International Ministries Update

Just a few years ago First Baptist Church of St. Paul, MN, was a small congregation with less than 100 members, but then growth came in a most surprising way – Refugees. At first it was just a few, but then later, hundreds of people who had fled violence and persecution in their former home of Myanmar (historically known as Burma) were showing up at First Baptist. These Karen and other ethnic minority refugees from Myanmar have ultimately tripled the Sunday morning attendance at FBC, forming the Karen Baptist Fellowship at the church. And now, the influx of refugees and others who sought political asylum has resulted in the birth of two new American Baptist congregations – First Karen Baptist Church and First Burma Christ Church.
Amy Twe, a leader in the First Burma Christ Church, said she and her husband stayed in the basement of FBC for nearly two years, shortly after arriving in the U.S. “FBC helped us in many ways,” said Amy. “They gave us, all of [us], rice cookers, clothes, household goods…we really appreciate them.”
The First Karen Baptist Church started out as an interdenominational group, said leader Saw Josiah. But the ABC connection and the work of FBC led the group to want to join the denomination as well. “The American missionaries went to Burma 200 years ago,” said Saw, referring to the work of Adoniram and Ann Judson. “After we arrived in the U.S., we wanted to join the American Baptists.”
For FBC, the appreciation is mutual. “When I was a lay leader at FBC years ago, we kept saying we needed a mission, but God came along and gave the church a mission,” said Rev. David Johnson, now a retired ABC pastor who has returned to FBC.
Missionary Duane Binkley, who works in the U.S. and Thailand with Karen refugees, says FBC is a pioneer in birthing two churches, but as American Baptists embrace a ministry to refugees we can expect continued growth. “It’s been a cooperative effort. Everybody involved can feel good and join in the celebration that they have become official churches within the region and the denomination,” Duane said. “I think as a denomination, we can anticipate more Karen, Chin and Burmese churches wanting to join us to do God’s will in the U.S. and around the world.”
from American Baptist International Ministries Update, Nov/Dec, 2008