LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa with participants after the joint worship. Photo: LWF/ I. Htun
Visits to churches, diakonal work in Myanmar
(LWI) - On his visit to Myanmar, Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), called upon the LWF member churches in Myanmar to stand united against the forces that seek to isolate them from one from the other.
The LWF president was welcomed with a combined worship service attended by members of the four Lutheran churches in Myanmar. Preaching on Eph. 4, 1-6 the LWF president emphasized the call to unity as already issued by the apostle Paul. “In the history of Christian churches we have often allowed ourselves to be divided,” he said.
Musa, who is Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, was elected president of The Lutheran World Federation at the Twelfth Assembly in Windhoek, Namibia, in May 2017.
Country undergoing rapid change
His message comes at a time when the member churches seek to build an united witness in a country undergoing rapid economic development and experiencing new social changes. A booming economy and new employment opportunities draw young people from the countryside, where the majority of the churches are based, to the cities.
The four Lutheran churches - the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar, the Myanmar Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church of Myanmar and the Mara Evangelical Church - have very diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The Lutheran churches are joined in the Federation of Lutheran Churches in Myanmar (FLCM) with a total membership of about 30,000. In 2017, they commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation together. In the multi-ethnic state of Myanmar, Christians are a minority, numbering about 6.2% of the total population.
Emphasis on peace
On his visit, the LWF president emphasized on the need for good relations between Christians, and among the many religions in Myanmar. “A peace which does not include everyone will not last,” he said. “If we are not at peace with God, we cannot be at peace with one another. If we are not at peace with one another, we cannot be peacemakers.”
A peace which does not include everyone will not last. If we are not at peace with God, we cannot be at peace with one another. If we are not at peace with one another, we cannot be peacemakers.
In his response to the president’s visit, Rev James San Aung, General Secretary of the Federation of Lutheran Churches in Myanmar, described the presence of the LWF President as a great encouragement to the LWF member churches to carry on their work in proclaiming the message of God’s liberating grace in Myanmar.
The LWF president visited Myanmar from 27 Jan to 2 Feb 2018. He met with representatives of the LWF member churches and the humanitarian operation of the LWF diakonal arm, LWF World Service in Sittwe, as well as government officials.
More stories
LWF President visit to Myanmar
On his visit to Myanmar, Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, LWF president, was welcomed on the 7 February 2018 with a combined worship service attended by members of the four Lutheran churches in Myanmar. The service took place in the Lutheran Bethlehem church in Yangon.
Preaching on Eph. 4, 1-6 the LWF president emphasized the call to unity, calling upon the LWF member churches in Myanmar to stand united against the forces that seek to isolate them from one from the other.
Photos: LWF/ I. Htun
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
From left to right: Bishop Rev. Andrew Maung Lone (Myanmar Lutheran Church), Rev. Jensen Rajan Andrews (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar (Lutheran Bethlehem Church)) and LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
From left to right: LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa and Rev. Jensen Rajan Andrews (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar (Lutheran Bethlehem Church)) listen to the address of the member churches.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
From left to right: A member of the Mara Evangelical Church in Myanmar presents LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa with a traditional dress of the Mizo, the ethnic community the church members belong to.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar
From left to right: Rev James San Aung (General Secretary of the Federation of Lutheran Churches in Myanmar), LWF President Archbishop Musa.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
LWF president Musa gives the final blessing.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
The worship was attended by about 200 people from all four Lutheran churches.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
A worship singers group led the beginning of the service.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
Among the visitors were many young people.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
The president with members of the Myanmar Lutheran Church.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
From left to right: Accompanying the LWF president were Bishop Philip Lok (LWF Area Secretary for Asia), Mr David Mueller (LWF Country Representative in Myanmar), and Mr Allan Calma (Regional Program Coordinator for World Service in Asia).
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
Members of the Myanmar Lutheran Church choir read song texts from their smart phones.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
Joint worship of the four LWF member churches in Myanmar.
The LWF preaches on Eph. 6, 1-4 about Paul's call for unity among Christians.
28 January 2018, Yangon.
