“To The Golden Land...and Back Again” Rev. Bill Haley ARDF November 13-20, 2013

Blogging Burma and Southeast you wear the mask during the 360 Asia Tour?). Much more deeply, my heart was captured by James Mawdsley’s Dear friends and fellow-pilgrims…In a life and witness, recounted in his week’s time, I’ll be traveling to Burma amazing book The Iron Road: A Stand and , and writing about it on for Truth and Democracy in Burma, our blog, and I hope you’ll come along which I read when it first came out in for the journey! Following the pattern 2002. I’ll devote a blog post to why of mission reports from Congo and this was one the more influential South Sudan, and Israel and Palestine, books of the decade for me then. And I’m grateful that Coracle is providing a then there’s the work of Benedict venue to tell stories about the world Rogers, a dear brother and friend, and what God’s doing in the world. which has kept Burma on my screen Yes, Spiritual Formation and and close to my heart. He’s worked Kingdom Action. closely for years with Baroness Caroline Cox, patron of ARDF, often And once again, I’m grateful for the specifically on Burma. fabulous ministry of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) So Bill Deiss and I will go to Burma, to for the opportunity to go on this see what God is doing through the mission. I’ve written about ARDF Anglican church there in an before, and once again Bill Deiss, overwhelmingly Buddhist country, chairman of ARDF US (and Coracle and explore how ARDF can be a part board member) will be my traveling of it, and how we can facilitate local partner, or vice versa! parish connections within the Anglican Church in North America Burma, or Myanmar, has been on my back here. We’ll meet for several days heart for a long time for several in country the Archbishop there, The reasons. On a more surface level, it’s Most Revd Stephen Than Myint Oo, hard to have been U2 fan in the last and several bishops decade and not been swept up in Bono’s passion for the life and witness But we’ll also engage the whole of the and efforts of Aung San Suu Kyi, Anglican church in Southeast Asia by Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1991 (did engaging with the Anglican Province of Southeast Asia with Archbishop Bolly Lapok, and especially the With Half of the World Dioceses of Singapore where we will spend some days in meeting with We arrived after a full day’s Bishops, and then Bill will go on to journey from Washington to . I look forward to Singapore, 28 hours from door to door explaining how the Anglican church is via Tokyo, Japan. Flying over organized in Southeast Asia in a Southeast Asia, the little flight map on further blog post, especially after I the plane showed us the cities that lay understand it better! And I look sleeping below...Taipei, Taiwan; , forward to reporting on what God is Manila and the cyclone ravaged doing in Southeast Asia, where Philippines; Saigon, Vietnam; Phnom Christianity remains for the most part Penh, Camobia; and Kuala a minority faith in the context of Islam Lumpor, Malaysia; and so many more and Buddhism, where the light of the smaller cities and villages, hundreds good news of Jesus needs more light. and hundreds of millions of people I look forward to sharing what work in 35,000 feet below. the world still needs to be done in that Some months ago I bumped part of the world, and understanding across this article in the Washington it myself. Post that simply told in a remarkable graphic why God cares so much about So, I invite you from time to time to this part of our globe. check the blog from around November 13-November 21, and see what we’re seeing and feel what we’re feeling. John 3.16 will be much on my mind that whole time, “For God so loved the world…”

Please pray for us, for safety, for Divine Connections and deep fellowship of the Spirit with these brothers and sisters in Christ. Personally, it would mean so much if It’s an amazing picture, isn’t it? you could pray for my family while I’m Mind-boggling and overwhelming, away, for God’s help and comfort, for with a sobering and joyful implication. Tara and the kids, and for my father- God loves this part of the world in-law Bill Scherer and Gail. Recent so much because so many people live updates on Bill’s battle with cancer are here. It’s fair to say I think that if we here. say we love the world, we get to love Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Grateful to you, to God, to Coracle, subcontinent. and to ARDF! Thank you! So we’ve come, to see how God been difficult to visit by people like is loving this part of humanity through me, a foreigner. I can’t wait to hear the work of Christians here, and how and see and learn, and to meet the much more there is to see happen and Burmese living in Burma. even participate in. With some I’ve been grateful for Benedict notable exceptions like the Rogers’ recent book, Burma: A Nation Philippines, Christianity has yet to at the Crossroads, which I’ve brought take to firm and lasting foothold in along as my guide to understanding this part of the world. This means the last 70 years of Burma and the there are hundreds and hundreds of years to come. Ben’s been a friend for millions of people