Because of the economic sanctions, it was illegal to send money to Burma (Myanmar) without a special humanitarian exemption, which was only granted by the US Department of Treasury. Myanmar was, at that time, still under the Burma Sanctions Program which had been implemented by the Clinton Administration.
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We then applied for a NGO (Non-governmental Organization) license so that we could legally send funds to Myanmar. Over the next couple of months, we did all of the research and paperwork required to form a new non-profit corporation with tax exempt 501(c)(3) status. The stories pierced their hearts, and they would find themselves in tears thinking about and discussing what more they could do to help their brothers and sisters on the other side of the globe.įinally, and to make a long story short, after much discussion, many tears, and lots of prayer, they decided that a new organization was needed.Īnd so, in May of 2007, Myanmar Hope Christian Mission was born. It was not long, however, before they began pulling out of Palal what life was really like for the Christians in Myanmar, and especially in the northwest where he was from. They were excited to meet and host this Myanmar Christian, to learn more about his family and culture, and of course, to learn more about the Church in Myanmar, which they knew was living under an oppressive military dictatorship. Initially, Chuck and MaryAnn thought they were just sponsoring a doctoral student in their home for about two years. “Of course!” MaryAnn said without hesitation.Īnd so, after several years of preparation, God finally brought Palal (and later Kikim and Solomon) together with Chuck and MaryAnn. “Um…are we sure?” Chuck asked MaryAnn as he sheepishly turned toward her. If he can get the same scholarship offer from Lincoln, just up the road from here, we will sponsor him! He can come and live with us!” Without thinking, Chuck blurted out, “Lincoln Christian College is starting a new doctoral program in January. He has a scholarship offer from Cincinnati Christian University, but he has been unable to find a family who will sponsor him.” Lunkim looked at them and said, “Please pray for a young man from Yangon, Myanmar. Lunkim a big hug they asked him, “What can we do to help you?”Īfter pausing for just a moment (he seemed a bit in shock over the hug), Dr. He shared many dramatic stories of the miracles that had occurred during his recent kidnapping by a para-military group and his subsequent sixty-one days of captivity in the mountains of northeast India.Ĭhuck and MaryAnn were moved to tears by his stories, and afterward they rushed forward to meet this old saint.Īfter giving Dr. Lunkim was speaking to a large group of believers at West Side Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois, the home church of Chuck and MaryAnn. They just were not sure what that might be. Their hearts were tuned in to what God was doing among the nations, and they sensed that God was calling them to do more. For years they had been interested in missions and in the plight of the persecuted church worldwide. Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, God had been working in the hearts of Chuck and MaryAnn Cherry. God’s plan to help the Kuki people was coming together. Lunkim decided to do what he could to help Palal get to America and obtain a Doctor of Ministry degree. Lunkim, (founder and president of Trulock), recognized his great potential. It was while Palal was working toward a Master of Divinity degree at Trulock Theological Seminary in Imphal, India, that Dr. (He eventually went on to obtain two undergraduate and four graduate degrees from both secular and religious schools.) They realized early on that he needed as much education as possible in order to have any influence among the Burmese Buddhist military regime, so he and Kikim spent years struggling to survive while doing ministry and obtaining more education. He and Kikim prayed and sacrificed daily as they continually sought ways to help their people survive.
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He hoped that God had a plan to free the Kuki people from their hopelessness. Like Moses of old, Palal saw the way his people were oppressed by extreme poverty, hunger, fear, and the brutal military leaders. In Myanmar they lived under an oppressive military dictatorship. Most of the Kuki people live in the northwest parts of Myanmar and in northeast India. The Kuki people are part of the larger Chin ethnic group. Nehkholal) and his wife Kikim (Vahneikim) are part of a tribal group known as the Kuki.