VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/01/07) - As massive protests in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar (also known as Burma) enter their tenth day, International Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA encourages Christians everywhere to continue to follow events closely and pray for a peaceful resolution.
"Our most immediate contribution is to express our concern to all those affected in Myanmar because of these events, and to pray unceasingly for a positive and peaceful outcome," said Dr. Reid Trulson, executive director of International Ministries. "The very existence of International Ministries and American Baptist Churches USA can be directly traced to mission work in what was known as Burma nearly 200 years ago," said Trulson. "We have deep respect for the people of Myanmar and we desire a just and peaceful resolution to the concerns these events have raised."
Baptists in the United States first came together to form what is today known as International Ministries, following the arrival of Baptist missionaries to Burma, Adoniram and Ann Judson in 1813. Baptist work in this Southeast Asian country grew, especially among ethnic minorities in Burma, who have been persecuted throughout the time Baptists have been in the country.
A political change in the government, in the 1960s, forced missionaries to leave, including American Baptist missionaries. But International Ministries maintains strong ties with the Myanmar Baptist Convention, which is over 100 years old.
Presently, International Ministries shares over $100,000 annually in resources directly in Myanmar for education, development, relief and outreach ministry. The mission also provides over $100,000 annually in resources and direct services to refugees from Myanmar in Northern Thailand. More than 500,000 have fled Myanmar for the refugee camps due to years of persecution.
Thousands of ethnic Karen and Chin refugees from Burma are now coming to the United States. Missionaries Duane and Marcia Binkley are working both in the U.S. and in the refugee camps of Northern Thailand to help these persons to escape repression and violence, and find freedom and a new life in America.
Just before the Myanmar government cracked down on communications, including Internet communications this week, Trulson sent an electronic letter to the general secretary of the Myanmar Baptist Convention.
Trulson told the general secretary, "I am writing to assure you that your American Baptist brothers and sisters are praying for you, for the members of the Myanmar Baptist Convention and for your entire nation."
The current activism was sparked on Aug. 19, when the government of Myanmar raised fuel prices by as much as 500 percent without warning, according to published reports. Protests were sporadic and small, led mostly by political dissidents until Buddhist Monks began to be involved by the thousands, on Sept. 18. Crowds of activists swelled to as many as 100,000 in the nation's capital of Yangon.
Despite the pressing needs, humanitarian organizations report that flows of aid into the country are much lower in comparison to other nation's in the region, such as Laos or Cambodia.
"We hope American Baptists will find new ways to increase resources available to our partners, who must minister to the front lines of this crisis," said Trulson, "and to help support the thousands of persons, often with Baptist roots, who are now finding their way to the United States, seeking refuge, opportunity and religious freedom." People can give now to the Myanmar Baptist Convention, other related partners in the region, and the work of Duane and Marcia Binkley, said Trulson.
Formed in 1814, International Ministries is the oldest Baptist mission agency in North America. The organization serves the more than 5,800 churches of the American Baptist Churches USA. Globally, International Ministries partners with more than 500 educational institutions and 125 hospitals and medical facilities. More than 2,200 volunteer, short-term and career missionaries work together with some 15,000 trained national workers, who serve about 22,000 congregations and nearly 3,000,000 baptized members.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/