who have yet to a long time, albeit from great distance, fully receive the message of God’s love and he’s the closest thing I personally in Jesus, and witness the life-giving know to an expert on this country, and power of the Kingdom of God when it I deeply appreciate the Christian faith influences a whole society. that grounds his insights, hope, and I feel privileged to be here, work. Most of what I’m learning where ‘the other half’ lives. It’s true about Burma I’m learning from him to say as well that where I live is ‘the (augmented by a lot of web research other half’, just spread out over a and reading). If there are unascribed whole lot more of our shared planet. quotes in the writing that follows, they’re from him. If you’d like learn more about Burma and understand, I Into the Tragic Underknown highly recommend that you get Ben’s excellent book. “For years, Burma’s plight was And tomorrow we’ll learn from one of the most under-reported the Burmese themselves. tragedies in the second half the At the onset I don’t want to twentieth century.” Benedict Rogers, opine too much, or look forward too Burma: A Nation at the Crossroads much, or even try to describe the current situation. Rather I’ll just list I’ve been aware of just how little some learnings as I try to get my head I know about Burma as the days around a very unfamiliar land. before entering near. The world is full • Burma has between 56-60 million of just so much tragedy and injustice, people, the world’s 24th most violence and sorrow, and for too long populous country, and a time the decades-long suffering of geographically is the second the Burmese peoples has dwelt in that largest country in Southeast Asia, category of my prayers “God help (fill and 40th in the world. It’s no in the blank) and bring peace to that small place with no small land...please bring an end to the population. bloodshed and horror there.” And so • The major ethnic groups, which it feels like a deep privilege to be able fall roughly along geographic to visit this place that for so long has lines, are the (dominant majority at 68%) Burman, also the Karen, ethnic groups to protect Karenni, Shan, Mon, Kachin, themselves from it, and despite Chin, and Araken. And then many popular protests from there are many sub-groups of within the majority Burman peoples, 135 total separate ethnic population, often led by students, groups that are recognized by the and always brutally put down government. with great bloodshed and loss of • Buddhists make up 89% of the life. The military regime has also country, Muslims 4%, and been pro-active to stamp out Christians another 4% resistance throughout the • The British conquered and country. For example, “between colonialized Burma from 1996-2011, over 3,700 villages in 1824-1885, which was a main eastern Burma were destroyed by battleground between the British the military, and more than a and the Japanese during World million people were internally War II, and then was freed from displaced.” Among the British rule on January 4, 1948, dictatorship’s primary strategies modern Burma’s independence has been to sow constant division day. between the minority ethnic • For the first ten years of groups. independence, there was a fragile • That said, democracy groups and democracy led by civilians, which the minority ethnic groups have was replaced by military rule by made their own mistakes along generals in 1958, which returned the way, but on a very different to civilian rule in 1960, and then scale. in 1962 military rule was • Atrocities consistently committed established by a coup led by by the military regime include, General Ne Win, which would but are not limited to torture, remain in effect until August of killing and execution, politically 2011. Burma continues to have motivated imprisonment, one of the world’s longest burning villages, forced slavery running civil wars that remains and labour, conscription of child unresolved. While the progress soldiers, human trafficking, using in the last 18 months has been human beings as living unimaginable even perhaps five minesweepers, and of course, years ago, it’s too soon to tell how using rape as a weapon of war. things will develop. But even my This list sounds dangerously like, 3 month visa was unheard of not well, a list. But we must that long ago. remember that behind each • The military dictatorship in phrase are very individual stories Burma has been brutal, lethal, that have happened to a man, a and effective for decades, despite woman, or a child, and each one many efforts from the various our brother or sister in the eyes of hindrance, and without fear of God. discrimination, detention, or death.” • For both the majority and Amen. minority populations in Burma, I now, 10 or so hours from a there is a “common enemy: a flight from Singapore to Rangoon, am brutal military regime that has so excited to go to Burma. And I sought to maintain power and simply cannot wait to see what God is deny them freedom at all costs.” doing there, through his Church and through the people of Burma. No In twelve months I will have doubt there are stories of light been to the eastern region of the breaking into the darkness, by many Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel