Football Training Recap & IDP update

“This is like a dream for us”

We heard this statement from so many of the 20 coach training participants who joined us from Myanmar two weeks ago.

The journey was not easy for any of us, but our God made a way for every one of us to gather for four days of fellowship, good food, worship, strategic training and acquiring a biblical mindset towards coaching football (soccer).

Your prayers for our travel and safety were surely heard. Jim and I had cancelled flights, lost luggage and 12 hours of re-routing delay on top of the original 27-hour journey.

This is minor, compared to the courage it took for these 17 men and 3 women to pass through their country’s border and arrive in Thailand. Several in the group had never been on a plane or seen anything like the city of Bangkok. It was refreshing for them beyond words.

The two leaders from Missionary Athletes International in Charlotte, NC joined us and brought their decades of expertise in sport training, encouragement and Christian mentoring. Our hearts were bursting with joy as we sat back and beheld the wisdom that was being graciously imparted by both Graham and David.

As a bonus, we believe the Lord is forming a friendship between our two ministries, which will hopefully bring forth fruit in the lives of those in Southeast Asia.

Graham from Missionary Athletes International talks about the significance of the training

“Josh, will you go with us to Bangkok?”

Months ago, we had a “nudge” to invite a member of the community group we lead at our church to accompany us in Bangkok. Josh is a former professional football player in Europe and Canada and a coach of women’s football. He is a joyful and encouraging guy who immediately puts everyone at ease. Well, Josh said yes, if somewhat tentatively. 

He shared the testimony of his rising career and the injury that forced him to retire from professional football. This sad chapter led to the next steps in his journey toward finding his wife and surrendering his life fully to Jesus Christ. Josh’s story embodied the teaching of the four days, that fame and winning are not a Christian coach’s purpose. Rather, it lies in leveraging every part of life to grow in transformation, both personally and in the lives of those being coached. Once again, our hearts rejoiced to see this precious brother take his first step in allowing God to use his story for impact and influence in the lives of others.  

Thank you, thank you for standing with us in support and prayer. Every coach returned home committed to fostering team values and an atmosphere for life transformation, not just winning games. Please pray for fruit that will remain from this amazing time. 

-Nancy

---

more of Jesus’ love to share

Just hours from death by starvation, Pastor David held the tiny infant in his arms with tears in his eyes. The baby’s mother had fled from her village and hid in the jungle. She didn’t eat for 9 days before giving birth and couldn’t properly nourish the baby.

David met the grieving mother in a new group of internally displaced persons (IDP) and heard the story about why the baby girl needed help. When David told us about her plight and the hundreds of others in the new IDP camp, we committed Firefall to care for this needy group in addition to the hundreds of IDPs we already support every month through food, clothing, bedding, and school supplies for the kids.

If the Lord puts it on your heart to help provide IDP support, you are demonstrating the love of Jesus in a way that makes a vital difference. Firefall has committed $2,000 per month in aid for the two groups of IDPs. Thank you for your life-transforming love and financial support.

Looking Back at 2025

What an amazing year this has been! Myanmar experienced a deadly earthquake in March and the civil war there continues.

Yet, for Firefall International, there has never been more open doors for ministry. This is a season of harvest for the kingdom! After the quake, thousands needed food, shelter and comfort. In the face of overwhelming need, you responded with unprecedented generosity.

Thank you for your effective prayer, continuing friendship and partnership in the gospel. These numbers reflect this year’s ministry impact, though numbers can’t tell the whole story, but they are one indication of the great things the Lord is doing.

We’re so thankful for our national associates and their heroic, faithful service. And we’re deeply thankful for you. Because of your generosity, precious souls are stepping from darkness into God’s marvelous light, revealed in Jesus Christ.

“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”

— Psalm 34:3

Your partners in the harvest,

Jim and Nancy

Pondering the Shepherds This Advent Season

Our family celebrated Christmas yesterday. It was a delightful time of brunching, opening gifts, decorating gingerbread chalets and contemplating the awe and obedience of the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20. We chose The Message version, thinking it would be easier for our grands ages 4- 10. 

The Nativity by Mikhail Vasilevich Nesterov

After hearing their great readings (young James added “this is God’s Word” as a finale), we passed around a copy of the photo you are seeing and shared how it helped us visualize the story even better. Some wondered what the sheep were thinking of such goings on, others commented on the emotions depicted, how holy and sacred it seemed. One grand surmised how great it was that since Jesus came for everyone, God showed this by first sending news about Him to poor and disrespected shepherds. Wow! Talk about “out of the mouths of babes.”

I am praying for your Christmas gathering, dear friends and partners.

