Bethel Baptist Church sets aside 10% of all our income to support Christian Missions at home and abroad. Presently we are financially supporting over twenty missions which reach Europe, Asia, India, Latin America and the UK. Every mission we support upholds and proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ and meets many practical needs of the people where their ministry is active.

One such ministry is called "WorldShare". Here's a little information about this mission.

WorldShare works with indigenous partners, who establish and sustain worshipping churches which serve the transformation of needy communities.

Each partner exists within its local community. The vision and directions of its work is truly indigenous.

It has communication skills and cultural acceptability which would be difficult for outside organisations to achieve. It's strategies, methods and cost patterns relate to local circumstances. And it is there long-term.

WorldShare assists by providing resources of all kinds, including finance, and by linking their partners with a worldwide network of experience. Working in this way, they ensure that our donors gifts are put to optimum use.

Rev Glyn Jones (WorldShare chairman) and his wife, Jane, visited their partners in Myanmar (Burma) in November 2008. They visited churches and orphanages to encourage leadership, both in their regular ministry and ongoing projects to assist in recovery from Cyclone Nargis, which had devastated the south of the country and killed over 70,000 people earlier in 2008.

With funds from WorldShare, Word of Hope in Yangon (Rangoon) is continuing with a programme of repairs and improvements for their orphanage building, which was badly damaged by cyclone floodwaters. They are constructing a new kitchen area, and rapid progress has been made on these new facilities will help enhance conditions, nutrition and health for the children.

Some of the neediest children at Word of Hope are assisted through WorldShare's Child Aid sponsorship scheme.

"We hope to expand the numbers of sponsored children there, given the good care they receive, and good management", confirms Glyn. He continues; "Please include in your prayers other aspects of the Word of Hope ministry. We went to their new Bible College - around 16 students, and a 4-year degree course. Monday morning was basic English; I quizzed all the students about the curriculum and asked them some theological or Biblical questions on their favourite subjects. I am told they won't forget us!!"

The Word of Hope church is also building small houses for families whose homes were destroyed in Cyclone Nargis. A further major development, Word of Hope plan to build a multi-use church centre in a new township. This would provide a strategic ministry interface between Church and community and could enable many more practical and spiritual projects to be started to help Burma's needy people.

Other Burma Prayer Points

Pray for the work of WorldShare's sister organisation, CNEC South East Asia in Burma from their bases in Singapore.

Pray for Bethel Home our other orphanage partnership in Yangon and a leading one of its kind in the country.

Continue to pray for change within Myanmar / Burma which has been ruled for decades by a military dictatorship which represses the country's minority peoples.