means...that’s what God does, and it and Palestine, and now Burma. How seems as though that’s what he’s doing much can a head hold? How much in Burma, through many people after can a heart hold? a long long time. There is a massive common denominator in this country list, and that is the dark and lethal legacy of First Impressions of Yangon, European colonialism, in these cases Myanmar (or Rangoon, Burma?) French and very much British. National boundaries drawn in pencil The first question to get clarity on flat maps at a mahogany table over on upon arrival is “What do I call this drinks, and chaos when the benefits of place? Yangon or Rangoon? ruling over a country that was not Myanmar or Burma? It’s a theirs diminish, followed by despots complicated question, not without risk and dictators. And it’s the most of having one’s political tendencies vulnerable who always suffer the assumed depending on which one you most. use. I so appreciate, and resonate, At the risk of oversimplification, with Ben’s driving conviction which I before British colonialization, the city take with me tomorrow: “I am not where I am was in the country biased in favor of one or other ethnic, Myanmar. They renamed the city religious or political group, but rather Rangoon and the country Burma. In in favor of the basic values of freedom 1989, the military regime changed the and human rights. I have a moral name Burma back to Myanmar framework, informed by my own (though they're related) back to what personal faith and humanity, which they’d been, and renamed the city tells me that rape, torture, forced Yangon which means literally "end of labor, the conscription of child strife". The democracy movement soldiers and the use of human tends to speak of Burma, simply to minesweepers is wrong, and that we make the point that they do not accept all are entitled to express our political a unilateral decision to change the or religious beliefs freely, without name of the country. I’ll use them interchangeably, as many here do, Golden Land”. while my sympathies lie with the sensitivities of the democracy movement. See more on this question of names in this BBC article, which is helpful at least in describing the complexity! It’s easy to feel quickly at home here, as it’s quite reminiscent of Kolkata, India with a good does of Kathmandu, Nepal thrown in and a little splash of Thai religion. The streets are crowded due to a massive influx of cars in the past two years and a traffic system that has yet to catch First impressions? Beautiful up. One can easily see a remarkable land, beautiful people. complicated amount of ethnic diversity that is history, immense changes. Burma. In a brief tour of the city, our new Anglican priest friend, Reverend One Gospel, Two Churches, One Allen, took us to the what feels like the Christ, New Efforts two hearts of Burma: the Shwedagon Pagoda and the house of Aung San In a country of 70 million Suu Kyi. It was here that she people, 2.4 million of them are remained in house arrest for 15 years Christian brothers and sisters in after winning a democratic election Burma...and most of them Baptists. election in 1990 before the military This is only part of the legacy of one regime discounted it and imprisoned the church’s missionary greats. so many of those who were a threat to Being here has brought back to it’s power. mind the life and ministry of It was at the Shwedagon Pagoda America’s first two foreign that Suu Kyi launched her political missionaries, Adoniram and Ann career in 1988 with a famous speech Judson. I don’t remember when I first that drew half a million Burmese to read one of his great biography, To the hear here. This pagoda, or place of Golden Shore, but I’ve never forgotten Buddhist worship, has been an it, and now it has new and much important site to this largely Buddhist deeper meaning. In fact, I’m rather in country for 2,500 years, since the days awe of the man. of the Buddha himself, and peers out The Judsons were the first two over the city like the Bodnath Stupa in missionaries sent out on mission as a Kathmandu. It’s gold leaf that result of famous “Haystack Prayer thickly covers the pagoda gives rise to the nickname for this country, “The Meeting” in 1806. This meeting, emotional, and traveled the whole creating America’s first mission board, country preaching. He lost two wives would be the spark of the Protestant and several children to death while mission movement in America which here, and more than once was lasted for decades through the 1800s imprisoned and sentenced to and into the 1900s. And the Judsons execution. Ann Judson throughout from Massachusetts were the first two was heroic, as the only Western to be sent, initially targeting the east woman in the whole country, and coast of India, but finding no often alone. Adoniram suffered welcome, then crossing the Bay of severe depression upon her death. Bengal and landing in Burma in 1813. An overview of his story is The whole Christian community here worth reading here, and John Piper’s now is preparing great celebrations reflections on his life are more than later in the year marking the 200th instructive, and Piper’s also put anniversary of his arrival. together