Here’s a Christmas Benediction shared with us in a recent Christmas card:

May you be filled with the WONDER of Mary,

The OBEDIENCE of Joseph, 

The JOY of the angels,

The EAGERNESS of the shepherds,

The DETERMINATION of the Magi,

And the PEACE of the Christ Child.

For our friends in Myanmar, Christmas outreaches continue through December 28, so please continue to pray for these gatherings.

O Come let us adore Him,

Nancy 

Thoughts on the Harvest

“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” 

John 4:35

My Dad was a farmer. He was humble, steady and fair. He enjoyed time working on his land, going from task to task in his own rhythm. He studied the crop progression and the weather to know just when to reap his fields. It seemed intuitive for him, knowing when to focus all his time and energy on the ripening crop, lest it fail to produce. Harvest time was hard work, but joyful work. It held the promise of an abundant return for his household and future generations. 

When I study Pastor David in Myanmar and his manner of mentoring and raising up teams of leaders in the church as well as football coaches (16 at present), I see both men understood the preciousness and time sensitivity of the harvest. The main difference is this…David’s crop is souls coming to know Jesus Christ.

Christmas outreach gifts distributed

Thank you, Firefall partners and friends, for your focus on the harvest through prayer and giving. The season of harvest is now in Myanmar. Salvations and baptisms are happening with increasing regularity, and the hunger to receive the Bible is greater than ever before. Some people received Bibles years ago and read them many times before contacting Pastor David and church leaders to learn how to have eternal life with Jesus. 

Would you prayerfully consider making a joyful investment in the upcoming Christmas outreaches where we will feed and share the Good News with over 3,500 people in the month of December?

Bibles for outreach

Christmas Outreach need

$5,000

2,000 Evangelistic Bibles (Genesis and NT)

At 2.50 each

$5,000

$2,500

500 Full Bibles

At 5.00 each

$2,500

2,500 Bibles will be available for distribution to all who desire them. How joyful to contemplate both seedtime and harvest as the Bible is sown into the lives of hungry people, desperate for good news and hope.

Traditional Burmese dance at Christmas outreach

How beautiful are the feet of those who carry God’s Word along with songs of worship, the Christmas story and essential food. 

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving,

Nancy

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will  return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

Psalms 126:5-6

3 summer updates from Myanmar

From soccer tournaments to earthquake relief to community inspiration, we have so many summer updates to share with you. Thanks for following along and supporting with your prayers and generous gifts.

Earthquake relief update

In our most recent relief distribution, Pastor David chose to distribute plastic tables, chairs, storage boxes and buckets (items essential for these 600-700 people whose homes were destroyed in the earthquake). They are currently living in simple tents. To compound the situation, Myanmar is in its rainy season. The residents will craft rudimentary bamboo structures and hope to someday have stronger homes again. Most of the men are day laborers in construction or agriculture, earning $5-$10 US dollars per day. 

Please pray that continuing friendships are established from compassionate care given in the love of Jesus Christ.

---

News from the football field

Training continues 3 times per week with the nearly 200 young people who attended football sessions during their summer break months of March through May. Parents of the students still accompany their children to practice, with gratitude for the investment in their lives. This affords fertile ground for building relationships with both generations. As a side benefit, many Glory players are learning how to mentor and train others.

regional tournament & Need for cleats

The Glory Football Team received an invitation to compete in a 10-day tournament in Mandalay, starting July 21. The Football Federation requested their presence since they are #1 in the  region. They will travel in the Glory bus with great excitement. Expenses will be covered. Their only need for this fine opportunity is new shoes to play in! 

25 players need new shoes at $30 US per pair. Would you please pray about providing a player (or 2 or 3) with new kicks for the season? Thank you very much.

---

Transforming Communities

The Lord is using Pastor David and his teams to transform lives through the gospel. Whole neighborhoods and villages are being impacted and church leaders across Myanmar are taking notice!

Creative Outreach

David has gained respect for using creative means to build relationships with Buddhist Burmese that can lead to salvation in Jesus. For over 200 years, the hearts of those in Burma/Myanmar have been closed to the gospel. Christianity was seen as a foreign, Western religion, and they wanted no part of it.

What Has Made the Difference?

David has used soccer, a lending library, Christmas celebrations, disaster relief, water wells and humanitarian aid to build heart-to-heart relationships and demonstrate the compassion of Jesus. The result of these innovative efforts is thousands of true salvations and dozens of churches planted over the past 5 years. Myanmar is seeing revival!

Others Want to Reach Their Communities

Last week, David was invited to use Zoom to teach 4 days of classes to 90 pastors from across the nation. They wanted to learn from his wisdom and follow his example of building bridges that demonstrate compassionate love to their communities.

Prayer for David, Prayer for Myanmar

Please continue to pray for David as the Lord uses him as a leader in his nation. The Lord has given him keys to unlock Burmese hearts and the Lord is now multiplying this wisdom from above across the nation of Myanmar for the glory of God!

