THE STRUGGLE FOR CONNECTIONS

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it John 14:13,14

In Myanmar, as in any other country, having connections can be very useful. The leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist community faced a tough challenge when they sought authorization to build a larger school in Yangon. The current structures have been accommodating 650 children since 1975, but they are overcrowded, leading to difficult decisions to turn away enthusiastic students.

The leaders approached the Yangon city authorities for permission to construct a new building, but unfortunately, it proved to be a fruitless endeavor. Although personal connections within the city government were established, no results were achieved. However, the need for a larger facility caught the attention of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They approved a request from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division to allocate funds from the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering for the new school building.

Unfortunately, the bureaucratic quagmire persisted. Local church leaders collected funds but struggled to navigate city government approval. Unfortunately, three years passed without progress.

However, new church leadership was appointed during regular elections. Although they lacked connections within the city government, they remained hopeful and determined to achieve their goals.

The dream of a larger school building may have seemed unattainable, but the then president of Southern Asia-Pacific Division, Samuel Saw, a native of Myanmar, reminded them that they have a powerful ally in God. He encouraged them to ask God for help, even if they lacked worldly connections.

The solution is both simple and profound—prayer. Saw asked the membership to pray earnestly and file a new request for a city building permit.

The desire for a new school building in Yangon still persisted, even after many years.They were confident that it could be a reality by God’s power.

[story continues next week]

Please, pray for our missionaries, volunteers, and Global Mission Pioneers. Your
faithfulness sustains their ministry.

CHALLENGE FOR THE FAMILY: Identify a pressing need in your local community, such as supporting a struggling school, providing meals for the homeless, or organizing a clean-up day in a public space. Come up with a plan as a family and local church community to address this need and take action together to make a positive impact.