this video. His legacy of fruitfulness by the 200 years after Judson’s arrival time he died 37 years after his landing in Burma, among these 2.4 million would be enough to celebrate and be Christians, 60% of them are Baptist, amazed by. “When Judson began his and are the majority of the Kachin and mission in Burma, he set a goal of Chin people and many of the Karen. translating the Bible and founding a Another 25% of these Christians are church of 100 members before his Roman Catholic, and the remaining death. When he died, he left the Bible, 15% are split amongst various 100 churches, and over 8,000 denominations, including the believers.” It is remarkable that Anglican Church. Burma has the third largest The Anglican legacy here is not population of Baptists in the world, as inspiring as Judson’s. Anglican behind the US and India. priests came first in 1825, not as People are not Judson’s only missionaries though, but as chaplains legacy however. He translated the for the British military who were whole Bible into Burmese, one of the beginning the colonialization process world’s hardest languages, and of that would take 60 years and 3 wars to course he arrived not knowing a word complete by 1885. That’s not a great of it to speak or write, and it remains first impression, I would imagine. by far the preferred translation of the In the decades that followed, Bible in this country. He wrote the their primary ministry, beyond Burmese to English dictionary, and pastoring expatriates, was to provide English to Burmese dictionary, and education and run boarding schools both have formed the basis for every for the British and other Europeans dictionary since. under the Church of England. It was He did all this while enduring English Anglican until 1930 when the some of the most harsh conditions Burmese Anglican church joined the imaginable, both external and Anglican Province of India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), which would later include chasubles that leans toward the 1928 Pakistan. Then came independence BCP, with hymns from the 1906 from Britain in 1948, the ultimate English Hymnal). But it was still a military coup in 1962, and in 1966 all little unsettling to realize just how foreigners, including any missionaries, culturally different this is then were expelled from the country by the common Burmese culture, and how military regime. The Burmese long it would take to to adapt to it. It scrambled to provide their own was an extremely traditional Church leadership, and for the first time a of England service in the middle of native Burmese was appointed a Buddhist Southeast Asia. (That said, bishop in the capitol diocese of of course we went to it because it was Yangon. In 1970, the Anglicans in the English service! There are other Burma formed their own province forms of worship services that the recognized as part of the Anglican CPM offers here that are a touch more Communion, called the Church of the contemporary, though still none Province of Myanmar, or CPM. would have more than an organ or piano for music.) One statistic writes a book. In 1970, there were 70,000 Anglicans in Burma. In 2013, there are 70,000 Anglicans in Burma. At the same time, the population of Burma has at least doubled from 28 million in 1970 to almost 60 million today. This is sobering math for the Anglican church in Myanmar, and tells a story of a church tradition that had as it’s foundation care for the British, but not so much the Burmese. Yesterday (Sunday) Bill Deiss In other words, Anglicans came in the and I so much enjoyed worship and 1800s to care for their own, while the sharing communion with our Anglican Baptists came to care for the Burmese. family by going to the English service There’s an obvious missiological Holy Eucharist at Holy Trinity lesson here. Cathedral in Yangon. It is a profound But our Anglican brothers and joy to go literally halfway around the sisters in the CPM are not unaware of world and be able to not only this or unconcerned or discouraged. understand a church service, but to Along with many Christians in Burma, have it be so familiar because it is and even the Buddhists, a fire for pretty much like the liturgies we’re caring for the country and reaching used to at home, even refreshingly out to the Burmese was lit in the wake traditional (think Rite I Eucharist with of the devastating Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The immense death and suffering that this storm caused, we’re delighted to find the church and compounded by the utter failure of the her leadership with a new fire to government to provide help and even spread the gospel through word and impede aid has compelled all faith deed in a country that so desperately groups to look outward and seek to needs more of the Kingdom of God to reach out with greater compassion come in all it’s many facets. and greater development. It was in that same year that Bishop Stephen Than Myint Oo A Growing Church in Burma became the sixth Archbishop of CPM. As we’ve heard again and again from After hearing virtually every Anglican priests here and laypeople, Anglican Burmese talk about the he has put forth a vision for much Archbishop’s vision for the Province of greater