As you’ve read in an earlier blog post, just as a recap, the 7th Biennial Commencement was held on December 19, 2015 between 10:00am and 12:00pm at Hebron Assembly Hall in Yangon. By God’s grace, 31 students graduated. We distinguished guests from the United States. These guests were: Mr. Joel Hernandez, Mr. Nolan Dittmar, Mr. Brent Cooper, and a brother named Chris
Chen from Malaysia. I (Kap) did the welcome and remarks. Mr. Hernandez preached the commencement address, Mr. Dittmar did the charge to the graduates, and Mr. Cooper did a special prayer for the graduates. The Commencement was attended by around 400 people. After the Commencement, we all had lunch fellowship. Thank you very much for all your prayers for the Commencement. To God be the glory!
Give thanks with us to the Lord for:
1) Enabling us to successfully hold the 7th Biennial Commencement
2) The graduates who completely finished their four-year program
3) God’s provisions for the Bible College through His peoples
4) Special guests from abroad
Prayer Requests:
1) For the graduates and alumni of SEA Bible College that they may be faithful followers of Christ and
doing His Great Commission
2) For the continuous effectiveness of the teaching ministry of SEA Bible College
3) For partners of SEA Bible College
4) For the project of new building for SEA Bible College
Gifts may be sent to Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML)
Contact person: Joe Cannata
E-mail: jtcannata@cmml.us
Serving together for Christ,
Kap (Kap Cin Thang)
President
SEA Bible College, Yangon, Myanmar
On November 13th, 2015, the Southeast Asia Bible College students were divided into four teams – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. As usual, they played games and sports. They competed in different games such as race, soccer, volleyball, tug of war, etc. The Mark team won the first prize.
SEABC Games and Sports (left) Lunch Fellowship on November 13, 2015 (right)
Prayer Time:
Final year students having their prayer meeting
Each student of SEABC takes personal devotion time every morning at 5:30am and come together for prayer time and devotion time every evening at 6:00pm. The Final Year Students usually have special prayer times together every afternoon at 3:00pm. They usually give thanks to the Lord for His guidance, protection, provisions, and for many other blessings. They also pray for success in their study, spiritual growth, future life and ministry, for the Gospel revival in Myanmar, for partners of SEA Bible College, etc.
Partners from WorldServe (Canada):
Mr. Brian from World Serve came to share his testimony
Mr. Brian from WorldServe and his team (a couple and a young lady) came to Myanmar. They graciously visited SEA Bible College final year students having their prayer meeting. Mr. Brian also preached at the students’ chapel service on November 25th. His team also briefly shared their testimonies. All of the students were greatly encouraged and challenged by the message and the testimonies. We are so grateful and thankful to our God of Mission for the wonderful privilege of serving HIM together with WorldServe in doing gospel outreach and church planting.
Believer’s Bible Commentary (Myanmar Language):
Every student of SEA Bible College gratefully and thankfully received Believer’s Bible Commentary (OT & NT in Myanmar Language) on December 4th, 2015. The total number was 61 students. They gave thanks to the Lord and prayed for the donors in Christ.
SEA Bible students receiving Myanmar Bible commentary
Practical Exam:
Mr. Graham, a final year student doing his practical exam on “How to Share the Salvation Message with Children” (left) Practical exam on “How to Teach an Action Song” (right)
SEABC’s first and final year students had a practical exam on “How to teach/share the gospel and how to teach songs/action songs tocChildren” on December 4th, 2015. Ms. Lydia En Cing was the teacher/leader of this class. By God’s grace, more than 60 graduates (mostly ladies) of SEA Bible College are now doing children ministry, teaching Sunday school, and starting kids churches.
Prayer Request:
Please pray for:
(1) the effectiveness of SEA Bible College
(2) our missionaries (alumni) who are doing evangelism, discipleship, and church planting
By God’s grace, we joyfully and successfully held the 7th Biennial Commencement of SEABC on December 19, 2015, at 10:00am – 12:00noon. 31 students were graduated. Over 400 people attended the Graduation and after the graduation we happily had special lunch together with all the guests, graduates, students and audience.
