JUDY HAYDEN — YANGON , MYANMAR
After graduating from YWAMSG ’ s School of Frontier Missions ( SoFM ) in 1995 , Judy attended YWAMSG ’ s School of Biblical Studies ( SBS ) in 2001 and in 2009 .
Judy Hayden was the first person from YWAMSG to put a stake in the ground in Myanmar , and paved the way for pioneering a base there . Before this , she had served in Thailand where she was involved with the refugees and prison work , as well as the pioneering of YWAM Thailand . She also made regular short trips to Myanmar to deliver Bibles .
The more she visited the Nation , the more burdened she felt for the locals . “ How can the majority people group be so unreached ?” she wondered , as she observed that the churches in Myanmar were devoid of people from Buddhist backgrounds . She then started a ministry for them back in Thailand . It was initially discouraging , as she could not find other YWAMers with a similar burden . Downcast , she returned to New Zealand , saying , “ Lord , if this is even going to happen , it will have to be You who opens the door .”
Two years later , she was invited to Singapore to work with the SoFM to form a team that would head into Myanmar . In 1996 , she moved to Yangon to teach English to local employees in an import / export company run by a Singaporean Christian businessman . She knew that she had to approach this ministry differently from her work in
Thailand . “ What has worked in one place does not necessarily work in another ,” she shares . “ This is why we have to be dependent on the Holy Spirit .”
God highlighted the importance of involving the locals from the beginning , so that church planting would not be subjected to “ foreigners enforcing their own vision to start an initiative ”. This was especially needful in Myanmar where the turbulent political situation meant that Judy was never sure how long her visa would last . She was concerned , “ If I get kicked out tomorrow , what am I leaving behind ?”
As such , her ministry in Myanmar was focused on mentoring and training the locals to plant churches among their own people . She also learnt the nuances of their local culture so as to be more effective in discipling them . As she found her way into the lives of the locals , she got to fulfil her dream of living adventurously , like staying in villages and taking trips down rivers . Through the years , due to various health and family issues , she had to constantly shuttle between New Zealand and Myanmar . As she struggled with where she belonged , God spoke to her through Psalm 84 . “ When I saw that the sparrow had found a home for itself and its young ones in the Lord ’ s house and in His presence , I said , ‘ Well Lord , home is wherever You will have me ’.” Judy realised that pioneering was not about finding the specific place that she was called to , but about being obedient to the Lord ’ s voice at any given time .
A warm welcome by the Hinthada Zu villagers ( Myanmar ) as this man reached out to grab the rope from the boat , to pull visitors to shore . Photo credit : Judy Hayden
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