About the Work in Myanmar
The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar was founded on December 1, 1995 by Dr. Tial Hlei Thanga. He studied from 1987 to 1994 at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, United States.
Dr. Thanga belongs to the Hualngo Chin tribe in northern Chin State. Members are primarily from the Mizo Chin, Mru, Bhama, and Karen tribe. It is an autonomous and self-supporting and active in Evangelism Explosion, disciple building, and church planting ministry.
The denomination’s confessional standards are:
Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Larger Catechism
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Creeds: Apostles Creed
There are no ordination of women. The denomination had 15 organized churches and 20 mission churches 15 house with 2,500 members 15 local sessions, 3 Presbyteries and a General Assembly, 3 mission fields in 2013.
Statistics:
The church currently has 15 organized churches and 20 unorganized mission stations served by 16 pastors, 10 missionaries, 35 elders and 5 school teachers. The combined membership is 2,000-2,500 in 3 Presbyteries within the General Assembly. There are minimum one evangelists in each Presbyteries. There are about 33-35 churches and missions, outreaches to the Bahma people was established since 1998.
Goals are to plant indigenous churches and building disciples with the Word of God especially among the unreached people groups. Since 1987 the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar has partnership with the PCA.
The church maintains the Myanmar Reformed Theological Seminary & Discipleship Training Center which was founded on 30 July 1995 by Dr. Tial Hlei Thanga.
Interchurch organizations:
The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar is a member both of the World Reformed Fellowship and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar is a member of the
Reformed and Presbyterian Churches Fellowship in Myanmar.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar is a member of “Myanmar Evangelical Churches Alliance.”
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June 25, 2021 Update
Military Coup in Myanmar Impacts Rev. Tial Thanga
A coup d’état in Myanmar began in the early morning of February 1, 2021 with the military deposing the democratically elected leaders and installing martial law for a year. Power was transferred to the Commander in Chief of Defense Services, Min Aung Hlaing. The results of the November 2020 general elections were declared invalid with a promise of another election in the future when the state of emergency is ended. The Parliament of Myanmar was due to swear in the newly elected officials on February 2, 2021. Church Planting International has worked with Rev. Tial Thanga, a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, for a number of years. Here is what Tial wrote to us about this military junta:
“By the grace of God, we are still safe from the Covid-19 crisis and from another ongoing regime crisis from February 1, 2021. Which gets more and more serious as days go by. We are safe, but please continue to pray for our safety. There are so many needs by this time but prayer support for us to overcome the difficulties would make stronger faith for us. We are still able to do share the gospel with people by phone called and do via zoom meeting. We praise the Lord for that.
Any support sent to us is not recommended until the crisis is over because we do not go out to risk life. We tried to manage well with what we have for living and survival. Our family members and church planting ministry are still going well. MRTS, the seminary, is closed since 2020 because of the Covid-19 crisis. The Orphanage Home: most of our kids were sent back to their families in their villages since life is safer than in Yangon these days.
Thanks a lot for your faithful prayers and support.”
Feb 2020 Update
Dr. Roberts had a wonderful trip to Yangon, Myanmar in December where he taught the book of Job. Tial Thanga and the students at the seminary expressed their hope that the lectures would be turned into a book. That might be forthcoming in the future, but this year appears to be too busy already to finish such a project.
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