On Sunday, I learned that Brother U Tan passed away. I didn’t know him well, but I’m thankful that my life intersected with his. He was a disciple of Jesus in life and remains one in death. May I live up to his example.
I met Brother U Tan in Myanmar in February. He was 1 of 19 people who were baptized at the end of a Bible conference. A Buddhist in a nation of Buddhists, U Tan started following Jesus. His baptism was a public sign of that decision.
Anyone can get baptized, but it’s what you do after that matters. Shortly after he was baptized, U Tan’s neighbors burned his house down. They didn’t like his decision. Suddenly the gravity of following Jesus became real.
So we asked if anyone would help rebuild his house. Four readers responded with financial donations, and U Tan’s house was rebuilt. It was a powerful way to experience the body of Christ. U Tan had a new community in Myanmar. And now he had brothers and sisters in America who cared. In this way, the Church was demonstrated to U Tan unforgettably. I was proud of how we shined.
Months passed and I didn’t hear anything of U Tan. I wondered how he was, this man marked by water and by fire. This poor Burmese man, who was given every spiritual blessing. How was U Tan?
Then Sunday I got the news. U Tan was dead.
But how could he be dead? He just started in the Kingdom. He barely got to experience his new life.
Believers gathered at his home and they shared encouraging words. They ministered to U Tan’s family and his neighbors, perhaps the ones who burned his house down. These neighbors heard about the God of U Tan.
I asked how U Tan died that afternoon. No one knows. According to his son, U Tan came back to his house very tired. Then he took a nap, and when his family called him for dinner, he was gone, gone to his new house in eternity.
But here’s what we do know. U Tan had been at a widow’s house sharing the Gospel. As a disciple, he was making disciples. Then he went home, lay down, and died. Brother U Tan was a disciple of Jesus in life and remains one in death. His example speaks from the grave. Let us all follow Jesus like U Tan did.
Goodbye brother. I’ll see you again.
What an awesome story! Wow. I’m humbled and challenged by U Tan’s life. Thanks for sharing this encouragement Chris.
Praise God for the report.
I pray the Holy Spirit to comfort the family members of bro. U Tan.
Let me express the 2 feelings that I have right ow in reading the article.
First I am sad because, there are lands or nations that hate Christianity, where Christ of course must be preached. He made himself partaker of Christ suffering and it all started when he gave his life and faith to the Savior. I am sure his family members in need of support this time because he is no longer available to do the role of the head of the family or the bread winner.
I am happy because he is a saint and will inherit God’s promise of everlasting life
In John 5: 24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
I am happy because your missionary Work is reaching the unreached, like Myanmar.
May the passing away of bro. Tan will shake the Christian world to do more for evangelization, may this will cause faith not doubt to the people of Myanmar.
PEOPLE MUST HEAR THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION, TO GIVE THEIR LIVES TO THE SAVIOR BEFORE THEY DIED.
Bro. Chris, this one soul is heaven’s celebration. Jesus said, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rather your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). My ministry is not the priority, my priority is to make sure that salvation is preached and people believe in it and their names secured and written in Heaven.
Praise the Lord.
I believe and have seen God use people from the grave.
This was a powerful and touching piece. Thanks for writing it.