FBR Report: "Baptism: New Life for a Karen in America"

COMING THIS FALL ... David Eubank, founder of the Free Burma Rangers, will be visiting 1st Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, in September, and giving us a first-hand
account of what's happening in Burma/Myanmar.
Details to come in the weeks ahead.

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The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is a multi-ethnic humanitarian service movement. They bring help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma (Myanmar). Ethnic pro-democracy groups send teams to be trained, supplied and sent into the areas under attack to provide emergency assistance and human rights documentation. Together with other groups, the teams work to serve people in need.

"Baptism: New Life for a Karen in America"
Distributed by Free Burma Rangers, August, 2015

Dear friends, family and team mates,

Thank you for all your love, prayers and support. We are in the US now speaking and sharing what we see God do in Burma, Sudan, Kurdistan, Iraq and in our lives. One story I would like to share is about the baptism of a Karen man, K’paw Htoo (Shining Gold), in Denver, Colorado. K’Paw Htoo is the first of his group of refugees to be baptized in the 1st Baptist Church of Denver, completing a full circle of missions started back in 1813.

1813 was when America’s first missionaries, Adronium and Ann Judson, sailed to Burma to share the love of Jesus. Their mission resulted in many people coming to the Lord and especially the Karen people. The Karen began a powerful church movement that evangelized much of Burma. Since that time wars and oppression have displaced millions of people; some of whom, like K’ Paw Htoo, have made their way to the U.S.

Now here we were in the church baptistery, K’Paw Htoo and I. The pastor who graciously allowed me to have a part in this service, Dr. Brian, asked K’Paw Htoo to declare his desire to be baptized and K’Paw Htoo affirmed his decision to follow Jesus. I conducted the baptism and felt a deep peace and satisfaction as we both walked up out of the baptistery. We were both happy.

After the service was over a woman asked if she could tell me something. “You may think I am crazy but I saw someone else in the baptistery with you two and He was shining.” “Was it Jesus?”, I asked. “Yes”, she said. “Wow! That is what I have wanted all my life. To be His servant, to have His presence and approval.” Jesus’ presence means He approves and is blessing the baptism. It meant to me that in spite of my weaknesses, sins, unanswered prayers, unhealed relationships and unfinished business, everything was ok. I felt a deep joy and peace as she told me what she saw and thanked God for this.

I want to share this story with you all as a witness that in spite of our failings and the failings of others toward us, Jesus is with us as we serve Him. We need to trust Him and put our trust with Him and love each other. People will let us down and we will let others down, but we all are people God made, and are not any better ones. We need to stick tighter, forgive each other and build each other up. Jesus is with us as we do this.

God bless you all,

Dave, family and FBR