Guests, Faculty, Students, and Graduates of Southeast Asia Bible College:
Guests, faculty members, graduates and students of South East Asia Bible CollegeGuests, faculty members and the graduatesGuests and faculty members of South East Asia Bible CollegeKap, Rosie and family members
7th Biennial Commencement Ceremony at Southeast Asia Bible College
South East Asia Bible College Students’ ChoirWelcome and remarksMr. Nolan Dittmar doing the charge to the graduates
Mr. Brent Cooper praying for the graduatesMr. Joel Hernandez from the USA giving the commencement message
Congrats, graduates!!!
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and supports for the Bible College.
By God’s grace, because of your prayers and partnerships, the Bible College is going well.
Bible Training in Myitkyina:
By the grace of God, bro. Khup from Hebron Assembly and I (bro. Kap) were invited to teach and preach the Word of God at the Bible training held at Kachin Baptist Church (Muyin), Kyunpinthar Ward, Myitkyina from October 27th through November 1st, 2105. We wanted all the attendees to be sure of their salvation first. So, I (bro. Kap) taught the Gospel for the first two days. I asked the leaders to give a piece of paper to each attendee. Though there are many different kinds of beliefs, I wrote down five different kinds of beliefs on the whiteboard. These were:
(1) Salvation by doing good works
(2) Salvation by faith in Christ + good works
(3) Salvation by faith in Christ alone (by grace)
(4) Salvation by faith in Christ + water baptism
(5) Salvation by water baptism alone.
Then, I asked all the attendees to carefully choose his / her belief for salvation (to get to heaven) and to write it on the piece of paper. Afterwards, the leaders collected all of the pieces of paper and we checked them. Out of over 100 attendees, over 50 of them chose numbers 1, 2, 4 or 5. We then separated the attendees into two groups on the second day:
Group (1) – Those who chose No. 3 (Salvation by faith in Christ alone).
Group (2) — Those who chose No. 1, 2, 4, and 5 (Salvation by good works., by faith + good works., by faith + water baptism., and by water baptism alone).
From the second day (Oct. 28th), bro. Khup taught Christian Life to Group 1, and I (bro. Kap) taught about the Salvation to Group 2. By God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, over 50 persons (the Lord knows the exact number) came to realize that no one can keep the Ten Commandments and no one can get to heaven by doing good works or water baptism. However, a sinner can receive salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior and Lord (Rom. 5:12-14., Ps. 51:5., Rom. 3:10., 19., Eph. 2:8., John 1:12-13, etc.). A man (about 45 years old) came to me (bro. Kap) and said, “I am so ashamed because after attending the church services for over 40 years, I just realized that I, a sinner, can get salvation by grace (by accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord).” BUT, he said… “I am so glad that I now have the assurance of salvation which I can never lose” (John 10:27- 29., Eph. 4:30.) “I am saved by grace to do good works” (Eph. 2:10). Praise the Lord!
Bro. Kap at Myitkhina Airport (left) Group photo of Bro. Khup, Kap and attendees (right)
Health Education:
Sister Caroline from U.K. who works with O.M. in Yangon graciously visited SEABC and effectively taught Health Education to the students on Nov. 12th, 2015.
Health Education class (left) Sister Caroline teaching health education (right)
Bro. Phil & Mary Parson from CMML (USA):
Bro. Phil and his wife Mary visited Pam and Zama and the educational school called Step Center for Academy in Yangon, Myanmar from November 18th through November 27th, 2015. Both of them attended Canaan Gospel Chapel on Sunday (Nov. 22) and Phil powerfully preached the Word of God and all the hearers were greatly blessed and encouraged. Both of them visited the SEA Bible College on the next day and all the students were also wonderfully strengthened and edified by hearing the message preached by bro. Phil at the students’ Chapel Service. Phil and Mary sang a special number and all the students also joyfully joined the chorus.
