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.
Prayer Time:
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 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.
Practical Exam:
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:
7th Biennial Commencement Ceremony at Southeast Asia Bible College
Congrats, graduates!!!
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and supports for the Bible College.
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.
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.
Testimony:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Pictures of some of the many flood victims and the flood relief works in Myanmar:
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:
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.
Students Doing Gospel Outreach at a Children’s Home:
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.
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and partnerships.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! By God’s grace, your powerful prayers and support, the Bible school is going well and all faculty and the bible students are fine.
Visiting Lecturers:
By God’s grace, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Gordon Fees, and Mr. Eric Miner (all are from Gideon Int’l) from USA came to Myanmar on Oct. 31th, 2014 and taught Biblical Principles of Evangelism, Prayer, and Discernment to SEABC students from Nov. 1 – 14 (two weeks). The students had been well equipped and powerfully encouraged to continue to reach the unbelievers with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19, 20., Rom. 1:16). And bro. Nolan and Gordon preached at Sunday worship service at Canaan Gospel Chapel (2 Sundays), located in Yangon downtown and believers were tremendously strengthened and blessed. We are so thankful to our Lord for sending these three brothers to SEA Bible College to teach His precious Word. Praise the Lord!
Bible Teaching:
Bro. Charlie Fizer (Former Int’l Director of Emmaus Correspondence School, USA) came to Myanmar and taught “First Peter” to third and final year students for one week (from Nov. 17-21), and preached at Canaan Gospel Chapel, Yangon, Bethany Church in Dala, and taught at Hebron Assembly. The teaching session at Hebron Assembly was attended by about 200 people. The students and believers those who heard the Word of God powerfully taught by bro. Charlie were edified and strengthened. Praise the Lord!
Church Planters Bible Seminar:
Bro. Brian, Lawrence, and Thomas came from Canada to Myanmar and conducted Church Planting Seminar at Canaan Gospel Chapel, Yangon on Nov.24, 2014. The seminar was attended by 40 people (including over 25 church planters). We are so grateful and thankful to our God of Mission Who sent these brothers to partner with Evangelical Churches in Myanmar especially in doing evangelism and Church planting in different parts of Myanmar.
130th Anniversary and Dedication Service of new Church Building:
By God’s grace, 130th anniversary of Myanmar Brethren Assembly and dedication service of Hebron Brethren Assembly’s new building was held at Hebron Brethren Assembly Hall, located at 8 Mile, Mayangone township, Yangon on Nov. 21st, 2014. The service was graciously attended by over 1,500 people. Different groups of people had special numbers and SEABC students also sang a beautiful song. Bro. Ronnie Tin Maung Tun preached the Word of God. All attendees joyfully gave thanks and praised the Lord together for His faithfulness throughout the past 130 years. To God be the glory!
One Day At A Time (in Myanmar Language):
By the grace of God, “One Day At A time” which is a devotional book of William MacDonald has been translated into Myanmar language and published last month (November, 2014). It’s been a wonderful spiritual blessing to the readers those who indeed want to be doers of the Word of God. I personally want to give thanks to the Lord for not only enabling me to translate this book into Myanmar language but also providing all the needed funds for publishing cost. Praise the Lord!
SEA Bible College’s Day of Prayer:
All students and faculty members had College’s Day of Prayer on Dec. 4th, 2014 (Thursday) from 9:00am to 3:00pm. We all gratefully gave thanks to our good Lord for His faithfulness in guiding us, providing all our needs, and keeping us throughout the past. I (bro. Kap) preached on the subject of prayer (Rom. 8:32). Some students shared about God’s guidance and provisions especially during their study at SEABC.
Sister Dar Khu Saw who is a final year student shared about God’s goodness in her life. God has enabled her to finish her final year of B.Th. program this year 2014. Though her earthly father already went to the Lord in 2010, her heavenly Father faithfully provides her spiritual and physical needs especially during her study at SEABC since 2001.
Sweet December:
Special Service of Sweet December was held at Canaan Gospel Chapel on last Sunday (Dec. 7th) from 10:00am to 12:30pm. The service was joyfully attended by over 150 people.
Four groups (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) from SEABC had Christmas Carols/song competition (choirs & quartet). Mark group won the first prize. Bro. John from New Zealand powerfully preached the Christmas message (Lessons:- the humble life of Christ., the difficult life of Christ on earth., the finished work of Christ on the Cross, and His Rapture/Second Coming). The hearers had been blessed and strengthened by the message.
Prayer requests:
for Gospel meetings especially during Christmas season and Summer holidays
for our missionaries and SEABC Alumni who are serving the Lord in different parts of Myanmar and abroad
for the present and future needs for the Bible School (e.g. to repair the roof and to put tiles on the front side of the school building, water tanks, new building project, etc.).
Thank you so much for all your prayers and partnerships.
Here is a glimpse into the student’s lives by sharing photos of a typical meal.
A typical meal is vegetables mixed with meat, such as chicken, pork, beef, or fish. Occasionally, cooked eggs (chicken or duck) are also added to the menu.
In the last year, the staff has worked hard to offer better food for students. We have accomplished this, and the students love it! Better food makes a big difference: when the students arrive back to the Bible school in June, they are thin and their faces are dark and dry. After a month of eating better food than they get at home, their skin quality has improved, and they are much more healthy, handsome, and beautiful!