BurmaMyanmar

Burma (Myanmar)

Leader: General Than Shwe
Population: 50.1 million (4.6 million Christians)
Main Religion: Buddhism
Government: Military dictatorship
World Watch Rank: 27

The military junta is the primary source of persecution against minority groups, which include Christians. Although the constitution guarantees religious freedom, faiths other than Buddhism face restrictions. Christians are prohibited from buying or renting properties for their activities. New believers are pressured to return to Buddhism both by their families, who see conversion as a betrayal of the country, and by Buddhist monks, who traditionally hold power in the villages. Most believers live in Chin State, and are very poor.

Please Pray:

• There has been severe famine is Chin State since 2008. Pray for pastors' families, who sometimes have nothing to eat but rats
• For opportunities to learn about new crops that the rats will not ravage - and other livelihood skills
• For women lay leaders and pastors' wives, who silently submit to domestic violence.