Colorado Burma Roundtable Network

It began with a simple trip in 2003, and has evolved into a meaningful ministry.

A note from Jack Johnson, President of CBRTN

When I think of the Colorado Burma Roundtable Network, I think of all of the wonderful and selfless people who dedicate their time, their money and their resources to help a people in need. The story of CBRTN is very much the story of their individual ministries. And the CBRTN story is first and foremost a chronicle of our unseen God's guidance and direction.

I was asked recently to describe how God has led me to discern this ministry as a direction for my life. My answer was quite simple. "It is not hard to discern that which I could not envision, or could not do on my own".

And so it is, God has led us to do things which we had no idea how to accomplish, and He has provided for His beloved Karen people through avenues that we had no idea existed. He has introduced us to Karen leaders whom most people will never meet. And, he has created a strong bond between us and these leaders, and leaders in the local Karen community alike.

Over the past 5 years many crises have surfaced, and we've been asked to help. These have ranged from food shortages arising from monsoon floods in Thailand, to starving Karen on the run in Burma, to food shortages in the IDP camps also in Burma, to disaster assistance for victims of tropical cyclone Nargis. We have simply prayed and asked, and the Christian community has been there with their loving support. He has also provided support through CBRTN to the refugees who come to America confused, depressed, and totally without knowledge of modern city life.

It began with a simple trip in 2003, and has evolved into a meaningful ministry. We now make annual trips to Thailand, and when possible take excursions across one of two rivers that brings us into direct contact with people living under some of the worst oppression on the planet. We work here in Denver performing less glamorous, but absolutely vital tasks that make life bearable for our newest immigrants.

A few years ago we thought Karen was our neighbor, a lady who lived across the street. Today, we know the name Karen to mean a beautiful, wonderful people who may be on the verge of extinction if it weren't for the Grace of God, and the helping hand of kind and generous people around the world. People like you, who are simply willing to stand up and be counted as one. As it is spoken in Matthew 25:31-46, to have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, invited the stranger into your heart, clothed the naked, and cared for the prisoner is to have done this to Jesus Christ, himself. What a blessing!

Jack Johnson