For Such a Time as This

On March 28 at about noon, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Sagaing region of Myanmar, with an epicenter close to Mandalay, not far from Pastor David’s city. Over 5,000 were killed and thousands more were injured from collapsing homes and buildings that were smashed to the ground with no warning. Aftershocks continue (up to 6.5 magnitude) until now.

David’s teams were the first to reach families at the epicenter of the quake, providing aid and medical care. Generous donations from Firefall Friends allowed thousands to receive critical help.

So far, our teams have been to 4 cities near the epicenter. More than 1,500 families have received aid (food, water, bedding, mosquito nets, personal items, etc.), as well as medical care. The food parcels will last for 2 weeks per family. Another 4,000 people received aid this week in a fifth location.

We're encouraged by the provision of relief but heartbroken by the reports of devastation. Our associates tell us that in one area near a river, every family has lost someone, and in many cases, there were only one or two survivors per family. Our team members wept with those who were weeping as they distributed supplies and provided medical care. The doctors tell us that 80% of the people can’t sleep because of the trauma of the quake and the resulting insecurity.

In addition to the outreaches at the epicenter, the House of Glory Community Center provided 3500 meals to people in the area right around the center. We have a sense that this is one of those "for such a time as this" moments. Your prayers and giving over many years, in partnership with Pastor David and his team, have provided monthly aid to hundreds of families displaced by the civil war. 

Because of the generosity of Firefall Friends, the relief effort was scaled up quickly, teams were quick to deploy and provide compassionate help physically, emotionally and spiritually to devastated people. Our teams were the first to help those who were hardest hit in the three areas selected.

The relief effort is continuing to help these people in need of basic necessities. This is the compassion of Jesus at work through His people for His glory!

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and aid. We will continue to send earthquake relief as God’s people provide. This is a source of encouragement for House of Glory members, knowing their nation is not forgotten by believers across the world.

Because of You

With your faithful monthly support, Firefall sustains a budget reaching hundreds each month.

Because of your generous gifts in the time of need, the demonstrated love of Jesus impacts thousands of people in their season of loss and suffering.

Another Giving Option

You may continue to mail checks, or give through PayPal (3% fee) using the Donate button on our website or by setting up monthly donations.

Now, there’s another option. You can use Zelle to transfer funds from your bank account to Firefall. There’s no charge to use Zelle if your bank offers this service (most do). While logged into your bank account, you can open Zelle and scan this QR code to add Firefall as a contact when you’re ready to give.

Whatever method you choose, thank you for your compassion and generosity!

Plan B for Myanmar

Several years ago, we were leading a pastor training conference in Vietnam when the police stopped our training. I asked the host pastor, “Do you have a Plan B? He smiled and replied, “We have a Plan B, Plan C and Plan D. Thanks to the ingenuity of our hosts we were able to complete the 3-day conference to the glory of God.

This year, we wanted to return to Myanmar, as we do almost every year. Pastor David informed us that due to the ongoing civil war and unpredictability of violent clashes, it would be unwise for us to enter the country at this time. So we will go with Plan B.

Since we can’t go into Myanmar for encouragement and strategic planning, Pastor David and Diim Te will come out to Bangkok, Thailand. We will spend 5 days together listening, praying, seeking God’s will and making plans for 2025 and beyond.

We will miss having time for mutual encouragement with so many of our friends in Myanmar but trust we will be with them soon, when the political situation is better.

Thank you for sending us with your support and praying for us that this will be a fruitful time in the presence of the Lord, hearing His voice and being renewed by His Spirit.

Football Miracles Keep Coming

Football, or soccer to us in the US, has been an ongoing key to the work of the Lord in Myanmar. Football outreach has snowballed from an activity for a few poor kids after school into a ministry impacting students and young adults. Here are some of the miracles the Lord has done in the past month through Glory Football Club (GFC):

• GFC has been recognized as an alternative to military service and 4 team members were released from conscription (and possible death) to serve the community through football.

• The team was recently inducted into Myanmar Football Federation, a national organization.

• A requirement to join the Federation was to provide a bus to transport the team. The Federation paid half the cost and Firefall paid the other half through your generous donations.

• GFC competed in a national tournament with 16 teams and won first place! A parade through the city attended by 1,000 people welcomed the champions back home!

• Beginning this week, over 100 boys and girls now are participating in GFC Football Camp during their two-month school break. Firefall donors provide balls, shirts and other equipment. Healthy and filling snacks are provided to very hungry (and grateful) boys and girls. 