outreach efforts by the the Church of Myanmar (CPM), “Thy Anglican church here. The goal is Will Be Done”, we were excited to clear: to have 100,000 members by hear it from Archbishop Stephen Than 2020. This is orienting the efforts of Myint Oo himself, and not only were CPM in the coming years, and all are we not disappointed, we found excited by it. ourselves compelled by his vision as This renewed emphasis on well. He presented us with a 22 page outreach is under the banner, “Thy vision document, thoroughly rooted in Will Be Done” and is taking two theological depth, historical reflection, specific forms: an increase in contemporary application, and clear evangelism, and an increase in implementation with a goal of growth development. Recently, provincial and self-sustainability. It’s is clear- directors have been hired both for eyed in expressing the challenge to a evangelism and development, and church that has diminished. today (Monday) we’ll meet again with In his plan he writes of the need each of them, as well as spend the day for the Anglicans of Burma to grow with Archbishop Stephen, and hear into their own. “In reality, we are not much more. I’ll put some of this in that poor. We have our own theology, another blog post. we have our unique spirituality. The And Bill and I are looking problem is we think we have no forward to find the right ways the theology and that we are poor. The Anglican Relief and Development worst thing is we that we have never Fund and ACNA churches can be a tried with our own strength and part of helping this renewed vision for resources to find out if we are rich; if evangelism and outreach in Burma. we have a unique spirituality; if we That’s why we’re here, to find and have our own theology.” fund the efforts of the church here to It’s not just his goal of seeing grow and spread the gospel in Burma. the church grow to 100,000 members In light of such sobering by 2020 that was encouraging, it was statistics about the Anglican presence, also his patient and systematic cultivation of godly leaders and firm agricultural project on the commitment to the orthodox Christian outskirts of Yangon, which faith that was encouraging, and his served to train people from challenge to the CPM to grow up, around the country in simple stand on its own feet, claim it’s own agricultural development unique identity, and reach out. projects as well as generates Two clear indicators of the income for church. earnest commitment to reaching the • Meeting with Bishop David spiritual and physical needs of the CPM Diocese of Mandalay Burmese are two recent positions that • We also visited a pre-school in have been created to oversee and downtown Yangon that ARDF coordinate efforts at evangelism and helped to fund this past year. development. A Director of It’s always so encouraging to Development was hired in 2010, and a see projects that we’ve funded Director of Evangelism was hired just come into reality with bricks this past year in 2013. Among other and mortar and laughing kids highlights of our visit here were: and dedicated staff, • Meeting twice with Peter, the committed to showing these Director of Development and children God’s love and his wife Joy, and the teaching them! development staff. Both Peter • As God would have it, our visit and Joy used to work for has coincided with a mission World Vision in Burma. effort led by Glen Petta and Current projects we heard SOMA (Sharing of Ministries about include agricultural Abroad). It was great to development, animal connect with Glen and husbandry, clean water and consider more partnership, wells, craft making for trade, and to do the same with providing electricity, medical Bishop Kevin Allen who leads clinics, education, and ACNA’s Diocese of Cascadia. providing scholarships. This US diocese that covers • Meeting with Allen, the the Pacific NW is a sister to Director of Evangelism. He's the Yangon diocese here. helping establish 'Schools of It was very clear to us that God Evangelism' around the is moving in the CPM, and that this is province, as well as a small but very meaningful part of the introducing the evangelism larger picture of what is going in effort Alpha! Burma. And it’s also clear that ARDF • Meeting with John, the can be a meaningful partner, and that President of the Men’s such is desired on the part of these Association, a provincial wide Burmese Anglicans. men’s ministry. With him we It was a point Archbishop were able to visit a four acre Stephen made several times. Once again, akin to South Sudan and Congo, about his experience. Find it here, Archbishop Stephen was clear that but know the book is better than while some from the more liberal answers to some interview questions.] branches of were not Inspired by Aung San Suu Kyi, welcome in Burma, we were, and not at 23 years old he went to Burma to only welcome, but wanted. Stunning. make a positive contribution, to teach In his words, CPM needs relationships English in some rural villages. But with holy churches for the good of two months after arriving, the military Burma. “I want you to know that we came through and burned the village want to partner with you,” he said. to the ground. The feeling is very mutual, and Reflecting on