According to the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, over the past couple of years, some 1,500 Burmese refugees have resettled in Fort Wayne, adding to the estimated 5,000 already here and bringing the total number of Burmese people in this city to approximately 6,500, surpassing the population of many Indiana towns. With the majority of refugees jobless and poor, especially in this economy, the potential for a humanitarian crisis is real indeed. In the face of this challenge, the Fort Wayne Seventh-day Adventist Church has not stood idly by.

 Many of these refugees come from the Karen tribe to which a growing number of Adventist families belong. Our church has sponsored and relocated many of these families and individuals, providing them with food, clothing, furniture and other necessities of life. Doctors in our congregation have provided free medical services to them. Other members have taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to help them communicate more effectively in American society. As expected, the ones proving most adaptable to change are the children. In a very real sense, they are the future of this community. Consequently, the church has taken on the tremendous challenge of shouldering the cost of educating these children in our church school, Aboite Christian School. It has not been without great effort and sacrific. Over these past three years, our local church has had to raise approximately $30,000 per year over its even larger subsidy to the school to enable these precious young people to receive a Christian education.

The family of Karen brothers and sisters in Christ is growing in Fort Wayne.

If it sounds like "the mission field," it certainly is, complete with all its challenges and joys! And there are many joys to be shared. The first two Karen graduates from our church school are now attending Indiana Academy. Hsa Law Eh plans to be a teacher someday; Eh Hser, a nurse. And many more are filling in the ranks behind them. Jo Naing, a Karen pastor and fellow refugee, now cares for a growing Burmese Adventist congregation of around 30 people. While they worship with the main congregation on Sabbath mornings, they also have their own Karen language church services in various homes in the afternoon. There are now enough young people among the refugee population who understand English that Pastor Ulangca has started an English speaking Bible study group among them as well.

Perhaps you are unable to come to this mission field, but would like to help. If so, you are invited to use the Online Giving option on this website to support the Burmese Ministry of this church. You may also contact Pastor Ulangca using the contact information on this website. Please pray that this ministry may prosper in Fort Wayne for the salvation of many souls in the eternal kingdom of God.