SEABC Students’ Chapel Service (left) Phil and Mary singing a special number (right)
Thanksgiving:
For SEABC friends / partners, God’s provisions and protections for the teaching and equipping ministry of SEA Bible College.
Prayer Request:
(1) for the First Alumni Meet of SEABC to be held on Dec. 16-17, 2015;
(2) for the 7th Biennial Commencement (Graduation) to be held on Dec. 19, 2015.
I pray and hope you all are fine and enjoy Christmas season with your family members and many other friends and believers.
The Lord has graciously answered our prayers that we joyfully and successfully held the First Alumni Meet of South East Asia Bible College at City Church Hall in Yangon downtown on December 16 – 17, 2015. The Alumni Meet was attended by 110 (49 alumni and 61 Present students). The Alumni stayed at the SEA Bible College building and we hired a bus for transportation to and fro City Church Hall in Yangon downtown. The Alumni shared about the different ministries they are doing in different parts of Myanmar and we altogether prayed for each alumni and the ministries they are doing.
By God’s grace, we have three guests speakers from USA namely Mr. Joel Hernandez from Emmaus Bible College, Dubuque, Iowa, Mr. Nolan Dittmar and Mr. Brent Cooper. They powerfully and
effectively preached and taught the Word of God at the Alumni Meet. All the alumni and students were greatly challenged and encouraged by hearing those powerful messages and teachings.
First Alumni Meet of Southeast Asia Bible College:
By God’s grace, because of your prayers and partnerships, the Bible College is going well.
Guests from USA:
Bro. Raju Kunjamin came to Myanmar with bro. John and bro. Babu from assemblies in USA and held Christian Leadership Training at Canaan Gospel Chapel from October 7-9, 2015. The training was attended by around 60 people and they all learned new and very important lessons. We all are so thankful to our good Lord for this training. They also graciously visited SEA Bible College and encouraged the students by teaching and preaching the Word of God.
Brother Raju teaching on leadershipBro. Raju, John, Babu and SEABC students
Logos Hope:
Logos Hope arrived in Alone Seaport, Yangon, Myanmar in the second week of October. All the students and some faculty members of SEABC had a wonderful opportunity of having a tour of Logos Hope on October 13, 2015. Wow! It was a great experience to see the huge library and the kind and hard workers / staffs of the Logos Hope.
Bro. Maung Khaing, who was a non-Christian, heard the Gospel through our missionary Tin Htay and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord in last March, 2015. He attended a three-month discipleship training in Yangon. Bro. Htay brought Bro. Maung Khaing to SEABC and he shared his testimony at the student’s Chapel service. Please pray for his spiritual growth and the salvation of his relatives.
A man sharing his testimony about hearing the gospel through a missionary
Visiting Lecturer:
We are so thankful and grateful to our Lord for sending bro. Matt Bowen from Littleton Bible Chapel, Denver, USA to Myanmar again. Bro. Matt effectively taught the subject called “The Attributes of God” to second and third year students of SEA Bible College. He powerfully preached at the student’s Chapel Services and at the worship services of Canaan Gospel Chapel during his stay.
Brother Matt teaches on the attributes of God
Medical Checkup:
Dr. Bentley Tate from the United States graciously visited SEA Bible College and preached the Word of God at the Student’s Chapel service on Oct. 23rd. Then, he kindly did medical checkup for some students with health problems. We always give thanks to the Lord for Dr. Bentley, who has a great passion for the bible students. Praise the Lord! Dr. Bentley and his wife Sandy, along with bro. Matt and bro. Kap visited our missionary Kap Do and his family in Pyapon, Delta area on November 1st, 2015. There, they had a fellowship service with believers. Dr. Bentley preached the Word of God and all the hearers were greatly blessed and encouraged. On the next day (Nov. 2nd) Dr. Bentley did medical checkup for some believers and local people in the slum area of Pyapon town. By God’s grace, about 30 people with health problems had a medical checkup with Dr. Tate and got medicine. They all are so happy and grateful to Dr. Tate and his team. To God be the glory!
I pray and hope you are fine. By God’s grace, the Bible College is going well and the students and faculty members are fine. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and partnership in the teaching and equipping ministry of SEA Bible College.