this experience the future possibilities feel quite and what he could do about it, he endless, for ARDF and CPM, and for decided that, as a Westerner, he might this beautiful country of Myanmar. be able to draw attention to the oppression and violence inflicted by the military junta if he himself could An Inspiring Story and be jailed. It wasn’t hard to find a way Recommended Book get jailed. He flew to Yangon, and went "They tried to put me in solitary from the airport straight to a public confinement but that is actually square and started handing out pro- impossible as God is everywhere" democracy pamphlets. Within five James Mawdsley minutes he was arrested, detained for one day, then deported. Not the What would you go to jail for in desired result. He says, The first time Burma? Burma itself, in the case of wasn't long enough and I didn't James Mawdsley. achieve anything as I was in and out Mawdsley is a Brit who got too quick.“ himself (intentionally) imprisoned So the following year he came three times in Burma in an attempt to back to Yangon, this time having to raise the world’s awareness about the hike through the jungles of plight of the Burmese in the late to cross over into Burma, went to the 1990s. His telling of his story in The same public square, and once again Iron Road: A Stand for Democracy in was arrested. This time he was put in Burma is one of the most influential prison for 99 days in terrible books for me in the 2000s. It put conditions, and once again deported. Burma on my screen for the first time, Still not what he was hoping for. He but that’s not the only (or even says, “The second time I was really primary) reason his book was so paralyzed with fear and too frightened powerful. to be of much use to the democracy [The quotes I use below not movement.” from the book itself, but rather from So once again he went back, this interview granted some years later went to the same public square, started passing out the same it to see what I’m talking about. But literature, once again was arrested and it’s just gorgeous in its shock. put in jail, though this time sentenced Most of all, what is so moving for 17 years. He remembers, “The about James Mawdsley’s story and third time, thanks to God and thanks book is the spiritual journey that he to the Bible, I had overcome that fear undertakes, his dramatic death and and I was able to challenge the regime resurrection, and the power of the in a number of ways." Bible to bring light to any dark place. James spent most of his time in His retelling of his own spiritual death solitary confinement and the brutality is about as powerful and well written he suffered was awful, though he as any I’ve come across, and I’ve used would be quick to say nothing it quite a few times in teaching. I compared to what a Burmese prisoner can’t read it without passion welling would face. His presence did indeed up in me, and awe in the power of spark an international response, God, and once again convicted in my throughout the UK and Europe and need to die, and die, and die, so that I even further vigils were kept for him, can be raised with new strength that prayer meetings arranged, and comes from trusting in God, and not governments and ambassadors myself. conscripted into advocacy. His plight As he puts it in a later interview, became a world wide cause, and many “Throughout the time in prison I had more people then before were made to learn the lesson again and again aware of the situation in Burma and that I couldn't survive this in my own the outrage of the house arrest of strength. When I thought I could I Aung San Suu Kyi. After 416 days in a would fall flat on my face and in that Burmese prison, he was released and dark moment I would learn again to deported. And this time he didn’t go rely on God's strength. He would back. His hope of raising awareness always pick me up again and I would and making some contribution had be fine." happened. It’s a remarkable story, but all That’s the amazing story. Yet, the other elements of it make it much as much that much meant to me, it more remarkable than simply a story. was James’ motivations to do this, and James Mawdsley came back to his courage that blew me away. What the UK after being released, worked do I care enough for to be willing to be (with Ben Rogers) at Christian sentenced not once, but three time, to Solidarity Worldwide advocating for prison in some far-off jungle? As he the people of Burma, ran for the recounts early in the book why he did British Parliament, and currently is this, for all it’s youthfulness, it’s finishing his studies in order to awfully moving. become a Catholic priest. Also early in the I absolutely loved how honest he was about his fears and failures. You’ll have to read Singapore in One Photo

