Christianity in Burma(Myanmar)

Prepared by:

Rebecca Hsi

Introduction of the landand the people

• the largest country in the Southeast Asia• the population is 55 millions• Known as Burma until 1989• East - Thailand• Northeast – China• Northwest – India• East and West – Laos and Bangladesh• Yangon – the capital city • Nay Pyi Daw – the capital city nowadays

• Famous as The land of Pagodas

• Buddhism is practiced by almost 90% - Theravada Buddhism

• 135 ethnic groups• 8 major groups• Myanmar language is

Burmese• Christians are from

the majority and minority ethnic groups such as Karen, Lisu, Kachin, Chin, Shan and Chinese

• 0.1 % of the Bamar population is Christian

Kachin Kayah

Kayin Chin

Mon Bamar

Rakhine Shan

The percentage of ReligionsBuddhism – 80 %

Christianity – 10 %

Muslim – 4 %

Animism ( worship of ancestors) – 3 %

Hinduism - 1.5%

Others - 1.5%

II. History of Christianity• A. Beginning and growth of

Christianity ( 1812-1862)• In 1554 - the first Catholic priests

came to serve as chaplains • After 3 years – they left the country• No record during this period

The first missionary• A. Beginning and

growth of Christianity ( 1813-1862)

• Adoniram Judson from United States

• Born – August 9, 1788

• Died – April 12, 1850 ( aged 61)

• Nationality – U.S. A.

Adoniram Judson• A baptist missionary from United States• Forty years in Burma• 25 years old, he was the first Protestant

missionary sent from North America• The first significant missionary from

America to travel in Burma• Pali-Burmese Dictionary of 4000 words

(Burmese English Dictionary)

• Started to preach the gospel a small roadside zayat (rest houses)

• In 1816 – translated New Testament in Burmese

• In 1835 – completed Old Testament translation

• Translated Bible from Hebrew to Burmese.

• Wrote many Burmese books• “Burmese to English Dictionary”• In July “Judson day” : Judson

memorial service for Baptists

Judson’s memorial church

U Naw – first Burman Convert

• 35 year old timber worker from Mon ethnic group

• In 1819 – Baptized by Judson

• “U Naw day”

U Naw Baptist Church

B. Consolidation of the church in lower Burma and Outreach to Minority Groups ( 1852- 1886)

• In 1852 – Baptist Mission work in Burma was forty years old

• Three Anglo-Burmese wars • Evangelism work – great use• The next Protestant group –

Lutherans, Methodist, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist, Assemblies of God, Church of Christ and Presbyterians – early 20th cen

• Anglican Church – In 1825 • The first Catholic contacts in 16th cen• Focus on Burmese, but 90 % of the

Catholicism – Karen, Kachin, and Chin• Well-known for their charities, social

services and education in Burma• Maintained leprosy, orphanages,

homes for the aged and infirm.

C Joint activities of Christians from 1866 to the present

• Higher Education:the languages of the minorities into

written form and prepared spelling books, textbook and dictionaries

in 1909 – junior college was started in 1920 – it is also called Judson

College

Theological Education• MIT (Myanmar Institute of Theology) is

affiliated with the Association for theological education in South East Asia

• Was found in June 1927• The first president – Dr.W.E. Wiatt, an

American missionary – 1927 to 1939• Under MBC• Offering courses like B.Th, B.R.E, B.D., B.Min,

D.Min, M.th, MACS, M.Div., MTS, Bars

Healing Ministry• Medical service occupied the vital part of the

Christian mission• Dr. Jonathan Price and Dr. J. Dawson-medical

missionaries • In 1890s medical program were started some

place • Christian communities of Anglicans, Baptist,

and Methodist a Christian hospital was started• In the Sgaw Karen area Sir San C. Poss

Memorial Hospital was maintained

Ecumenical co-operationMyanmar Council of Churches

• Was formed in 1914 under the National Christian Council of India

• Main purpose is for unity of the Churches in Myanmar through: mutual fellowship and mutual understanding; mutual acceptance and recognition in faith and practices of different churches; coordination and cooperation in common concerns of the churches; and persistent endeavor towards organic unity of the churches

14 member churches• MBC• Church of the Province • Methodist church• Mara Evangelical church• Presbyterian church• Independence Presbyterian

church• Lutheran Bethlehem church• St. Gabriel’s Congregational

Union Church• Salvation Army• Self-Supporting Kayin Baptist

Mission Society• Lisu Christian Church• Evangelical free church• Independent Church Home

Mission

Co-operating National Ecumenical Bodies

• Nation Council of YMCAs • National YWCA• Bible Society • Christian Literature Society• Association for Theological

Education in Myanmar• Myanmar Christian Health

Worker’s Service Association• Myanmar Christian Leprosy

Mission• Myanmar Youth for Christ• National Ecumenical Church

Loan Fund • The Gideons International

Myanmar• The Myanmar Christian

Women Temperance Union

The strongest denominations

• Baptist• Assemblies of God• Methodists• Anglicans

I.Myanmar Baptist Convention• Was found in 1865 the Burma Baptist

Missionary Convention – the evangelistic work in Burma

• Were affiliated by all the regional and linguistic groups

• The largest Protestant denomination• An association of Baptist organization

The main purposes of MBC• a) to preach and propagate the good

news of Jesus Christ in Myanmar and throughout the whole world

• b) to abide in Baptist faith and practice• c) to educate its members for Christian

maturity and discipleship• d) to be united with other Christians in

Christ for mission and service• e) to be good citizens of the country

• 20 racial associations

• In 2007 – 1142655 members

• Worship service in own language, Burmese and English

• 37 Theological seminaries and Bible colleges

II. Assemblies of God• the third largest denomination• Established in 1931 • Mission began among Lisu and

Rawang• Began through the extension

ministry of the missionaries at Southwest China

• The first missionary – Ada Buchwater

III. Methodist• Two groups• Lower Myanmar

Methodist (Episcopal Methodist Church) – James Thoburn in 1879

• Upper Myanmar Methodist (Wesleyan Methodist Church) – G. H. Bateson in 1887

IV. Roman Catholicism• Under the spiritual

leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome

• 450,000 Catholics

Conclusion• Preaching, house visits,

establishment of schools for children, hospitals and dispensaries for the sick, agricultural evangelism among the rural poor, especially among the frontier tribes, proved to be and useful instrument

The End!

•Thank you so much!