Andrews University Myanmar Student Association (AUMSA) | Empower, Belong, Serve

Having completed his undergraduate degree at Andrews, returning to the campus in 2022 felt like coming home for KhaiKhai. He deeply values the university's environment—recognized as the most diverse in North America—and is driven by a lifelong desire to connect with people, foster spiritual growth, and serve the surrounding communities with the love of Jesus.

Leadership Philosophy: Casting a God-Sized Vision
At the core of KhaiKhai’s leadership is the drive to create spaces where people feel they truly belong.

"The secret is to cast the vision, and people will buy that vision and support it—but it has to come from the Lord. It shouldn’t be selfish; it should be for the glory of God. When people see that, they want to be part of it."

In his various roles, he focuses on casting a compelling vision for ministry while collaborating closely with dedicated executive teams. He frequently serves as a liaison between university entities, private donors, and local church organizations. His ultimate goal is to generate networking, fundraising, and ministry opportunities that empower others to step up and lead.

Founding AUMSA: Building a Legacy
Historically, students from Myanmar (formerly Burma) attended Andrews University in small numbers, lacking a population large enough to sustain a formal campus club. However, in 2024—a milestone year marking the university’s 150th anniversary—KhaiKhai rallied a group of students with a shared vision: to create an inclusive and missional cultural community.

With the guidance and support of Dr. Joel Raveloharimisy, Michelle Knudson, and Pr. Jacob Gibbs as their main advisors, they officially formed the Andrews University Myanmar Student Association (AUMSA).

Serving as the President of the organizing team, KhaiKhai built the foundational structure of the organization to ensure it would leave a lasting footprint across campus and beyond. He designed AUMSA around three central pillars: Empower, Belong, Serve. Under his leadership, the club unites students across Myanmar's 135+ languages and diverse ethnicities, advocating for their needs and equipping them to be effective "World Changers."

Ministry in Action: Serving the Diaspora

KhaiKhai's heart for ministry extends far beyond the campus borders, focusing on empowering student leaders through cross-cultural missional activities.

To bridge the gap between the university and the broader community, he initiated and laid out the outreach ministry effort known as Mission Sabbath. This initiative empowers students to use their talents to serve God and His children among the diverse ethnic and language groups within Myanmar refugee and immigrant churches across the Lake Union Conference territories.

Through Mission Sabbath, KhaiKhai actively encourages students to step out of their comfort zones. He believes that formal accolades or advanced degrees are not prerequisites for making an impact. As he frequently reminds his team: The more you share your testimony, the better you become. The more you use a knife, the sharper it gets. For KhaiKhai, all that is required is a willing heart that says: "Let's serve, let's eat, let's celebrate, let's rub shoulders, let's sweat together, and serve our communities with the love of Jesus."

Looking Forward
While his current outreach focuses heavily on local refugee and immigrant populations, KhaiKhai hopes that, with God’s guidance, this ministry will continue to expand. Because his community work is entirely volunteer-driven, it relies fully on faith, collaboration, and the generosity of those who share his vision.

Whether through pastoral ministry, community organization, or campus leadership, KhaiKhai's overarching mission remains clear: to build communities where people are empowered, find belonging, and are inspired to serve.

Referenced Article: https://www.andrews.edu/life/student-movement/issues/2024-11-15/hu_myanmar.html