Our Story and the Story of Adoniram Judson
February 21, 2008
In my last chat I talked about how our stories intersect with the stories of people in Morocco. Today, I’m talking about how our stories intersect with the stories of people of the 19th century. Adoniram Judson, credited as being the father of Baptist foreign missions, went to Burma (now Myanmar) in 1812. When he arrived, there was not one known Christian in that land of millions. It was to be six long, heart-breaking years before the date of the first decision for Christ. Except for a few months (when he returned to America after thirty-four years in Burma), Judson spent 38 years in Burma.
So now, almost two centuries since Judson sailed for Burma, thousands of Karen people (pronounced ka RIN) are coming to America. The Karen were originally from Burma and have been refugees (many of them for years) in Thailand. A large percentage of the Karen people are Christians (by some counts, 40%). Most of the Christians are Baptists. The “Jesus seeds” were originally planted in Burma by Adoniram Judson.
I learned in January of 2007 that many Karen were being resettled in America and that some (perhaps 200 to 300 per year) were to be resettled in Louisville.
Two Baptist churches in Louisville are having “hands on” ministry to and with the Karen–Highland Baptist Church and Crescent Hill Baptist Church. Highland has sponsored a Karen family and several Karen attend that church. Other churches are joining these efforts as a result of a lunch meeting sponsored this week by Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville. Harry Rowland and Bo Prosser of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Atlanta, joined about a dozen local leaders to help coordinate the responses of churches in Louisville to the arrival of these Karen brothers and sisters in Christ.
One year ago this weekend, twenty Karen people came to Louisville, and because of a previous connection, began attending Crescent Hill Baptist Church. On any given Sunday now, 60 to 90 Karen adults worship at Crescent Hill. Perhaps that many children are also present in the nursery and children’s programs. Their presence has changed the “texture” of this church. Each Sunday, one of the scripture passages for the day is read in Karen (and printed in English). The other passages are read in English and printed in Karen. At least one Sunday a month, the Karen choir sings in the worship service.
Highland Baptist Church, Crescent Hill Baptist Church and many other churches and individuals in Louisville are making a difference as these people make America their home. More significantly though, it seems to me the Karen people are making a difference in these churches. More than just a “mission project of the church,” these new friends are becoming part of the church.
At Crescent Hill, Steve Clark, CBF Affiliate Missionary, says the Karen people are giving back to the church. He points out that they are giving to the church in many ways. They have joined in work groups, help in the nursery and share of themselves in worship.
The sons and daughters of people who were reached for Christ in Burma by American missionaries are now making a difference in more than one American church! Adoniram Judson never saw the results of the “Jesus-seeds” he planted.
So now the Karen are planting “Jesus-seeds” in America. Greg Pope, pastor of Crescent Hill Baptist Church says: “We don’t need to evangelize them. They are making Christians out of us. They are helping us be church.”
For more information on the Karen people go to http://www.karenkonnection.org/
February 21st, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Well said, John.