Jan 2026 MTM Conferences in Yangon and Taunggyi, Myanmar
Pastor Toe always does an amazing job of translating…in word and deed
This trip to Asia is one that I have been interested in participating in for some time. Merle Flory (“Pastor Merley” to the believers there) first asked several years ago but our family situation didn’t allow for it at that time. This time when Rich called, it seemed God was saying the time was right. After committing to go, I began to realize just how stretching the experience would be. This was certainly true for me, but the stretching was in a good way.
We spent our first week in Myanmar in the city of Yangon which has a population of nearly 6 million. The dense population is evident on the streets with lots of noise and considerable impact to their air quality. While there, we were blessed to fellowship with excited believers during a four day conference at Pastor Toe’s church. In attendance were pastors from various regions of the country who all were attentive and appreciative of the teaching. Due to the conflict within the country there were some from up north who were not able to attend though they would have liked to. Travel is just not feasible from those areas at this time.
Our Yangon Conference
The experience of teaching through an interpreter gave me a whole new appreciation for the way in which God has gifted His Body for His purposes. The gift of interpretation is an amazing thing! To listen to someone speak words in one language, process that mentally and then immediately give it to ready listeners in another language for hours on end looks daunting. We were blessed with men gifted in this way at each conference.
I was struck by the enthusiasm for worship among these dear believers and the commitment of the pastors to their individual congregations. Many of them are the sole leaders of their flocks and dedicate an immense amount of each week to the care and encouragement of the people God has placed them with.
Our second week was spent about 400 miles north in the town of Taunggyi. We started our week by participating in a church service at a small house church pastored by Stephen Blessing in the countryside on the outskirts of town. He and his wife also have a small children’s home there where they live. The Sunday service probably had less than 25 in attendance of which at least half were children under 12 years of age. Again, I was impressed with the joy and enthusiasm of their worship. The children shared memory verses and sang their hearts out.
Mike giving inspiring teaching on the glories of heaven
The next three days we held a conference in a nearby church building that Stephen Blessing had arranged. Again, this conference was well attended by pastors from various locations and numerous tribes were represented. Some drove quite a distance, possibly 6-10 hours, to be with us. It was truly humbling to see how much they appreciated our presence and how engaged they are in the Word. During some of the question and answer sessions we learned of some of their struggles and their commitment to teach truth to their congregations.
The brothers and sisters we interacted with at both locations (Yangon and Taunggyi) were a true joy. Their faith, hospitality, enthusiasm for the Word and joy in worship were a great blessing. As is so often typical when we minister other places, I believe I brought home more than I took. It is truly convicting to see how little they have and yet how well they reach out to their villages. We in America could learn a lot from them.
The above article was written by our guest teacher Mike Flora. Mike serves as an elder and pastor to the Modesto Old German Baptist Brethren Church- NC in Modesto, California. Mike, Thank you again for spending and being spent for Jesus sake! – Rich Moore
