26/01/2026
THANKFUL NOTE
Greeting to you all in the most precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Respected graduation Speaker, Chairman, and members of Trustees, and faculty members of the college, leaders of churches, distinguished guests, my dear graduates, ladies and gentle men!
I, on behalf of the college, would like to take this occasion to express my heartiest greetings and gratitude to all individuals, churches, international and local organizations who contribute immensely to the college to be what it is today.
The Union Theological College is 42 years old by now as it was established in 1984, indicating that today’s celebration is the 39th Graduation. As circumstance compelled, we were unable to celebrate the 38th Graduation Service, however, we have it today through the grace of Him. Unfortunately the graduates who were unable to make it now, they would receive their certificates in absentia.
Mr. Thang Om Bachelor of Ministry
Ms. Biak Chin Sung Bachelor of Theology
I am afraid, if I could mention it all in the detail, yet, if any thing left unmentioned, I sincerely expect your forgiveness in Christ Jesus our Lord.
First of all, we are greatly happy to accord a special word of welcome to the honorable graduation speaker, Rev. Dr. Zaw Latt Aung, Executive Secretary, Association of Theological Education in Myanmar (ATEM), consenting our invitation and being part of our service today. UTC would always remain grateful to him.
Our thank is due also to members of Board of Trustee for their care and concern as well as of your parental love toward every part of the life of the college.
We are happy to welcome all the graduates who, after successfully completing their studies, have come to their degrees. Our congratulations to you and also wish God’s blessings as you have entered into various forms of ministry to which you are being called.
We are really proud of the Church Pastor, Ministers and Committee Members of Matupi Baptist Church, Yangon for their love, reliability and concern for having us the church and all facilities for this graduation service and made us feel at home for which we would remain ever grateful. We, the college, sincerely wish them all for the success in future ministry for the extension of greater Kingdom;
We also express our gratitude to the individual persons namely Rev. Dr. Hlon Khua Mang and family, Yangon for being supportiveness for every need and circumstances is unspeakable. We really appreciate the various services rendered whenever need occurred.
Word of appreciation would be incomplete if we failed to mention Rev. Saw Klo Htoo, Librarian, Myanmar Institute of Theology, the Principal, the Librarians of Myanmar Institute of Christian Theology whose service in book collection and letting us use their Libraries without which our Academic in this period of change would be never successful.
Mention must be made for the part time lecturers namely Pastor Min Yawng and Pastor Thim Yel Ling, who, in spite of hectic schedule, volunteered their blessed service that made academic successful. We are indeed thankful to Sayama Eh Hmwee and choir members of Myanmar Praise School, Hmawbi for being part of this occasion yielding the melodious Hallelujah Chorus, Special number and beautiful hands of music by Saya Thang Lian; not forgetting Sayama Thin Thin Khaing, ကြယ်စင်သစ် ကွန်ပျူတာ, for a helping hand yielding not only Graduation Service Bulletin beautiful and wonderful but also every need of the college in regards to designs, paper works and books.
A special word of thanks to;
1. Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA),
2. Foundation for Theological Education in Asia Pacific (FTEAP)
3. Association for Theological Education in Myanmar (ATEM)
4. Theological Education Department, Myanmar Baptist Convention
5. Chin Baptist Convention (CBC)
6. Matu Baptist Association (MBA)
7. Zotung Baptist Association (ZBA)
8. Matu Association of Baptist Churches (MABC)
9. Matu Cingtlang Baptist Association (MCBA)
10. Paletwah Baptist Association (PBA)
11. Simi Tlang Baptist Association (STBA)
12. East Zotung Baptist Association
13. Chin Association for Christian Communication (CACC)
Organizations and Churches in United State of America, Norway, Australia, Singapore, Denmark (FB Page ah cun min kan langhter lomi hi kan theih thiam hram u)
from where the major supports come.
This credit also goes to the individual organizations and individual churches, whose services in various ways is, in deed, immeasurable, such as;
1. Neil Sowards Education Fund
2. Friends of Burma;
Matupi Baptist Church, Yangon, Yangon Zotung Baptist Church, Batupuei Baptist Church, Yangon, Matupi Baptist Church, Matupi, Churches of Zotung Baptist Association, having observed UTC Sunday and their invaluable help and support.
