JOY AND TENSION
October 14, 2025
Dear Family and Friends,
After being silent before the LORD, the prophet Habakkuk went from “I have heard…and I fear” (3:2) to “I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble….Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places” (3:16, 18-19).
He both trembles and rejoices! How is this possible? Because he has been in God’s presence and heard from Him. He was “silent before Him” (2:20). And though the immense stresses of his circumstances did not change, and his body continued to tremble, his soul rejoices as it is raised up in strength.
These past months have been a time of both joy and external tension in the wider Tyrannus and Lydia Halls family.
In Yangon, Myanmar they are experiencing joy in the midst of tension. After a hiatus of many years due to both COVID and political unrest, the Yangon Tyrannus Hall (Myanmar) re-opened in downtown Yangon.
Yangon Tyrannus Hall
Yet due to the ongoing 2021 military coup and civil war, life in Myanmar remains very difficult. Beginning a new Hall is never easy, especially when it’s in a persecuted context. Please pray for Rev. Ai Nap, the staff and students of the newly restarted YTH.
We received word last week that 9-10 students were shot the previous week in Bandarban, Bangladesh, where the Chittagong Hills Tyrannus and Lydia Halls (Bangladesh) are located. Rev. Thimkhup Buiting reassured us with, “Yes, by the grace of Almighty God, our students and staff are saved. Thank God for His love and guidance.” But their ministry among the Bawn people continues to be persecuted. This excellent article from six weeks ago, prior to these more recent shootings, will bring you up to date about a little known conflict and help you pray for them: https://netra.news/2025/bangladesh-army-indigenous-bawm/.
Last month, the Kathmandu Tyrannus Hall (Nepal), which is located between the airport and government offices, was caught in the middle of the violent “Gen Z Protests” that occupied the airport, burnt government buildings and resulted in the death of at least 72 people and the resignation of the Prime Minister. After the overthrow of the government, Yuba Raj Devota, Director of the KTH, wrote, “it's been resettling now and going on normal, one of our student’s college completely destroyed, little bits [of] some others, thank you for your prayer and support.” Pray for Yuba Raj and the KTH students.
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh. Pray that they, like Habakkuk, would fix their eyes on the LORD, be silent before Him, receive from Him and know His sustaining power and joy in the midst of conflict.
Not all Halls presently experience great external tension.
After a two-year pause for reconstruction, the Olomouc Lydia Hall (Czechia) celebrated their grand re-opening this past weekend. Julie and I had the joy of being present as Monika and Mojmir Tichy, along with past and present students, officially commissioned their new facility to the discipleship of university students.
Olomouc Lydia hall
Enjoy the first 30 seconds of the tour: 2025.10.11OLHTour.mp4!
This inaugural group of Lydians is the most spiritually diverse group of disciples that Tyrannus and Lydia Halls has ever had. Among the 7 students, there are 6 different church backgrounds: Baptist, Orthodox, Adventist, Catholic, Czech Evangelical and “seeker.”
Pray for Monika and the 7 new students to form a united group of disciples and to establish good rhythms of community life for years to come.
And lastly, the Cambodia Tyrannus Hall (Cambodia) rejoices in new growth. Rev. Gihuka Swu writes, “Working with Boys making tables for new students. More students applied this year. We may have 20 women and 15 men. Appreciate your prayers 🙏.”
Joy and tension, even joy in tension. May we all “be silent before Him” and receive the strength of our Lord in pleasant and unpleasant times.
Steve