Myanmar Baptist Convention

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The Myanmar Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist churches in Myanmar (formerly 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]

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 Convention
• Chin Baptist Convention
• Southern Shan State Baptist Home Mission Society
• Shweli Shan Baptist Convention
• Northern 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

• Myanmar Institute of Theology
• Protestants in Burma

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