Amid Turmoil, Evangelism Results in More than 800 New Members in Myanmar

Amid significant challenges, the Living Hope evangelistic series in Myanmar has resulted in the recent baptism of 861 new believers. The August 18-24 series, hosted by the Myanmar Union Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (MYUM), has been incredibly successful at navigating challenging situations and fostering spiritual development, regional church leaders said.

Myanmar has faced a period of difficulty that has made religious activities more challenging. The evolving situation in the country has led to increased restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly, impacting the ability of church leaders and members to travel and conduct evangelistic work. Despite these obstacles, the Adventist Church in Myanmar has shown resilience, adapting its methods while maintaining its spiritual mission, leaders explained.

Church leaders and members have found innovative ways to nurture their faith and share the gospel, including small group meetings, home-based worship, online services, and discreet ministry efforts. These strategies have been essential in sustaining the church’s mission.

“I encouraged every church to actively participate in the ‘Back to the Altar’ initiatives, prioritizing daily morning and evening worship,” MYUM president Alvin Po Po Hla said. “Additionally, I urged all 248 congregations to conduct evangelistic meetings for the Second Wave Harvest Celebration in their respective communities, ensuring that every member is involved in sharing the gospel message.”

To ensure that the Living Hope evangelistic series could be conducted without hindrance, MYUM diligently attended to all necessary permits and documentation. Regular communication with both regional and national authorities was maintained as part of the preparation process, ensuring that all legal requirements were met and the series could proceed smoothly.

“Given the circumstances, we had to relocate three times to hold this event, facing challenges in coordination,” MYUM communication director Teint Saung said. “Securing permits and establishing good relations with authorities are crucial for religious activities. However, by God’s grace, the harvest celebration was successfully conducted across five missions in Myanmar.”

The series was conducted in two waves, with the first beginning in March and the second concluding in August. Throughout this period, the members across the entire country of Myanmar united in a collective effort to share the gospel, leading to the baptism of 861 new believers.

This outcome is a triumph of perseverance and faith, leaders said. “MYUM expresses profound gratitude for the opportunity to witness and participate in this mission work during such challenging times,” church leaders said. “The success of this series demonstrates that even amid difficulties, the church can thrive spiritually, anchored in faith and hope.”

“I feel very happy after the conclusion of this program,” Po Po Hla said. “I am grateful to the Lord for His leading.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.