Christians in earthquake-hit Myanmar see God’s presence through your support

Following the devastating earthquakes that hit Myanmar in March, your gifts and prayers are a shining reminder of God’s presence with them – thank you!

“We see the hands of God in the midst of natural disaster through Open Doors partners,” says Daw Sun*, a widow with two children whose house was severely damaged by the earthquake in Myanmar earlier this year. “May God bless the givers and the distributors more and more abundantly.” Daw Sun pastors a local house church, and her congregation join together in gratitude.

Your gifts and prayers are continuing to support believers like Daw Sun. Thanks to you, Open Doors partners could repair her house. It’s just the tip of the ice berg of the help you’re ensuring: more than 800 families in Myanmar have already received urgent relief (such as groceries, medicine and shelter), and Open Doors local partners are providing long-term support as people rebuild and heal from their experiences. Another challenge faced by believers in Myanmar was bathroom facilities – so local partners provided temporary toilets made of bamboo and wood.

“Halleluiah, Praise the Lord!” says Hla Shwe*, a widow who received support, including a solar lamp – crucial during the post-earthquake power cuts. “We thank God because of you who are helping us in our time of need. May God bless you all!”

“God has not abandoned us”

Your prayers and gifts aren’t just making sure that communities in Myanmar get physical aid – you are demonstrating your love. “We are thankful that God provided for our needs,” shares another believer. “God has not abandoned us in our difficult times.”

When Mimi’s* damaged house was repaired by Open Doors partners, it was a witness to her non-believing husband. He could see the love of Christ in the actions of people who don’t know his family but still care for them. “Thank you very much for the help,” says Mimi with gratitude.

“Because of your donations, help and prayers, we are also able to reach out to an orphanage, where children affected by the civil war are taking shelter,” shares Pastor Chan*, a local church leader. “There are many kids who do not have parents. But we are trying to support them with some rice bags, snacks and toys.”

Listening to their trauma

Multiple aftershocks continued even as the partners visited these areas. “We experienced many aftershocks,” shares Daisy Htun*, a local Open Doors partner. “We had no other option but to stay at a hotel that was slightly damaged. We were scared to sleep inside our hotel rooms, looking at the cracked walls of the hotel. We wondered how much more difficult it must have been for the people when the 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit their homes. All the people that we met appeared so traumatised by what had happened.” 

In addition to practical aid, Open Doors partners also conducted a trauma debriefing course for believers affected by the earthquake, giving believers an opportunity to share their experiences and help begin the healing process. Spending time sitting with earthquake victims, hearing their stories and their pain, is a crucial part of the support offered by Open Doors partners.

Fears and hopes

Many believers are still living in fear. Some houses and church buildings are fully destroyed while others are partially damaged. Local partners have been able to provide rent for some who have been left homeless, so they can find houses rather than living in makeshift tents.

“It is extremely difficult, but we will continue to journey with the believers,” Daisy says. “Our family in Jesus in Myanmar were happy and feel blessed by the provisions they received.”

Thank you so much for your prayers and care for your family in Myanmar. You have changed lives and helped believers who lost everything – because of your support, they know they aren’t alone but have faithful family members in the global body of Christ. Thank you, and please keep praying for all those who are recovering from their experiences, mourning loved ones and starting to rebuild their lives.

24 April 2025

Amidst the terrible suffering caused by last month’s earthquakes in Myanmar, Christians are seeing powerful reminders of God’s presence. Thank you for the precious contribution you are making to this with your gifts and prayers.

Open Doors local partners, alongside other volunteers, have been touring affected regions and visiting many families. Seeing up-close the devastation caused by the disaster, and the impact it’s had on people, has brought them to tears. But as they’ve heard miraculous stories, and seen the difference your support is making, they’ve seen God’s light shining in the darkness.

Miraculous escapes

During a visit to Pastor Nay, he explained to the partners how he witnessed God’s protection during the earthquakes. “If the Lord’s hand had not held onto the foundation and the poles of our house, it would have been destroyed and we all would have been dead,” he said.

“Whatever aid we are receiving from local churches, we are sharing with people from other faiths, too,” he adds. “We praise God that He gave us the opportunity to serve them.”

Another pastor shared a similarly miraculous story. “Around 40 children were rehearsing for a programme on that day in the church,” he recalls. “Usually, they stayed longer after rehearsal, but that day they left early. The earthquake struck shortly after that, and the roof of the church caved in. God has spared the lives of the children. This reminds us that God is sovereign over our lives.”

This pastor has seen God’s presence in other ways. He tells about the young Christians who came to check on the wellbeing of people in his community. “These youngsters came from another area that was less affected by the earthquake, though their areas been continuously affected by the civil war. They stayed with us and helped clean the church.”

More widely, local partners have been struck by how churches are coming together to help people in need, strengthening unity among denominations.

“Though this is a difficult time, we feel more blessed because earlier we were struggling to earn a simple daily meal for our families, but now with the churches helping us after the earthquake, we at least have more food on the table, without the regular struggle,” says a believer. “Though we do know this food will not last a long time, we are very grateful to the Lord for His provisions.”

This sacrificial service for one another was reinforced on Palm Sunday for Pastor Aung as he helped distribute aid from local communities. “It reminds me that this is the time we serve others with humility just like Jesus, who rode on a donkey with humility on this very day,” he says. “It is the God-given opportunity to us.”