SEABC Students’ Gospel Outreach Ministry:
The SEABC students usually have Gospel Outreach Ministry every weekend. They used to go to rail stations and the seaport where they could reach hundreds of people by sharing the Gospel and distributing Gospel tracts. The Student body is divided into four groups – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each group used to go to a children’s home in Shwepyethar to teach songs, share their testimonies, and preach the Word of God at Sunday worship service. Learn more about the gospel outreach ministry here.
SEABC Bible Games and Variety Shows:
The SEA Bible College Students had Bible Games, Variety Shows and Competitions (Group song, Quartet, Trio, Duet, Solo, Drama, Bible Quiz, Memory verses, and etc.) at the Chapel Hall on August 14th, 2015. All the students joyfully participated in the programs.
Mark Group (left) Luke Group (right)John Group (left) Matthew Group (right)
Bible Distribution:
By God’s grace, we have the wonderful opportunity of doing Christian Literature Ministry. Our missionaries and bible students freely distribute some books and bibles to different places in Myanmar. And, we sell some of them to believers who can afford to pay for some parts of the actual cost. Learn more about bible distribution here.
Alumni of SEABC distributing Bibles
Mission Trips to Mandalay, Pyapon, and Kyaiklatt:
Elder Ah Asiau, a couple and bro. Kap had a mission trip to Mandalay from August 19th through August 21st, 2015. We visited missionary bro. tin Htay in Mandalay and had a Gospel meeting in the evening. About 4 of the attendees accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
Flood Relief Works:
Heavy rains, landslides and floods severely damaged many houses in some towns and villages, as well as bridges and rice fields in around 12 States / Divisions (out of 14 States/Divisions) in Myanmar in the first week of August. Because of severe landslides, especially in Chin State (Hakha town; some villages such as Taahzang, Kahgen, Vongmual, Khamzang, Nakzang, etc.) many people had to move to refugee camps and still need to build new houses in new places/areas. By God’s grace, the Lord graciously allowed us to help some flood/landslide victims. We bought rice and distributed it to thousands of the flood victims in Kale, Nakzang, Taahzang, Khamzaang, Kahgen, Vongmual, Khampat, Hakha-lay, Tuikhing-zaang, etc. We are so thankful to the Lord for the Stewards Ministries (USA), CMML (USA), EOS (UK) and believers who worked with us for the flood victims. Learn more about our flood relief works here.
Prayer Requests:
1) Please continue to pray with us for the Flood Relief works we are doing;
2) Please pray for God’s protection, provisions, and the effectiveness of the teaching/equipping ministry of the Bible College (SEABC). Thank you so much for all your prayers and partnerships. To God be the glory!
Because of the flooding and landslides that have occurred in Myanmar, towns such as Hakha, Chin State, Kale, Sagaing Division, and villages such as Nakzaang, Taahzaang, Khamzaang, Kahgen, Vongmual, Hakha-lay, Tuikkhingzaang, Khampat, and more have been damaged / wiped out. As a result, people have had to move to other places. The flooding and landslides have also damaged many bridges and roads, which has made transportation very difficult.
Below are some of the flood victims and the villages that were affected by the flood / landslides:
Below you can find pictures of the flooding and the flood relief works in Myanmar that have been achieved by three faculty members, one student from Southeast Asia Bible College, as well as one deacon from Canaan Gospel Church. Together, they formed a Relief Committee to do the flood relief works in Myanmar as the Lord has enabled them to do. By God’s grace, they have gotten funds from other believers and were able to help over thousands of flood victims with food (mostly rice) in over ten places (3 towns and 8 villages)! Praise God! We pray and plan to continue to do the flood relief works in Myanmar.
