Nearly 600 people gathered in Nong Luang, a village near Thailand’s border with Myanmar, for the opening of the West Thailand Region (WTR) Center of Influence, a new facility built by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Adventist Church, a global Protestant denomination with more than 24 million members worldwide, operates churches, schools, and health institutions in over 200 countries. In Thailand, the church is active in education, community service, and mission work.

The new WTR Center of Influence sits on 2.4 acres and will serve as a training and community hub for Adventist members and local residents. The facility includes a training center, cafeteria, and two dormitories to host workers, students, and leaders for seminars, leadership programs, and community projects.

“The true measure of this center is not how long the building will stand, but the lives that are built within it,” said Michael Worker, a guest speaker from the Adventist Church in the South Pacific.

The West Thailand Region, where the center is located, has long been a base for Adventist outreach among communities facing poverty and displacement due to conflict along the Thai-Myanmar border. The center is intended to strengthen the work of local Adventist members, who often serve in areas with few ordained pastors, while also providing support to vulnerable populations.

During the center's inauguration, church members expressed gratitude that the Adventist presence in the region now has a place of its own.

“Even though it is just the training center for now, it feels as if the regional headquarters is becoming a reality,” said Kanu Boon, secretary of the Adventist church in the West Thailand region.

The project was funded by the Adventist Church’s South Pacific Division and the Australian Union Conference, with additional support from international donors and contributions of labor from local members.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Adventist representatives from across Southeast Asia, including leaders from Thailand, Myanmar, and several Adventist schools. Local community leaders also participated in the dedication program.

With the opening of the WTR Center of Influence, Adventist leaders hope the facility will serve both as a training base for the church and as a community resource for families in western Thailand.

The original article was published on the Southern Asia Pacific Division news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.