands of ex-convicts and gave them to set fire to homes and tamper with water sources. Meanwhile, demands for the release of political prisoners from the National Unity Government and the international community have fallen on deaf ears.

1. Ask the Lord to hear the cries of those unjustly imprisoned and tortured by Myanmar’s military, and to preserve them in His great power and mercy.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to change hearts in the military regime, so that political prisoners and the whole country of Myanmar may be free. 26DAY TWENTY-SIX Hope for the Rohingya “For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.” - Psalm 9:18

The Rohingya, Myanmar’s largest Muslim minority, have a long history of terrible suffering in Myanmar. In 2017, the Tatmadaw unleashed a merciless campaign of murder, rape, and arson that drove over 742,000 Rohingya refugees to flee to Bangladesh. Years of false promises from military and civilian governments to alleviate their suffering have left many Rohingya feeling trapped and hopeless. Now, the NUG has called on the Rohingya to join them in resisting the military junta, promising them justice, full citizenship, and safe repatriation for refugees. Yet there is a better hope for the Rohingya: Though many Christians and ministry leaders in Myanmar despise Rohingya Muslims as their country does, some are actively sharing the Gospel and love of Jesus with them. This child, born to a Karen church-planter and Rohingya woman whose whole family has come to Christ, is a reminder of the hope of salvation and ethnic reconciliation in God’s heart for the Rohingya.

1. Pray for a radical shift in Myanmar so that the Rohingya will be treated with dignity and justice, recognized as a people created and loved by God.

2. Pray that many more Christ-followers in Myanmar would extend the love of Jesus to Rohingya Muslims, and that many more Rohingya would encounter Christ in their suffering and find hope in Him. “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed,

Photo: Abby Beard who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!”

Psalm 146 27DAY TWENTY-SEVEN Love for Enemies “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” - Luke 6:27-28

After decades of abuse and injustice, many hearts in Myanmar are hardened with hatred against the Tatmadaw, including many Christians. Even in this coup, however, there is a small, determined minority of Christ-followers who are seeking to live out the radical teaching of Jesus. As one evangelist shared, “I wouldn’t know how to go on right now if I didn’t know Jesus...We say we pray for our enemies, but this is one of the times where it’s really hard! He has changed my heart and given me the boldness to do so!”

1. Pray for the Spirit of God to strengthen and transform the hearts of Christ-followers to have a deep love for their enemies.

2. Ask that He would use the radically counter-cultural example of Christ-followers to put Jesus on display and shift the whole towards true reconciliation. 28DAY TWENTY-EIGHT Gang Violence “Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.” - Isaiah 60:18

As violence spreads across Myanmar from the military junta, gang warfare is also spiking in the nation’s worst slums. Since all rule of law has broken down, gangs have stepped into slum communities to offer protection in the absence of police - and as they always do, they prey on men and youth who are desperately hungry for a sense of security, belonging, and control in their chaos-ridden world. The result has been a massive increase in violence. Armed with machetes and molotov cocktails, these groups are highly vengeful and have caused a surge of blood feuds and killings. One ministry reported recently hearing about two young men who joined a gang and were killed in a fight over two dollars.

1. Cry out to the LORD God for these residents, that He would protect them and bring salvation instead of violence to fill their communities.

2. Pray for the leaders of these gangs, that the LORD God would change their hearts and transform them into true protectors of these vulnerable communities. 29DAY TWENTY-NINE Life in the Slums “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” - Genesis 50:20

Life in the slums of Myanmar has never been more desperate - but God often moves the most powerfully in times of turmoil and fear. A ministry that has served poor families in the slums for years reported that since the coup began, their staff have shared the Gospel with 1,000 new people each month. Whole households have come to faith, leading to a record number of baptisms! One leader shared, “Our cell groups are jam-packed right now, with more and more souls every week coming in looking for answers to the hopelessness that surrounds them…through all this, many people are finding hope in Jesus and finding a home in these groups.” Within a few months, over 300 new believers have joined their churches and cell groups.

1. Praise Jesus for bringing life and hope to these communities ignored by society, and ask Him to move just as powerfully over all of Myanmar!

2. Pray that every bit of suffering, injustice, and heartache in Myanmar will be redeemed by the Lord for good.

Watch the testimonies of a few of these new believers here. 30DAY THIRTY Dissonance with Buddhism “...through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” - 1 Peter 1:12

There is a growing dissonance between Burmese Buddhist teaching and the reality of daily life in Myanmar. Buddhism teaches that the path to escape suffering is detachment from life; it is common for men, even in their 40’s and 50’s, to abandon their families and spend the rest of their lives seeking ‘enlightenment’ in Buddhist monasteries. This contrasts sharply with the daily realities of violence, vengeance, and heroism being lived out in Myanmar, from the burning hatred many carry against the Tatmadaw to civilians of every stripe and ethnicity risking their lives to fight for their communities and personal freedoms they care for deeply. Whether the everyday Buddhist realizes it or not, Buddhism is not able to offer a satisfying life answer for the suffering and deep yearnings of Myanmar’s people.

1. Pray that Myanmar’s current instability and turmoil would shake the stronghold of , causing many Buddhists to realize that their faith cannot give them the answers they seek.

2. Pray that the people of Myanmar would hunger for the hope of the Gospel and find that all their longings are satisfied in Jesus. No one knows what will happen next in Myanmar. Yet as followers of Jesus, we know how Myanmar’s story will end.

Every tear will be wiped away, and all of Myanmar’s sorrow, suffering, and death will be no more (Revelation 21:4).

Every injustice will be made right, and the Lord will work righteousness for all who have been oppressed in Myanmar (Psalm 103:6).

Every armed conflict between ethnic groups will come to an end, and none of them will learn war any more (Micah 4:3).

Every tribe, people, nation and language in Myanmar will stand before the throne of the Lamb and praise Him for His salvation (Revelation 7:9-10).

Every state, region, city, neighborhood, and village in Myanmar will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

The story of God’s redemption in Myanmar isn’t finished yet. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

www.goldenshores.org ANTIOCH MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, CRAZY LOVE MINISTRIES, YWAM KONA & IHOP KC Reach us at [email protected]