We also extend our thankfulness to Diaspora organizations of Chin groups in United State of America, Singapore, Norway, Australia, Denmark and not forgetting their concern in assisting the financial helps and invaluable service rendered.
In expressible word of thanks is due to Church Committee members and Youth Department of Matupi Baptist Church (Matupi) and Matupi Baptist Church, Yangon for taking pain in preparation for very delicious graduation lunch, being ready to be enjoyed right after the service is over, and Pa Za Mang for the purified drinking water bots.
The blessed hands of Sayama Rachel Dar Thluai, Mr. Ho San Mang by having us amazing decoration through their handy work that in deed makes the service lively and wonderful.
We are, indeed, proud to mention and congratulate our dear Vice Principal Pastor Dr. Aye Ly for being graduated from her study of Doctor of Ministry, MIT – CBTS, USA and resuming the task back.
If unknowingly missed some contributor’s name, but hope that your understanding of our weakness would surely help us to grow into perfection.
Last but not the least, though words fail us to express our indebtedness to you all for your love and concern to the college; yet, promise you that we would always up hold you all in our daily fervent prayer, at the same time we also expect the same from you all.
Once again, If anything left unmentioned, we sincerely expect your forgiveness in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Above all, praise and honor be to God Almighty for His unfailing love and providence.
Long Live UTC!
Thank you all!
Current Situation
It would be better understanding the present condition of the college if I mentioned first about the present situation and what happened to the college.
The college starts every yearly academic session in the month of June, extending till March of the following year. As located in the remote area, the college prepared every need for the academic 2024 - 2025, especially foodstuff in advance for transportation problem during the rainy season.
Some of students already arrived for the new academic year in the last week of May, 2024; and also, some new students contacted and inquired for the admission. However, the news of impending conflict between the Myanmar army and Chinland Defence Forces (CDF) has spread out in the region like wild fire around 27th – 31st May. Then, most of the local households started leaving for the safer zone, leaving behind every belonging.
By 29th May, the situation was quite tense and just handful of them were in the town and the arrived students were to send back. The college faculty members, being in the different location by then, had a talk through the phone and no option was left for us except that we also should leave for the safer zone. The college family members and neighbors were forced to leave, including the principal and his family members deserting the college on 5th June, 2024, and got Yangon on 12th June, 2024. Some of the faculty members also were soon to arrive. Right after getting Yangon, we convened the Board of Trustee Meeting on 23rd June, 2024, since most of the faculty members too were in Yangon and had a consent to open the school in Yangon for 2024 – 2025 Academic Session that the old remaining students may continue their theological journey without abased.
Sadly, while considering for opening the school and arrangement for class and accommodation, we got the information on 2nd July, 2024 through the page of … that the college Library along with some Church buildings in Matupi, were bo….ded. Though the information on conflict was not reliable, since every communication system was cut off, yet we relied only on the social media. The pictures posted bear heavily damaged library building and debris. We had some checked and scanned and confirmed only on the month of September. The college’s chapel and girl and boy dormitory were damaged too.
Regrettably, no one was to take care of the books and furniture amid heavy rainfall. Although the conflict has halted just for a while, no one dare going back there for fear of conflict. Thus, college’s properties, especially the books were exposed of the rain for several months. Only in November, some of the staff members, the clerk and the accountant got the college and took immediate action in collecting the remains with the help of Rev. Dr. … the president, board of trustee and youth members of BBA. Unfortunately, almost all books were deformed by rain and no more usable.
As mentioned, we are in dilemma whether we could able to continue running the college. However, with the hope of prayer that we can rebuild and started new library project by now and collected some, raising the needed fund for the project.
It is, therefore, my humble prayer with a request that if you have any possible way to assist us in such condition you are warmly welcome.
Now the college through His guidance, energetically determines to face the challenges and set to continue the new Academic Session of 2026 - 2027.
