(AUTOBIOGRAPHY)
( 1974 – Present 15th October 2021)
Early Life
Saw Dhay Htoo Sein was born on July 2, 1974, to a peasant family of U Shwe Thein Paw and Daw Mu Tu. His home town is Htee Lar Nel village in Hlaingbwe Township, Kayin State. He has two sisters and a brother; they are Tin Tin Hla (Eldest Sister), Hser Doe (younger brother), and Day Day Mu (youngest sister).
Education and Marriage
Saw Dhay Htoo Sein had finished KG to grade 3 at Karen village called Mae-tha-wal at the borderline between Myanmar and Thailand. In 1982, he moved and studied at Hpa-An State High School No. (2) from standard four to nine. However, due to the political unrest in 1988, he joined Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary from grade 9 to grade 10.
In 1991, he was adopted by U Jimmy Sein and Daw Khin Than Win to have a chance to go and pursue his further study in the Philippines. From 1992 to 1996, he studied at AIIAS, Philippines, for four years to earn his Bachelor of Theology Degree. Life was struggling for him as a self-support student at AIIAS. With strong determination and great persistence, finally, he met with Elder David Parks and Mrs Reitha Parks, who supported him to finish his study. With so many struggles and challenges, he graduated with a Bachelor of Theology from AIIAS, Philippines, on March 20, 1996. After his studies, he decided to come back and serve the Lord in his own country.
He was married to Sharon Sein, the eldest daughter of Pastor and Mrs Herbert Sein at Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary, Myaungmya, Myanmar, on December 4, 1996. At that time, Sharon Sein was teaching at MUAS in Education Department. They both love their ministries. They have two daughters. The eldest one is Reitha Sein, who is currently studying online at MUAS. The youngest daughter is Marissa Sein, and she is studying grade 12 at Yangon Adventist Seminary through the online learning system.
Ministry
In 1996, he started his first ministry at AYAS (Ayeyarwaddy Adventist Seminary) as a bonus teacher. He was regularized as a teacher on January 1, 1997, and he served as a teacher at AYAS from 1996 to 2001.1 After serving at AYAS for five years, Myanmar Union Mission had chosen him to study at AIIAS (Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies), the Philippines, in 2001. After two years of study at AIIAS, he received two degrees. He was graduated with a Master of Arts in Education emphasis in Religious Education and a Master of Arts in Education, emphasis in Educational Administration at AIIAS, Philippines, on October 19, 2003.2
He returned to Myanmar in 2003 and served at AYAS as a principal from 2004 to 2013.3 He was ordained to the gospel ministry at Gyothonbin, Kalay, Upper Myanmar Mission, on the final day of the 7th Union-wide Convention on March 31, 2012.
In 2013, Pastor Dhay Htoo Sein got a call from the Yangon Attached District to serve as a principal at Yangon Adventist Seminary. During three years of ministry at Yangon Adventist Seminary, the enrollment increased, and the demand for the new school building was urgent. With the support of the Union, SSD and GC, the school was able to prepare the groundwork for the new school building.
In 2016, he received a call from South East Mission to work as the South East Adventist Seminary principal.4 He accepted the call and moved to South East Mission to do his respective ministries at SEAS (South East Adventist Seminary). During his ministry in SEAS, he could accomplish an artesian well for the whole campus with the help of the government personnel of Karen State. Then, in 2018, he was able to build a new SEAS Chapel Hall at SEAS which the prominent donor was Kathleen Kachuck.
Due to the urgent call of pastor Shwe Thet Oo (former SEM Secretary) as MYUM IEL/NDR Coordinator and Stewardship Director, on December 16, 2019, the MYUM Executive Committee had voted with the action number of (2019 – 291), to appoint pastor Dhay Htoo Sein as an Executive Secretary for South East Mission.5 Moreover, his wife Sharon was appointed as director of Children Ministries, Women’s Ministries, Family Ministries, Ministerial Spouses Association Departments at SEM.
On August 30, 2020, Pastor Saw Keh (former president of SEM) suddenly passed away with a heart attack. So, the Myanmar Union Executive Committee voted with the action number of (2020 – 208) to approve Pastor Dhay Htoo Sein to become president of South East Mission, Myanmar.6
Pastor Dhay Htoo Sein and his wife Sharon Sein are very active and dedicated persons in the ministry. They love to serve their Creator and Redeemer. Because of their dedication, many precious souls have been brought to the kingdom of God. They are indeed the servants of the Highest God.
Author: Saw Dhay Htoo Sein, MA, is the President of South East Mission, Myanmar.
5
Myanmar Union Mission Executive Committee Minutes
. (Action No. 2019
– 291). In archive Center,
Myanmar Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists.
6
Ibid., 2020 – 208
Sources:
(Endnotes)
1. Worker Service Record of Dhay Htoo Sein. In Record Center, Ayeyarwady Mission
of Seventh-day Adventist.
2 Ibid
3 Worker Service Record of Dhay Htoo Sein. In Record Center, Yangon Attached Mission of Seventh-day Adventist.
4 Worker Service Record of Dhay Htoo Sein. In Record Center, South East Mission of Seventh-day Adventist.
5 Myanmar Union Mission Executive Committee Minutes. (Action No. 2019 – 291). In archive Center, Myanmar Union Mis on of Seventh-day Adventists.
6 Ibid., 2020 – 208