Reformed Faith Yields Hope in Myanmar
Rev. Rolin San explained that he faces increasingly difficult challenges as he serves in ministry for the Christian Reformed Church of Myanmar (CRCM).
The CRCM is a “church in communion” with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA; see ecumenical relationships). This means that the two denominations are especially close and may engage in joint ventures, preach in each other’s pulpits, and visit each other’s synods.
The CRCM began in 1985 through the work of Pastor Chan Thleng, who attended Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich. Today the denomination has 52 congregations and more than 6,000 members.
As San reported, life for these members is difficult these days. Members of the denomination have been killed or injured in violence connected to the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, and others were killed or displaced by last year’s earthquake.
In an email interview San said: “At present, there is an ongoing civil war in our country, and we do not know when it will come to an end.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of church members “have been displaced as refugees, and countless others are homeless,” he said. “A large number of children have no access to education. As a church, we are doing our utmost to care for them within our limited funds and capacity.”
Rev. Zachary King, general secretary of the CRCNA, had a long discussion with San during the 27th General Council meeting of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in Oct. 2025 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The theme of the gathering was “Persevere in Your Witness.”
Just before San came to Thailand for the meeting, said King, several “CRCM members were killed, including from Rolin’s own family. His niece was killed by a landmine.”
Though the civil war is taking a toll and has scattered many members of the church in Myanmar, said King, the denomination continues to hold on. It has several churches spread throughout Myanmar and includes a mission department; a children, youth, and women department; and a Reformed Theological College. The CRCM, he added, also has a partnership with Hillside Community Church in Grand Rapids, Mich..
“Because Myanmar is currently locked in a long-term and violent civil war, several CRC of Myanmar congregations have been damaged by bombings, and many more were damaged in the earthquake that occurred early last year,” said King.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake, which took place on Mar. 28, 2025, was the deadliest to occur in the country since 1912. More than 5,300 people were killed, and thousands were injured. Damage also took place in neighboring Thailand, Vietnam, and China.
World Renew, said King, responded to the earthquake by sending a small grant to the denomination to assist with immediate needs such as food and oil. World Renew also worked with local partner organizations to deliver urgent support to the most severely affected regions where humanitarian aid was scarce. This included delivery of food items, hygiene kits, tarps for temporary shelters, and water and sanitation kits.
In talking with San, King learned more about the denomination’s history and its connection to the CRC in North America.
“My spiritual father, Rev. Dr. Chan Thleng, founded our church in 1985,” said San. “He later applied to Calvin Theological Seminary and completed his four-year course of study there. Upon completing his master’s degree, he returned to Myanmar and established Reformed Theological College in Yangon.”
The curriculum of the college, he added, was largely adapted from Calvin Seminary. “As the second generation of students,” San said, “we have continued to learn and grow in the Reformed faith through Reformed Theological College, building upon the strong theological foundation laid by our predecessors.”
San, who was raised in Chin State, Myanmar, said Myanmar “is a nation of remarkable natural beauty, rich cultural traditions, and strong communal life. However, it is also a country that has long experienced political instability, poverty, civil war, and natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and last year’s earthquake.”
While he was growing up, the pastor said, his life was marked by close family and community relationships, as well as uncertainty and significant limitations.
“Faith played a central role [in the formation of] many Christians, particularly as many of us came to Christ from animist backgrounds,” said San, who serves in mission ministry for his church. “Our Christian faith was often practiced quietly and faithfully amid pressure and hardship. These experiences instilled in me a deep appreciation for perseverance, prayer, and a hope firmly rooted in God rather than in changing circumstances.”
Regarding the church’s current ministry, he said, CRCM was able to operate through self-support prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup that took place Feb. 1, 2021.
However, he said, violence has been increasing lately, and civilians are being especially targeted. “Many of our church members have fled to neighboring countries, particularly to Mizoram State in India,” he said. “Consequently, we are unable to collect offerings and tithes, and our ministry is now facing severe financial and logistical challenges. Families and church members have been scattered across different locations – all in search of safety.”
Despite these grave circumstances, he added, “our church members continue to worship the Lord wherever they have taken refuge. In many cases they are unable to worship as Reformed congregations and instead join fellowship with believers from other denominations. Nevertheless, they remain steadfast in their faith and committed to following Christ.”
King encourages all in the CRCNA to pray for these brothers and sisters in Myanmar. “Join me in giving thanks for the witness of this church, even in the face of such hardships,” said King. “And pray for their ongoing safety, for the next generation of leaders, and for financial stability as they move into the future.”
San said he is grateful for this support. Even in the midst of bloodshed and the dispersal of so many members of the CRC of Myanmar, he said, the church remains “deeply encouraged by the global body of Christ. Knowing that believers around the world are praying for us, supporting us, and standing in solidarity with the church in Myanmar is a profound source of strength. It reminds us that we are not alone and that God is faithfully at work beyond what we are able to see.”
