VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 09/28/07) - The current bloodshed occurring in Burma (formally known as Myanmar) is, sadly, only the latest story in a long history of repression and ethnic persecution. Currently, nine refugee camps housing over 150,000 Karen and Karenni stretch up and down Thailand near the border of Burma and 100,000 Chin refugees live in Malaysia and different parts of India. But, after decades of refugee life in camps with no apparent change coming to Burma, the U.S. State Department, in cooperation with the United Nations and the Thai government, have begun offering the option of resettlement to Karen and Chin refugees. As a result, Church World Service, along with other resettlement agencies, have begun taking the first of what will likely be tens of thousands of refugees and settling them in various cities around the U.S.
As a partner in Church World Service, and in response to refugee needs and local church requests, American Baptist Churches set up the Burmese Refugee Task Force in early Spring of 2007. The Task Force is a joint effort of the Office of the General Secretary, International Ministries and National Ministries. Church pastors and Mission Center staff from all branches of the denomination are teaming together to inform the larger ABC family, to seek funding for refugee work and to build support networks among congregations.
Adoniram and Ann Judson, the first American missionaries, landed as Baptists in the country of Burma nearly 200 years ago. Subsequent mission work over the decades brought many ethnic people such as the Karen, Chin, Kachin, Falam, Hakka and others to Christ along with the Burmese. Unfortunately, when the military took control of the government in the early 1960s, American Baptist missionaries were expelled and are no longer allowed into the country. Moreover, the military regime began exerting ever harsher control over many ethnic minorities resulting in hundreds of thousands of ethnic Karens, Chins, Kachins, Shan and other ethnic groups fleeing to the mountains or to neighboring countries in order to survive.
The Judson legacy and the mission footprints left upon the Burmese people cause many of the refugees to seek out a church home among American Baptists when they reach our shores. Their journey only ends when they can find a church home and it is not uncommon for an American Baptist church to have forty or more 'visitors' show up one Sunday. For many congregations, as the Karen, Chin and other groups enter the life of their church, the excitement of mission work becomes personal and alive again. A mission spirit pervades where once it may have lain dormant. Churches are becoming revitalized and strengthened thanks to the influx of these Burmese people groups.
For more information about the Burmese refugees, please contact:
* Rev. Stan Murray, International Ministries, Area Director for Southeast Asia & Japan. Email address: Stan.Murray@abc-usa.org. Phone number: 800-222-3872 Ext. 2298 * Duane & Marcia Binkley, International Ministries, Missionaries to Thailand/U.S. Email Address: dmbink@pobox.com. Phone number 330-699-4174 * Rev. Florence Li, National Coordinator for Intercultural Ministries, Asian Churches Strategist. Email address: Florence.Li@abc-usa.org. Phone number: 800-222-3872 Ext. 2468
For information about sponsorship for refugee families, please contact:
* Mr. Ken George, National Coordinator for Direct Human Services. Email address: Ken.George@abc-usa.org. Phone number: 800-222-3872 Ext. 2034 * Ms. Diane Giova, Direct Human Services Associate. Email address: Diane.Giova@abc-usa.org Phone number: 800-222-3872 Ext. 2450
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/