Context & Regional Background

Serving in Myanmar today requires navigating a landscape of profound uncertainty and hardship. Following the February 2021 military coup that ousted the democratically elected government, Myanmar has been plunged into a devastating civil war. The military regime (the State Administration Council, which is now continued on through Min Aung Hlaing’s military dictatorship through his role on the NDS) faces intense armed resistance across nearly all fourteen states and regions, leading to widespread political instability, severe economic pressures, food insecurity, and the internal displacement of over three million citizens. Airstrikes, forced conscription, and infrastructure collapse are daily realities for local communities. Several of our national church planters have fled, or left to areas where we are no longer able to make contact with them. Despite these immense challenges, national church planters remain on the ground, serving as vital pillars of spiritual hope and physical relief to destitute families in places like the Yangon Division.

Ministry Overview & Daily Labors

Pastor Vel Za Siama serves as the primary leader for Independent Baptist Bible Church, located in Shwe Pyi Thar, Yangon. After returning from ministry travel in the Philippines, Pastor Siama has re-engaged his labors among the local people with wholehearted zeal day and night. The ministry maintains a demanding weekly routine. During the day, he engages in soul-winning outreach and community visitations. At night, Pastor Siama leads Bible study and prayer meetings six times a week alongside the children in their care.

Youth and leadership involvement remain strong pillars of this work. Five local Bible students actively teach Sunday School classes, lead the Saturday youth fellowship, and assist with afternoon house visitations. The ministry also benefits from missionary support: Pastor Siama’s son, Missionary Zama, and his wife, Anne, returned from the Philippines to assist in local outreach. Anne teaches piano, violin, English, and gospel music to the young people. Furthermore, Deacon Saw Hty Oo assists with regular preaching duties while his son, Gladstone, studies at Bethany Bible College in Makati, Philippines.

Quarterly Fruit & Orphanage Outreach

The Lord produced encouraging spiritual fruit through their labors in their most recent reporting. Pastor Siama was involved in planting one new church in Thuat Kyiant, Yangon Division, led by Pastor Zaw Khai. Outreach teams evangelized two new locations, including Hle Gu town. Through personal witnessing and preaching, six individuals made professions of faith in Jesus Christ, and four believers were publicly baptized.

A central aspect of Pastor Siama’s ministry is caring for orphaned and destitute children, an avenue he considers one of the most effective ways to win souls and build lasting faith in Myanmar.

The ministry recently opened its doors to four abandoned siblings and the newborn child of the eldest sister. These children had attended Sunday School years earlier before their parents’ marriage fractured due to extreme domestic abuse and severe alcoholism. After their mother fled and their grandmother could no longer afford to feed them, she brought the children to Pastor Siama begging for help. Moved by Scripture (Isaiah 58:6–12), Pastor Siama took them in. Since arriving, all of the siblings except the newborn have accepted Christ as Savior and received baptism. The home currently cares for 23 children on faith.

Theological Education & Family Updates

In addition to local church efforts, Pastor Siama teaches Church Administration and Organization at Myanmar Baptist Bible College (MBBC). The college is set to graduate eight students with a Graduate of Theology (G.Th.) degree before restarting classes. On a personal level, Pastor Siama reports that his family is doing well overall. His son recently underwent a tonsillectomy and had abnormal wisdom teeth extracted to prevent dental deformities. His adopted son married a Filipina in the Philippines, generously providing tickets for Pastor Siama and his wife to attend the wedding. His oldest daughter attends Bible college in the United States as a working student, earning her tuition hourly. Meanwhile, his youngest daughter is completing Grade 10 at a Christian school, and his son James plans to move to the Philippines for Bible college.

Stewardship & Current Needs

Pastor Siama expresses profound gratitude for the support received. Funds sent to the ministry are primarily used to purchase bags of rice to feed the children and workers, as well as essential medicine for the orphans, who frequently fall ill during the rainy season.

Looking ahead, the ministry has outlined key goals: completing necessary roof renovations for the orphanage, facilitating James’ transition to Bible college in the Philippines, and continuing nightly discipleship meetings. Major prayer requests include continued evangelistic fruit, monthly sponsors for the 23 children, funding to purchase adjacent land for a Girls’ Dormitory, and provision to buy two violins so young girls can continue playing during church services without relying on borrowed instruments. He also asks for prayer for their seven Bible students studying locally and abroad, and for tuition provision for Pastor Siama’s youngest daughter.

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