Pastor Leads Transformation in Southern Myanmar

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Myanmar is traditionally a “shut” country, governed by a military regime that did not allow the people to access the internet or have more than limited connection with the outside world. This meant leadership training was inaccessible.

Pastor Aye Min attended The Global Leadership Summit for the first time and it changed the trajectory of his life.

Pastor Aye Min attended The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) for the first time and it changed the trajectory of his life. Understanding how hungry people were for a new model of leadership, he joined the committee to bring the GLS to his city, Yangon, Myanmar. They came together knowing the needs of the country.

The GLS became the first inter-church, multi-denominational leadership training event in Myanmar. With word-of-mouth marketing and events held underground, the GLS started to spread throughout the country. Over the years, Myanmar has opened up and the GLS is growing.

“I used to be a full-time lecturer at Evangel Bible College and a senior pastor of a small church,” Aye Min shares. “I was very comfortable. I enjoyed my ministry. I knew my calling—teaching and pastoring. But after I first attended the GLS, everything changed.

“At the Summit in 2009, Rick Warren challenged me to reach farther. I felt like God was speaking to me personally. He was calling me to another level of leadership.”

I felt like God was speaking to me personally. He was calling me to another level of leadership.

Rick Warren talked about letting go and taking on what God intended for you. At the Summit, God instructed Aye Min to give his journey to God. He had something bigger in mind.

“I was in a lot of pain because I had to resign from the position I loved,” says Aye Min. “I loved the school, the students and I loved teaching, but I was ready to follow wherever the Holy Spirit was leading me. I was no longer in my comfort zone!

“Because of that challenge, I got the privilege to multiply one church into 10 churches and train more leaders. I became a leader over leaders—a pastor over pastors. And the Lord has opened up the opportunity for me to meet with top leaders. I got the privilege to share the GLS materials and lessons with them.”

I became a leader over leaders—a pastor over pastors.

Aye Min has even had the privilege to reach the high levels of government. “They elected me as a district superintendent, where we have 162 churches in a Burmese-speaking area,” says Aye Min. “I got the privilege to plan and think for the whole country!

“Last year we gathered more than 20,000 people for a healing crusade with approval by the government. And this was the first time the government issued a religious visa for preaching. That’s never happened in the history of our country. Now you can go freely, and you can come as a preacher!”

The GLS has ignited passion in the hearts of the people of Myanmar!

Just as Aye Min’s life was affected by the GLS, he influenced others to reach farther. Ruth attended the GLS, and today she is running an orphanage, teaching Bible school, planting churches and is involved on the GLS committee. “When kids come to our orphanage, they don’t really have hope for their future,” says Ruth. “But we pray with them as we teach them, so they will have hope and a vision to become leaders one day.”

“I’m so grateful for the GLN,” Aye Min shares. “My life and ministry have been transformed! Myanmar is now transforming into a democratic nation. So, the GLN has to reach farther. Now is the time for equipping leaders in Myanmar!”