Funds are needed to sustain this fruitful, ongoing sport ministry. Your donations provide life lessons through sport, healthy snacks, and an open door for the gospel.

help with monthly needs

If you prefer a “set it and forget it” type of giving to help our football teams, reading room, humanitarian aid and other projects, we encourage you to give a recurring donation on PayPal. Watch this video to see how to quickly set it up.

If you’re already a monthly donor, would you consider raising your amount to help cover rising costs? Your regular gifts are a critical part to sustaining our ongoing projects throughout the year.

Looking Back at 2024 & Ahead into 2025

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38

Together, we as Firefall family have prayed for workers sent into harvest. Together, we’ve also prayed for the Lord to work through our prayers, our finances and our seeds of faith. Our faithful God has answered!

When we review the numbers (only one indicator of what is happening), we’re filled with humble gratitude. We can only say, “Lord, yours is the glory for what you have done this year. Thank you for using the Firefall family in your harvest.”

In the midst of Myanmar’s cruel civil war, the Lord is bringing spiritual revival. Those with dire physical needs are being fed and clothed. The helpless sheep are following the Shepherd into eternal life. Hallelujah! 

Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in the gospel, making disciples of all nations.

plus, we bought a bus!

With your help, we were able to buy a bus that can transport 30 football players and help the Glory Football Team become an official Football Federation of Myanmar team. Federation membership will also protect young men from being conscripted into the army, since playing football is considered a community service.

Building bridges into 2025

Many years ago, I sensed the Holy Spirit asking me, “Will you be a bridge, Nancy?”

I quickly answered “yes!”, expecting some grand design and adventure in my future.

Little did I realize that being a bridge is basically making strong connections (often unnoticed) which further the greater purposes of God. It requires trusting the Lord in all aspects (and sometimes feeling walked on). This has been our 31-year journey and joy with Firefall International. Thank you for your vital part in prayer and partnership. Together, we have seen God do amazing things. 

Next month, we will travel to Thailand to meet with Pastor David and his wife Diim te. Due to the current turmoil and instability throughout Myanmar, it is not advised for us to travel there. This plan will enable us to set aside several days for fellowship, prayer and strategic planning (bridge building) for Firefall International’s work in 2025 and 2026.

Our travel dates are March 14-27. Please pray for us. Expenses for the trip will be $6,000, if you would like to help send us.

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Today’s cuppa is my usual, a strong English Breakfast tea with a tad of sugar and a splash of milk.

Starting with the Advent season, I pull out one of my Christmas mugs. These weeks before Christmas fill me with greater joy as each year passes. In today’s photo I include a candle, symbolizing the Light that has come into the world through Jesus Christ. In addition you will notice the wax-encased amaryllis, an Advent gift to myself. I look forward to watching it unfold in beauty through the weeks ahead. 

Advent is all about making time and space for wonder, pondering, watching, waiting and the mystery of the Incarnation to impact our hearts year by year. 

May I encourage you to consecrate time (even 10 minutes) and space each day of this season to slow down and turn your eyes upon Father, Son and Holy Spirit in trust and expectation. You might want to read a treasured Christmas passage again and again over several days, noticing a phrase or picture or concept that leads you on a deeper and richer journey into God’s heart for the world and for you. 

Cheers and much love,

Nancy

🎁 The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Christmas outreaches in Myanmar will reach thousands with the gospel within less than a month’s time. Buddhists there have many holidays and festivals throughout the year, so they freely allow Christians to have their “festival” in December.

Hear from Jim & Nancy about how you can help

Revival Fires are Burning

Every week now, people who have heard the good news of salvation in earlier Christmas outreaches are asking to learn more. They’re not just curious; they're hungry for a new life. Lives are being saved and baptized. Whole new churches are being planted. Revival fires are burning in Myanmar as the Holy Spirit transforms lives. Revival like this has never happened before in this nation.

Season of Harvest

This is a season of harvest in Myanmar. Please pray with us that this Christmas, seeds of the gospel will find good ground, the word of God will bring light into darkened hearts, and many will be rescued from death.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Col. 1:13-14

🎄 Would you be a Christmas outreach sponsor?

Please consider becoming a sponsor of this year’s Christmas outreaches.

• At least 2,500 people will hear the gospel through song, drama, and testimony in 13 different locations throughout the nation. Most of them have never heard about Jesus.

With your help, we reached our goal!

Each $5 sponsorship provides:

• A warm delicious meal (including protein, a luxury in Myanmar)

• A small gift for each person

• A Burmese evangelistic Bible

Please ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you consider investing in the Christmas harvest in Myanmar. For those in this war-torn nation these outreaches are the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s a way they can experience the demonstrated love of Jesus Christ through His body, the church. Thank you for praying and giving.

“The opportunity of a lifetime needs to be seized during the lifetime of the opportunity.”

Leonard Ravenhill, Revivalist 

With our love,

Jim & Nancy