What the Pope's Myanmar Trip Means for Local Christians

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Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3 • 622 Ratings

🗓️ 30 November 2017

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Pope Francis’ trip to Myanmar this week has highlighted its small but inspiring Christian community. Less than 10 percent of the population, Christians are most likely to be represented in the country’s minority ethnic groups, communities that have long clashed with the Buddhist-influenced federal government. Despite this decades’ long violence that’s persisted even as the country has transitioned to a constitutional democracy, the Christian community has remained passionate about their faith, says Steve Gumaer, the founder of Partners Relief & Development, a ministry that has long worked with Myanmar’s minority ethnic communities. “These young guys were running around in a war zone where people were getting raped and killed and beaten to death and they were out there starting churches among these displaced people,” said Gumaer, who first traveled to the country in the 1990s. “I was completely inspired and blown away.” Gumaer joined associate digital media producer Morgan Lee and editor in chief Mark Galli to discuss Burmese Christians support of the persecuted Rohingya, how Christianity first traveled to Myanmar and why the Pope’s visit has disappointed him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.
0:11.0	Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion.
0:14.5	Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at apologeticsky.com.
0:27.3	Music Michael Del Rosario at Apologeticsguy.com. You're listening to Quick to Listen.
0:29.5	Each week we go beyond hashtags and hot takes to discuss a major cultural event.
0:34.6	I'm Morgan Lee, and I'm an associate media producer at Christianity Today. Hey, Mark.
0:40.6	You're the associate media producer. We don't have another one. Okay, I am the one and only.
0:45.8	And I also forgot an award in my title, digital media producer. Digital media. All right.
0:51.8	That's specifically what I focus on. You are also the only editor-in-chief.
0:56.3	Exactly. We're both special. That's what I mean. Everyone's special here at Christianity today.
1:02.0	Except we're both podcasts hosts, so I guess that brings us down to the. Who is joining us?
1:07.1	It is Steve Gamare. He's the co-founder with his wife, Odney, Partners, Relief and Development.
1:12.8	Steve Acts is president of this organization, which draws on the experience of Steve and his
1:16.9	wife to share firsthand accounts of how the children of Myanmar mired in conflict and oppression
1:21.9	are treated and what others can do to help them. So welcome, Steve.
1:26.3	Hey, thanks, Mark. Where are you calling us from,
1:28.5	Steve? I just got home to Norway, which is the birthplace of my wife and our current home. So I'm in
1:35.2	Norway right now. Where in Norway? Right in the middle of the country, a city called Trondheim.
1:40.1	My wife grew up on a little island just off of out out of the water from Thronheim called Itteria.
1:46.2	Wow, that is interesting.
1:48.0	I went there for the 1,000th anniversary of Christianity coming to Norway.
1:53.4	Oh, cool.
	...

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