What's the Baptist connection with the Karen?

Nearly 200 years ago, American Baptists introduced Christianity to the Karen in Burma and it was the mission work in Burma that led to the organization of Baptists into a denomination. So Baptists in America are at the foundation of the Karen church and the Karen are at the foundation of Baptist organization in America.

Reid Trulson, executive director of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches recently said, "At the very center of our identity as International Ministries, and as American Baptists, stands our impetus for coming together as Baptists in America -- the mission of Adoniram and Ann Judson to Burma at the dawn of the 19th century."

The Judsons were the first missionaries to go from America. Leaving in 1812, their original destination was India to join in the work of pioneer British missionary William Carey. But with India a British colony, the War of 1812 between the US and England prevented the Judson's from staying in India but led them to be the first missionaries to Burma where they arrived in 1813.

It took six years for the Judson's to lead the first Burmese person to Christ but the church among the Burmese gradually grew. Along the way, Judson purchased the freedom of a Karen slave named Ko Tha Byu. Judson's early impression was not that positive writing that Ko Tha Byu was a man "possessed of very ordinary abilities." But Ko Tha Byu was interested in the stories of God and Judson and the other missionaries that followed were eager to tell him. So in 1828 Ko Tha Byu was Baptized by George Dana Boardman in the Burmese city of Tavoy.

The Boardman's had gone to Tavoy with Ko Tha Byu to begin mission outreach among the Karen people. No sooner Baptized, and in spite of his perceived "ordinary abilities", Ko Tha Byu became an extraordinary evangelist. He was tireless in reaching out to the Karen people first in Tavoy, then around Rangoon, then throughout Burma. The Karen, as it turned out, were eager to hear the gospel and many were quick to accept the Christian faith. So the Karen church in Burma grew quickly. As news of this growth reached churches in the US, excitement to support missions grew.

Luther Rice closely followed Adoniram and Ann Judson to Burma. However, the Judsons and Rice soon saw that to sustain the work, the support of the churches in America was needed. Luther Rice fell ill which was the incentive for him to return to the US, not only to recuperate, but to generate support for the mission efforts in Burma.

As tireless as Ko Tha Byu was in evangelizing the Karen, Rice was equally tireless in generating support. He was instrumental in establishing mission societies where individual churches combined their efforts and resources in the support of missions. In "The Story of American Baptists", Warren Mild writes, "Luther Rice's efforts led ultimately to the creation of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, the American Baptist Publication Society and Columbian University in Washington. But his first and greatest contribution was getting American Baptists to organize for the support of overseas missions."

Finally in 1907, in meetings at the Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., it was agreed that the various societies, first started by Luther Rice and inspired by the success of mission efforts among the Karen and others, would come together to form the forerunner of what is the American Baptist Churches today.

As Luther Rice worked to generate support, a constant stream of missionaries went to Burma and worked among the Karen and other ethnic groups. Since the 1960s, missionaries have not been allowed in Burma. But in the spirit of Ko Tha Byu, the Burmese and Karen church has grown as local evangelists continue to spread God's word. Now, among the people of the refugee camps Baptists make up some 30 - 40 % of the population, by far the largest Christian group.

The Karen are often more aware of their Baptist roots than many in America. In a number of cities throughout the US, as many as 50 or 60 have arrived for services one Sunday morning at a Baptist Church near their new home. Initially, the arrival of this group speaking and singing in Karen was a shock to the pastor and congregation. But it seems natural when the history is considered. Today, in several places in the US, Karen now outnumber the original congregation.

There is a legend in the Karen mythology that says the Karen are one of several brothers. Each brother was given a book with the answers to life's mysteries. The brothers were separated and the Karen lost their book. But, the legend said, one day their "younger white brother" would return with the "Golden Book". Many Karen saw Judson as the younger white brother and the bible as the Golden Book. Even today, it is not uncommon to hear Karen repeat this story and express gratitude to Judson and the Baptist missionaries for bringing the Gospel to them. Brothers in legend, brothers in mission, brothers in Christ; now God is bring our brothers to America to live among us.

(Last updated 4/5/07)