Pictures of the aftermath of the flooding:
A house in Nakzaang after the floodRoad to Hakha, Chin StateKale, MyanmarKale, MyanmarKale, Myanmar
Pictures of some of the many flood victims and the flood relief works in Myanmar:
A boy is given food in Kale, MyanmarA Buddhist woman carrying rice on her bikeBrother Kap Tung Thang, Sister Huai Nu (SEABC alumni), and youth group from church help clean mud from a believer’s home in Kale, MyanmarDistributing rice to flood victims in Nakzaang VillageA flood victim (a believer from Bethany Brethen Assembly in Kale) carries a bag of riceA temporal tent for flood victims
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and financial supports for the students’ food and others, and our continued flood relief works in Myanmar. Praise the Lord!
The students at Southeast Asia Bible College have been going through the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of the Bible, and have been doing student gospel outreach. Here is a glimpse into the student body of SEABC and what they have been doing to serve Christ!
The SEABC student body is divided into four groups such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John:
Matthew GroupMark GroupLuke GroupJohn Group
SEABC students doing Student Gospel Outreach ministry every weekend:
Students are diligently doing student gospel outreach and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to many! All praise to Him! Please keep our gospel outreach ministry in your prayers.
Distributing Gospel tracts at Yangon Seaport
Students Doing Gospel Outreach at a Children’s Home:
Gospel outreach at a children’s home in Shwepyethar
Students Distributing Bibles to People in Need:
By God’s grace, we give/distribute/sell Bibles and some Christian books to believers/new converts who are in need.
Brother Pau Sian Mang from Tonzan
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and partnerships.
By God’s grace, we started a new school year of SEABC on June 1st, 2015. We accepted 27 new students. The total number of students this academic year is 67. They all are from 28 different ethnic groups from different parts of Myanmar (e.g. Rawang, Lisu, Po Kayin, Sakaw Kayin, Zo, Kuki Naga, Akha, Lahu, Bamar, Hindi, Tedim, Thado, Tangkun Naga, Daai, Mindat, Matu, Lingtui, Mara, Lahu, Falam, Khumi, Siyin, Tangkun Naga, Kayan, Kayaw, Hemi Naga, Shan, etc., (Matt. 28:19., Rev. 5:9).
SEABC Students (2015 Academic Year)
Music Class:
Our music teacher Mr. Khual (Zam Khan Khual) has taught music (Staff Notes & how to play the keyboard) to the students during the past school years. Very few churches in Myanmar have keyboard and electric classes. So, teaching only keyboard is not practical nor helpful to many churches. We started teaching music (both keyboard and guitar) to the students from this academic year.
Computer Class:
We continued our Basic Computer Class of Southeast Asia Bible College. Since we do not have enough computer and rooms, we can only teach final year students. We pray that the Lord will provide more computers and more spaces / apartments for this class so that all of the students can take the basic computer courses.
English Class:
By God’s grace, a brother named James Calum, from Canada, came to Myanmar to teach English at SEABC from the first week of June until August of 2015. All of the students enjoyed his class and their hearing skills, understanding skills and writing skills are gradually improving. We pray and help the students to not only get Bible / theological knowledge, but also for them to grow spiritually. We pray for them to discover their spiritual gifts by participating in the different activities of local churches and gospel outreach ministry. We also want to help them develop their English skills so they may be able to study good Bible commentaries and helpful Christian books.
Prayer Request:
Please pray with us for brother James and all of the students, and please pray that the Lord will send someone to teach English in second semester (September – Dec, 2015).
Brother James is teaching English to 2nd and 3rd year students of SEABC
Jireh Team – 2:
The Jireh Team-2 from Malaysia had a short term mission trip to Myanmar from June 3 to June 7th, 2015. There are five brothers and three sisters in the Jireh Team-2. Elder William Young was the team leader. They visited Southeast Asia Bible College and preached and taught the Word of God to the students for three days (June 3-5). Their visit was a wonderful encouragement and blessing to all of the students. We are so thankful and grateful for the new overhead projector, screen, and four brand new guitars for SEABC. Praise the Lord! The team also visited three different Children Ministries and BBB (Bro. Min Lwin).
Brother Wong is sharing the Word of God at the Students’ Chapel Service
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and partnerships in the Lord’s Kingdom ministry in the Buddhist land of Myanmar.