“They began smiling”

Alongside the provision of emergency aid, local partners are also spending time with believers, being present with them to listen, pray and offer timely words of encouragement.

“We met many pastors’ wives and they shared with us about how traumatised they were because of the earthquake,” says one of the partners. “They are afraid to sleep inside their homes. Life had been difficult because of the ongoing civil war and now the earthquake had made it tougher.

“Pastors are often occupied with helping the affected people around their localities, so they find it hard to prioritise their own families. Their wives end up having more responsibilities to meet the needs of their families, especially their children, which is very challenging.

“We were able to minister to them, encourage them and affirm that they have an important role in God’s ministry. They began smiling after hearing that.”

Ma Thiri*, a local partner, shares of his encounter with one family. “My heart broke when I saw the house of Han*, a Christian leader, which was destroyed by the earthquake. The leaders of his church association suggested he move to another location, but he refused, saying, ‘I cannot leave other members who are like my family.’”

God makes a way

Despite the difficulties with logistics and the danger of more earthquakes, our local partners have seen God go before them as they seek to reach believers with support. 

“God opened the roads for us,” says Win Tin*. “Many people warned about the traffic jams of two or more hours as roads were damaged, but there was no traffic jam for us as we travelled. We got out of the vehicle we were traveling in so that it could cross a bad spot on the road. Just as we got down, we felt the tremors and our heads started spinning. Later, we got an earthquake alert on our phones.”

Whenever they reach people, they’re quickly reminded of the importance of their ministry. “No one came to see us and even my relatives who are in another region didn’t come,” says one person they visited. “It means a lot to us and we have received much courage through your visits.”

*Names change for security reasons

Please pray

• For the people of Myanmar as they continue to reel from the aftermath of the earthquakes
• That relief aid will quickly and effectively reach all those in need
• That believers will be strengthened in their faith, and that their witness will draw others to Jesus.

8 April 2025

Happiness and gratitude greet your support in earthquake-hit Myanmar

Following last month’s devastating earthquakes in Myanmar, Open Doors local partners are reaching affected believers with vital aid and reminding them that they are not alone – but the need is enormous, reinforcing the importance of your continued prayers and support.

The death toll from the disaster now stands at more than 3,500, with some 4,700 injured. Many are in desperate need of relief and assistance, whilst people remain trapped under debris.

• “We want to thank our brothers and sisters for their prayers and concern”

Many countries – including China, India, Russia, South Korea, the US, and various international organisations – have provided support for affected areas. However, reports have surfaced of police and armed groups forcibly seizing relief supplies intended for victims in Sagaing, whilst it’s believed that the military fired on a Chinese convoy delivering aid.

Meanwhile, the military continues to launch attacks on affected areas in Magwe Division, and airstrikes continue in Chin State. They have also rejected the unilateral ceasefire proposed by the shadow National Unity Government.

80 families given aid

All of this only adds to the trauma faced by people in a country already devastated by the ongoing civil war, with Christians often targeted by opposing sides.

It’s why your support for Christians in Myanmar through our emergency appeal is so crucial – and, with our local partners already present in the country to help persecuted believers, they are already positioned and equipped to reach many people immediately.

“We are able to give aid like rice, drinking water and mosquito nets to 80 families in need,” says Min Naing*, a local partner, following a recent distribution. “We will hand out solar lamps shortly, once they arrive.”

“I visited our volunteer Brother Aung* and his family,” he continues. “They were very happy to see us and thanked us for our visit. They were actively helping their church members with restoration work.”

There is also good news for Lin* and her husband, Pastor Noah*, who were concerned for their unborn child’s welfare after Lin felt unwell following the earthquake. “I am encouraged by your visit and prayers,” says Lin. “The doctor told me that my child is safe. Thank you so much.”

• 5 ways to pray for Myanmar

Help and hindrances

However, there are hindrances to reaching people. “We can’t say for sure if the military is blocking aid, but they have been announcing all aid should go through them,” says Ming Naing. “There are some Christians whom we have heard are able to bring aid, but there were also several who were stopped by the military for reasons unclear to us now.”

“All the relief agencies must ask official letters from the state government, which is very difficult,” says Mary*, a local believer. “From Yangon to Mandalay, all the relief vehicles are being questioned and detained. It is very hard to reach the Christians in need.”

Even as local partners reach those in need, the scale of devastation and recovery is clear to see. “The building’s wreckage damaged a neighbour’s roof,” says Zaw Lin after visiting a partner’s church in central Myanmar. “The church leaders and pastor’s family are now concerned about repairing both their church and their neighbour’s property. The church will need to be checked by engineers to assess its structural safety for future use.

“We also visited Mrs Aye*, another partner. Their church is old and developed cracks because of the earthquake, so they evacuated and set up a shed where believers could gather for fellowship.”

Mrs Aye said to Zaw Lin, “There are people helping us with food, so we’re not worried about meals. But I am concerned about the livelihoods of our church members, as many businesses and workplaces have shut down due to the earthquake.”

Meanwhile, damaged roads are hindering relief efforts, as is rainfall which also threatens to further spread diseases among those living in tents. But despite these challenges, local partners are committed to reaching the most vulnerable with practical and pastoral support.

Thank you

Thank you for the part you’re playing in bring aid and hope to our sisters and brothers in Myanmar. The need is monumental, but as our local partners report, the practical support – and simply being present with them – is a lifeline to many, helping to meet many of the urgent needs posed by this latest crisis in the country.

*Names changed for security reasons