Jack Decided to Follow Jesus

22 July 2023

Burma

Dear friends,

Jack is a Burman from deep inside Burma. He joined the pro-democracy resistance two years ago. Before that, he had not had much interest in politics – but when he was faced with the oppression of the dictators and the death of his friends, he knew he had to do something. He was an ethnic Burman from the majority ethnicity in the country, but now had to flee to the Karen ethnic area and learn to make friends with the Karen and other ethnic groups. That is how we met him and he came to join a team of Rangers.

Jack loves people and loves making them laugh. His role with FBR has been in the children’s programs. He is a natural actor and comedian and has become one of the top leaders with the Good Life Club program for displaced children in Burma. His infectious smile and talent changes the whole atmosphere. On a recent mission, airstrikes occurred near us in the middle of the GLC program. After the jets had finished their bombing runs, including strafing, just a few hundred meters away, Jack walked right into the middle of the group and said, “The planes are gone now; it is OK, we are with you. We are all free people and we can choose to be happy so let’s be happy. We won’t let the dictators or their airplanes steal that from us.“ Then he broke into an impromptu skit that left everybody rolling with laughter.

He had been born into a Buddhist family, then later on decided he had no religion and no faith in anything. However, since he joined the Free Burma Rangers two years ago, he told us, he had begun to wonder if God was real. He said, “I began to feel something about God in my heart, and in my spirit. I began to ask God to help me like I was told I could. I began to see answers to prayer. On multiple times on this mission, alone during Burma Army attacks and airstrikes, I asked Jesus to protect me and the people we were with. Miraculously, even though many bombs and mortars came close to us, even though the Burma Army tried to kill us, they could not. Two times, when I thought I would surely die, I just said ‘Jesus, please save me.‘ After these events, I began to share with other Ranger team members my own belief that God was real, and my own desire to follow him. Still, I wasn’t sure.”

Then one day, Jack came up to me and said, “I want to be baptized.“ I was surprised and asked him what had happened. He answered, “You know I’ve been asking Jesus to help me so many times and he’s faithfully answered me so many times and I became very close but still I wasn’t sure because it’s a big step. And then I was talking to many of the FBR team, and then with Aimee, who prayed with me. And then just yesterday, I faced what looked like an impossible situation that might be the end of me. I prayed ‘Jesus help me.’ And suddenly the obstacle was removed. The danger was gone. It really was a miracle. I saw it with my own eyes. So I decided I want to be baptized and follow Jesus.“

We baptized Jack on the Fourth of July right after we had a parade, national anthem, and prayer for America. FBR is composed of people from many nations and beliefs, but we joined together to celebrate America’s independence day as a family. Following that celebration with Jack’s baptism made it such a wonderful, joyous day. My father, who has been a missionary for over 60 years out here, said, “Spiritual freedom is the foundation of political freedom. God gives us freedom and when we decide to follow Jesus, we find ourselves the most free: Free from selfishness, free to love others, free to forgive, and free to follow the life that  God has for each of us.“

We share this good news about Jack with you all and thank you for praying for him and thank you for all the ways you pray for and help us.

Thank you and God bless you,

Dave, family and FBR