A significant milestone quietly unfolded in Toungoo, Myanmar. Pastors, lay leaders, youth representatives, and ministry partners gathered for the First Myanmar Southeast District Assembly.
While the event was marked by celebration—singing, reports, and prayer—it was also a moment of profound relief and gratitude. This gathering is a testament not only to organizational growth but to a faith that survived the fire.
To understand the magnitude of this day, one must listen to the voices from the ground. Pastor Maung*, a church planter in the Bago region, remembers how different things looked just a few years ago.
“When the troubles began in 2021, and the roads were blocked, I looked at my small congregation and felt fear,“ Maung said. “We had no money. We could not travel to the city for training. I thought, ‘Surely the door is closing on our ministry.‘ But God showed us that the gospel does not stop at a checkpoint.”
“We started meeting in small groups. We shared what little rice we had. When we couldn’t travel, we focused on our neighbors. We found that people were hungry for hope because everything else around them was shaking. Today, seeing us become our own district… it is like seeing a harvest in a field we thought had dried up.“
In 2020, the areas now forming the Myanmar Southeast District—primarily the Karen and Bago regions—were still considered pioneer fields. Churches were young, leaders were emerging, and resources were scarce.
Then came 2021, when Myanmar entered a prolonged season of civil conflict. Daily life became a struggle against instability, economic hardship, and restricted communication. Yet, as Pastor Maung’s testimony reveals, the mission did not stop.
Local believers continued to plant churches and disciple new believers. Pastors were trained through local Course of Study programs and Chapman International College (CIC) extension centers. Faith moved forward—even when the cost was unseen.
The Myanmar Southeast District is being established as a Phase 2 District.
In the Nazarene polity, this is a critical turning point. It means the district has moved beyond the “pioneer” stage of total dependency. It signifies that the district now has enough local leadership, established churches, and financial stewardship to begin governing itself more directly, while still partnering with the field for guidance. It is the bridge between being a mission field and becoming a fully self-sustaining regular district.
This formation is also a testimony to shared strength. The Myanmar Central District provided critical support in “birthing” this new district—standing with leaders and sharing resources. It reminds us that new districts are not born in isolation, but through the faithful cooperation of the wider Nazarene family.
The first district assembly was historic for another reason: the appointment of Naw Pa Saw Wah as district superintendent.
She is the first woman to serve in this role in Myanmar. Her appointment reflects the church’s commitment to recognizing Spirit-filled leadership—both men and women—especially in pioneering contexts. Under her leadership, the district has found the courage to move forward amid uncertainty. Her story stands as a testimony to the fact that God raises the right leaders at the right time.