A historic milestone was celebrated in Kholam, Shan State, Myanmar, as the Church of the Nazarene dedicated its first mission center in the Shan Pioneer Area on 4 October 2025. The event, held in conjunction with the Southern District’s Nazarene Missions International (NMI) Convention, marked a breakthrough for the church’s mission among one of Myanmar’s most unreached people groups.
Shan State in eastern Myanmar is home to over 5.8 million people and spans more than 60,000 square miles—larger than the U.S. state of Georgia. Less than 2% of the population in the state identifies as Christian, and the Shan are considered an unreached people group by the Joshua Project. Political instability, cultural barriers, and geographic isolation have long made this region both spiritually urgent and logistically challenging for missions work.
In 2020, despite these challenges and amid the global pandemic, the Southern District launched its pioneer missions in Shan State. James and Jessica, a missionary couple, were sent to a village with no prior church presence. They rented a small home and began with simple acts of hospitality and children’s Bible storytelling. Over time, these gatherings blossomed into a worshiping congregation— laying the foundation for the Kholam Church, the first Nazarene church plant in the area.
Through a partnership between the Southern and Northwest Myanmar districts, land was donated to support the church plant. With generous global giving through Alabaster, a multi-purpose missions and training center was built on the church property. The center now serves as a hub for worship, discipleship, leadership development, and community outreach—becoming a vibrant presence and beacon of hope in the Shan community.
The dedication celebration brought together church members, local leaders, and district representatives, including District Superintendent Ram Neihthang, Shan Pioneer Missions Coordinator Channa*, and the Southern District NMI President*. Youth and children presented cultural performances, and leaders shared testimonies of God’s faithfulness and their shared vision for the future. The theme “We Are Missional People” (Matthew 28:19-20) was not only declared but powerfully embodied throughout the event.
Earlier in 2025, James and Jessica returned to Yangon for health reasons, and God raised new leadership through Pastor Channa and his family, who relocated from the Bago area to continue the pioneer work. Under his leadership, the ministry has grown to include 12 churches and prayer houses across the Shan pioneer area. Three leadership development cohorts are now training local pastors as part of a long-term vision to raise Indigenous leaders.
In August 2025, more than 40 pastors and lay leaders gathered for the Lydia Mission Strategy Seminar, led by Neihthang and Jubilee*. The seminar reinforced Nazarene identity, introduced the Lydia Mission Strategy—developed over the past decade in Myanmar, and cast a vision for forming a new pioneer district by 2027. Participants left inspired, unified, and renewed in their call to missions.
Looking forward, the Church of the Nazarene in Myanmar envisions planting 15 churches and equipping 15 pastors in the Shan pioneer area by 2027. The greater dream is to see Shan believers themselves sending missionaries to more unreached peoples.
The Church of the Nazarene in Myanmar is deeply grateful to all global partners, especially Alabaster Offering donors, whose generosity helped make the new missions center possible.
The Church of the Nazarene in Myanmar is also requesting prayer for the 12 existing churches and prayer houses to grow as healthy, gospel-centered communities, for fruitful training of local pastors through ongoing leadership development programs, for strength, protection, and provision for Pastor Channa’s family, and for God’s continued guidance as the Church in Myanmar moves toward its 2027 vision.
*Full names omitted for privacy.