A major construction project of 100 new elementary schools and 150 new churches has begun in the southeast Asian country of Myanmar (formerly Burma). The project is being organized and funded by donors from Adventist Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), an umbrella organization for lay supporting ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“Church members in Myanmar are committed and enthusiastic,” says Michael Ryan, director of Global Mission for the Adventist Church. “But they’ve lacked resources to meet many of their goals. These new schools and churches will touch hundreds of lives, and teach values and skills that will make a tremendous contribution to Myanmar society.”

Each school will have four classrooms, and an apartment for teaching staff. Each church building will also include living quarters for church workers. “The time is right for Myanmar,” says one of the project’s donors. “I have great confidence in the church leaders in Myanmar, and I believe we have an excellent window of opportunity to make an investment for the people of this beautiful country.”

The first Seventh-day Adventist congregation in Myanmar was established in the capital Yangon (formerly Rangoon) in 1907 and since then church membership has grown to nearly 22,000. The Adventist Church in Myanmar currently operates a publishing house, a high school, and 96 elementary schools.