VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 9/10/13)—The remarkable growth of Christianity in Burma (now called Myanmar) from 1813 – 2013 is highlighted in the new DVD from American Baptist International Ministries (IM). Today, most Christians in Myanmar call themselves Baptists primarily as a result of the efforts of the first missionaries in Myanmar, Adoniram and Ann Judson.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Judson’s arrival in Burma, a small Southeast Asian country. The educational DVD, entitled “Embrace the Cause,” includes three videos and is available in the 2013 World Mission Offering promotional materials.
Ethnic Burmese Christians who have legally immigrated to the United States are also featured as they attend worship and get involved in U.S. Baptist congregations. The video highlights Grace Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri as one such church that has welcomed Christian brothers and sisters from Myanmar.
The DVD is available free to churches with the World Mission Offering materials, which were mailed in July. Churches may download the three videos from the World Mission Offering website, www.worldmissionoffering.org, or may receive a DVD that contains all three by mail by calling 1-800-4JUDSON. The Embrace the Cause videos are available in two lengths: 6:00 min. and 9:19 min. A 1:30 min. promo is also included.
The WMO educational materials for churches featuring Baptist ministries in Myanmar come at an important milestone for IM and the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC). In a historic announcement in June 2013, the MBC General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Yam Kho Pau, extended an invitation for IM to renew its ministry in Myanmar. This deeply moving event took place IM board of directors meeting. The leader of the MBC read a letter stating that Myanmar Baptists believe God is opening the door for IM to once again join them as co-laborers in Myanmar.
Gifts to the World Mission Offering provide IM’s largest single source of revenue undergirding its total global mission. Churches receive new WMO materials every summer to enrich worship and enhance educational experiences that build church understanding and participation in global mission. WMO enables congregations to be part of the entire work of IM’s mission.
American Baptist International Ministries is a Christian mission organization connecting U.S. churches and individuals to holistic ministries around the world. Organized in 1814, IM is the first Baptist mission agency formed in North America. It serves more than 1,800 short- and long-term missionaries annually, bringing U.S. and Puerto Rico churches together with partners in over 70 countries to share the good news of Jesus Christ in word and action.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.