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Meet Lal Fan Thang

My name is Lal Fan Thang, and I am from Myanmar (Burma). I am in my final year of study pursuing a Master of Divinity. I learned about Garrett from our former bishop of the Methodist Church in Lower Myanmar, Emeritus Bishop Dr. Zothan Mawia, who received his Doctor of Ministry from Garrett in 2012-2013, and his daughter Christer, who pursued the M. Div program as well. These were divine connections that led me to meet Garrett professors and piqued my interest in joining the Garrett community. I had a chance to personally meet Professor Jennifer Brooks in 2017 when she gave lectures to the church pastors and leaders. In 2018, Professor K.K. Yeo lectured on the gospel of John, and Professor Mark Teasdale taught us online. The insights they shared during these courses birthed in me the desire to apply to Garrett, and I was accepted into the Master of Divinity program. Amid the tumult of the Covid-19 pandemic and the chaos of a military coup, I faced significant challenges on my path to join the Garrett community in Fall 2022. Yet, through a series of miraculous events and divine intervention, I was able to overcome these obstacles and begin my studies here. This journey has been nothing short of a testament to the power of faith and the unwavering support of God. Truly, it is God who did it!

 I depend on God and rely more on the calling that he has placed on my life. I received a dream. In this vision, the voice of God told me to engage in children’s ministry three times. I never imagined doing children’s ministry. Hence, for a certain time, I ventured into other things, but there was a small voice that always reminded me of this call each day. I volunteered to teach Sunday school, and I developed a love for it as it was my calling and became a hobby. I have had the opportunity to volunteer in Sunday School teaching for the past two years in Chicago area churches. I envision supporting the development of educational initiatives for underprivileged children in my society. I believe that education is one of the most potent instruments for changing and transforming the future. Therefore, if God is willing, as I serve him in every possible way, I will continue to enhance my skills in children’s ministry.

Garrett has a vast and inclusive perspective on theological studies. I have engaged in courses like preaching and the Old Testament, which have been transformative in how I read and understand scriptures. The classes have challenged me to remove personal biases and approach the Bible from a broader, more inclusive perspective. My creative side has been shaped through the Visual Theology Class by Prof. Brian Bantum, which helped me to discover God in arts and creations in a different and beautiful way. My love for history deepened through Prof. Anna Johnson’s class on History II, which informed my writings for the senior colloquy. I believe that encountering God in real-life experiences is the ultimate fulfillment of theological education, as it bridges faith with action and transforms lives. The most profound aspect of my theological education has been the integration of academic study with practical application. By actively engaging with theology both in the classroom and within the community, I have forged deep and significant connections that resonate with my faith and ministry. Witnessing the Garrett family and community members serve both the Lord and others with dedication has been a great inspiration.

 The diversity within the Garrett community has also been impactful. Sharing theological education, life experiences, and perspectives with people from different backgrounds has enriched my understanding of God’s work in the world.

My acrostics poem for GARRETT will be:

Grounded my calling, encouraged me to deepen my learning, and encouraged me to become more skillful.

Advocate for the truth that sets the poor and marginalized free, and

Revisit both the biblical context and personal context

Revise and reform

Educational resources and reactivate a biblical

Theological concept and

Thought forms contextually for the sake of transformation.

Garrett grounded my theological foundation in my calling and encouraged me to deepen my learning—to become more skillful, to advocate for the truth that sets the poor free, and to revisit both the biblical and personal context. This journey has empowered me to revise the resources we have been using to repair and restore every broken part holistically. It has also challenged me to reimagine the future, dare to restart with a new ministry approach, and reactivate faith for a biblical theological thought form.”