Church Planter

The Rev. Dr. Aung Lai Matu was born on August 17, 1957, in Matupi, Chin State, Burma. He received the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior in 1974. He married his wife, Ngul Khan Cing (Cingno), in 1984, and they are blessed with two sons, Glory Tungpi, 19, and Emmanuel Lianpu, 14, and a daughter, Christiana Priscilla, 9.

Educational Background

• After completing high school, church planting became his focus in 1978
• Bachelor of Theology degree from Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Dehra Dun, India, 1992
• Master of Divinity degree from Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Indiana, 1998
• Doctor of Ministry Intercultural Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary, Mississippi, 2005

Ministry Experience

• Missionary to Arakan State, Burma, 1980-1986
• Ordained by Christian Reformed Church of Myanmar, 1986
• Church Pastor, 1986-1988, 1992-1995
• Founder and Principal of Reformed Theological College in Yangon, Myanmar, 1998-2003
• Planted 10 churches in Burma among the Mro and Khumi people, 1980-1986
• Installed to the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), 2008

Unique Preparation
God has uniquely prepared Aung as a church planter. He is fluent in 12 different Asian languages and dialects (from provinces in India, Burma, and Bangladesh). He knows the Theravada Buddhist religion. Because of his ten years of church planting experience and calling to plant churches, he can effectively reach diverse people groups in Queens, New York.

Present Family Situation
Aung was granted religious asylum by the US government on May 23, 2006. Aung's church planting efforts and his educational background (including his doctoral dissertation, entitled "Multiplying Churches in Myanmar Reaching Out to the Burmese Theravada Buddhist Community through New Church Planting Strategies") caused the Burmese government to threaten his life. He cannot go back to Myanmar.

On September 10, 2007, after four years, one month, 15 days, 11 hours, and 15 minutes of separation from his family, the Lord brought Aung's wife Cingno, his older son Glory Tungpi, his middle son Emmanuel Lianpu, and his young daughter Christina Priscilla, out of the fearful, oppressive, and dangerous country of Burma to the freedom of the United States of America, just before the outbreak of violence in Myanmar. Please continue to pray for Aung and his family, as they adjust to their new lives in America.