Myanmar Baptist Convention
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The Myanmar Baptist Convention(ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံႏွစ္ျခင္းအသင္းခ်ဳပ္ႀကီး) is an association of Baptist churches in the nation of Myanmar (known until 1989 as Burma).[1] Myanmar Baptist Convention has 18 affiliated conventions and two churches under its umbrella, and is a member of the World Council of Churches and the Baptist World Alliance. In Myanmar about 6% of the population is Christian, with two-thirds of them being considered Protestant. Almost half of these Protestants are Baptists. In 2013, the Convention had 922,907 baptized members in 5,020 churches.[2]
Contents
History
The famous American Baptist missionaries, Adoniram and Ann Judson, moved to Rangoon in 1813 when British authorities refused to allow them to stay in India. The Judsons were in Burma six years before their first convert was baptized. Adoniram Judson gathered a group of believers and labored under many trials, but his missionary tenure of almost 40 years helped firmly establish the Baptist work in Burma. His monumental work included translating the Bible into Burmese, which was completed in 1834. George Dana Boardman began a work among the Karen peoples in 1828. Today the Karen Baptist Convention is the largest member body of the Myanmar Baptist Convention, which was formed in 1865.
Member Associations
- Myanmar Baptist Churches Union
- Karen Baptist Convention
- Kachin Baptist Convention
- Lisu Baptist Church
- Chin Baptist Convention
- Southern Shan State Baptist Home Mission Society
- Shweli Shan Baptist Convention
- Nothern Shan State Baptist Convention
- Eastern Shan State Baptist Convention
- Akhar Baptist Convention
- Naga Baptist Convention
- Tedim Baptist Convention
- Asho Chin Baptist Convention
- Wa Baptist Convention
- Po Kayin Baptist Convention
- Rakhine Baptist Convention
- Mon Baptist Convention
- Lahu Baptist Convention
- Judson Baptist Chutch
- Immenual Baptist Churches
Departments of Myanmar Baptist Convention
- Finance & Property
- Evangelism & Mission
- Christian Education
- Christian Communication
- Theological Education
- Christian Social and Service & Development
- Literature & Publication
- Leadership Development
- Ministers
- Men
- Women
- Youth
Health
HIV/AIDS is a significant problem in Myanmar. In 1992, the Baptist Convention created a 32-member AIDS commission, because they see the problem as spiritual, as well as social and medical.
Education
The Convention operates the Myanmar Institute of Theology, the leading Christian seminary in Myanmar, founded in 1927 and located in Insein. The Convention is also planning to operate a Christian University in the near future.
See also
References
- Baptists Around the World, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
- Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists, Norman W. Cox, editor
External links
- www.mbc-1813.org Website of Myanmar Baptist Convention
- www.mitheo.com Myanmar Institute of Theology Website
