Historic Bible House

MYANMAR — Bible House, Yangon (formerly Rangoon), is about 100 years old and is in a prime location in the city. Unfortunately, it was extensively damaged when an adjoining multi-storey building was constructed. Compensation has been inadequate, and Philip Oliver, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Australia, is part of a small UBS committee investigating possible avenues for the funding of repairs.

The Rev Than Htun Myat, the local General Secretary, and his family live on the top floor, and offices on the third floor are rented to a dentist and an X-ray service. This means that people going upstairs are regularly drawn into the Bible shop on the ground floor.

”We praise God for granting us the wonderful opportunity to carry out the various tasks of the Bible Society,“ said Rev Than Htun Myat (usually called Sonny). ”In 1998 we supplied churches and other organisations with almost 18,000 Bibles, 10,000 New Testaments, 47,000 Scripture Portions, 21,631 New Reader Portions and Selections, and 29,000 Scripture Selections.“ While smaller items are printed locally, Bibles are printed in South Korea, India or Hong Kong.

The manager of the Bible Shop, Khin Ohn Myint (whose nickname is Bu Boo), has worked at the Bible Society for 24 years. ”Sometimes people come in and ask about the life of Christ,“ Bu Boo says, ”so we explain and then suggest they read various books. Others, including Buddhist monks, buy the Good News Bible in English because it helps them with their English studies. Our Scripture comics in the Burmese language are always popular. I think there is more interest in Christianity at the moment.“

About 15 per cent of the Scripture stock is given away free of charge; the balance is heavily subsidised. (WR 343/11 - 9.99) [PHOTOS]

<<<Back