The 55 story high Marina Bay Hotel and Park, with a giant ‘boat’ on top connecting the three towers, We had very profitable time complete with pool, casino, with the Archbishop of the Province of restaurants, spa, and more. And why Southeast Asia (CPSEA), Bolly Lapok this photo sums up Singapore is that from Kuching, Malaysia, Keith X who when Bill Deiss left Singapore in 1984, convenes the Economic there was no land here, it was all Empowerment Task Force for the ocean. In other words, they built an Global South archbishops, and the island, and then put the big boat on Reverend Kenneth, Archdeacon of the top. Amazing. And not too dissimilar Diocese of Singapore. When it comes from other striking illustrations of to the Anglican church in Southeast massive urban development amongst Asia, there’s a lot to untangle in order the super cities around Asia, and the to understand it! That’s part of why technological feats required to make it we’re here, but another major part is happen. simply to spend with this part of our Here for a full day of meetings church, build relationships, and with Bolly Lapok, Archbishop of the explore opportunities for partnership. Province of Southeast Asia, and others All that happened, and for this post I’ll from the Diocese of Singapore, and simply put into words how the various folks responsible for relief and Anglican church here is structured, development efforts made by the with a couple of thoughts. Anglican church in large parts of this The total number of Anglicans region. Probably won’t be gambling in the province numbers towards on the big boat. 300,000 people, with the overwhelming majority of them being Malaysia, around 270,000. The The Church of the Province of CPSEA has four bishops overseeing Southeast Asia four dioceses covering 9 countries. The Diocese of Singapore Bill and I had long meetings includes Singapore and six deaneries, today in Singapore at St. Andrew’s each led by a Dean: Cambodia, Cathedral. Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, and colonialists. Throughout the province Vietnam. the Anglicans here are experimenting The covers and trying to develop ways of being east Malaysia and includes Brunei. Anglican that does not imply or Bolly Lapok is not only the Archbishop require being English. I look forward of the province but also the Bishop of to seeing how they continue to bring a Kuching. Gospel that transcends culture into The Diocese of covers the this southeast Asian culture. northern part of the island of And I look forward to the ways and is a city of Malaysia. ARDF and CPSEA can discover further The Diocese of West Malaysia partnership. covers, well, West Malaysia, and is also divided into archdeaconries. The Diocese of Singapore is A Few Last Thoughts from quite wealthy, and looks for 39,000 Feet partnership in ways that do not involve merely being the recipient of On the flight home now, still in economic support. At the same time, and over this amazing part of God’s they serve as an important conduit for good earth where so many of the resources that flow to churches in people of this earth live. While I’m on their own province, and even other my way back, Bill Deiss will head on provinces in the region, like Myanmar. today to Kuching, Malaysia for several They’ve also become a significant days with Archbishop Bolly to see resource for other NGOs, like the Red some of work of the church there and Cross, for distributing funds to areas the needs of the people. that are in need of development and It’s been a profoundly eye- relief from natural disasters. opening trip, to see the great needs Archbishop Bolly responded to and great opportunities in these two our question, “What are the biggest provinces. The difference between challenges facing your Province?” His Singapore and Burma is stunning. answers were short and The changes in Burma are remarkable understandable. The increasing for their speed, and along with the rest challenge of militant Islamic thought, of the world we are cautiously environmental degradation negatively optimistic (if you can, see Ben Rogers’ effecting especially the poor, piece this week in the Wall Street infrastructure building, and constant Journal). In both Provinces, the relief needs for the poor. Anglican Church is really beginning to He also mentioned that the ask some important questions about Anglican church in Southeast Asia its own identity and mission. faces the same challenge that we saw We were impressed with how in Burma: The Anglican church is small the Anglican presence is in often perceived as the foreign religion Southeast Asia. 370,000 Anglicans in of the conquerors, the British these 10 countries with their millions of people. It’s not our question to answer but it’s the one that Anglicans here have been exploring: How does Anglicanism contextualize the Gospel and shed the English trappings, heritage, and perceptions? In other other words, how can Anglicanism shed it’s Englishness? Another one of our questions, in light of the fact that Malaysian Anglicans represent almost 90% of the Province of Southeast Asia, is “What has enabled the Malaysian Church to grow, and what does that mean for the rest of the region?” And as always, whenever visiting our brothers and sisters in faith around the world, we were impressed, inspired, and challenged by their own faith and discipleship and faithfulness. God’s family is great, and big, and global. No doubt in the coming months there will be more about what we’ve seen and what the Anglican Relief and Development Fund is starting to do in SE Asia on the ARDF website. Stay tuned, and thanks be to God for his faithfulness, and thank you for your prayers!