History
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Kachin Christians were initially converted by American missionaries and 99% of Kachin are Christians who live in northern part of Myanmar called Kachin State. The Union of Myanmar is a country in South East Asia with population of 54 million and 135 multi national races country and Kachin is one of the nation among them.
The Kachins were migrated from Guam to the United States in 2001 and later from Malaysia, Thailand, and India in 2006. When the Kachin Baptist members are coming to the United States, they still have willingness to keep their faith tradition. However, because of the participation of the Kachin from many denominational backgrounds, Kachin churches are encountering the problems to stand as one form of denomination and have become independent churches.
In that situation, in 2011, Kachin Baptist members in Dallas Fort Worth area started Texas Kachin Baptist Church (TXKBC) that keeps the Kachin Baptist tradition and ask recognition from the Kachin Baptist Convention from Burma to be a member church. After that Indiana Kachin Baptist Church (IKBC) in Indianapolis (2012), Michigan Kachin Baptist Church (MKBC) in Grand Rapids (2012) and Hanson Kachin Baptist Church (Hanson KBC) in Houston (2013) were founded and seek affiliation with KBC (Burma) and also with the Regions of American Baptist Churches. There were seven leaders such as Rev. Dumdaw Naw Din, Rev. Maran Hting Nan Zau, Sr. Gumgrawng Hkan Naw, Dr. Jum Maw San Awng, Sr. Dashi Gum San, Sr. Dure Zau Hkawng and Mr Namhkyek Seng Hpung who articulated an idea to form Kachin Baptist Association of America (America Ginwang Jinghpaw Wunpawng Hkalup Hpung) on January 26, 2013. As there were four Kachin Baptist Churches that keep the tradition of the Kachin Baptists in Myanmar, the churches decided to start forming coordination team to become Kachin Baptist Churches USA (KBC USA) on October 26, 2013.
With the efforts of the coordinating team, the First General Assembly of Kachin Baptist Churches USA was held on July 4, 2014 in Grand Rapids, MI with the members from another (7) Kachin Baptist churches joining in KBC USA between October 2013-July 2014. Therefore, during the first General Assembly, there were altogether 11 Kachin Baptist churches in KBC USA. During the Assembly, they officially launched the Kachin Baptist Churches USA (KBC USA).
Today there are (21) Kachin Baptist churches in KBCUSA.
1. Texas Kachin Baptist Church (TXKBC), Dallas Fort Worth, TX
2. Indiana Kachin Baptist Church (IKBC), Indianapolis, IN
3. Michigan Kachin Baptist Church (MiKBC), Grand Rapids, MI
4. Hanson Kachin Baptist Church (Hanson KBC), Houston, TX
5. Maryland Kachin Baptist Church (MKBC), Baltimore, MD
6. Omaha Kachin Baptist Church (OKBC), Omaha, NE
7. Virginia Kachin Baptist Church (VKBC), Richmond, VA
8. Washington Kachin Baptist Church (WKBC), Kent, Washington
9. Georgia Kachin Baptist Church (GKBC), Atlanta, GA
10. North Carolina Kachin Baptist Church (NCKBC), Charlotte, NC
11. Florida Kachin Baptist Church (FKBC), Jacksonville, FL
12. Louisiana Kachin Baptist Church (LKBC), Baton Rouge, LA
13. Arizona Kachin Baptist Church (AKBC), Phoenix, AZ
14. Washington Oregon Kachin Baptist Church (WOKBC), Vancouver, WA
15. Tennessee Kachin Baptist Church (TNKBC), Nashville, TN
16. Upstate New York Kachin Baptist Church (NYKBC), Rochester, NY
17. Pennsylvania Kachin Baptist Church (PAKBC), Bristo, PA
18. Colorado Kachin Baptist Church (COKBC), Denver, CO
19. Albany Kachin Baptist Church (Albany KBC), Albany, NY
20. California Kachin Baptist Church (CAKBC), San Francisco, California
21. Kentucky Kachin Baptist Church (KYKBC), Louisville, Kentucky
Kachin Baptist Churches-USA is a fellowship of 2000 members in 21 Kachin language Churches in all 19 states in the United States of America. KBC-USA is a member of the Kachin Baptist Convention and cooperates that works with American Baptist Churches-USA. Each church is independent of, but cooperates financially in, the ministries of the Kachin Baptist Convention. The association and the Kachin Baptist Convention share a common bond of basic biblical beliefs and a commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. Kachin Baptist Churches-USA refers to the legal name of the corporation and its annual Executive Meeting to conduct business each in April and has a Triennial Assembly in July.
KBC-USA focuses on enabling Churches to be on mission in their communities and to cooperate together for large-scale community projects. It is an interdenominational and nonprofit religious organization with the purpose of building the Kingdom of God in North America and beyond.
Vision
To fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ in proclaiming and witnessing.
Mission
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To unite Kachin Baptist Churches-USA, and cooperation with other churches and
organizations inside and outside the country;
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To promote and preserve Baptist Faith and Order, and Kachin heritages;
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To encourage and support Christian education, home and foreign mission efforts;
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To commit for spiritual maturity of the Baptist Christians, having the life in all its fullness by everyone;
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To publish and distribute Christian literature, music, and other works of art and religious expression; and
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To engage in any other endeavors deemed fitting and proper in order to advance
the cause of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
The Statement of Faith
Honoring our heritage of Worldwide Baptist as well as of our own Kachin Baptist tradition, we hereby agree and affirm this “ The Doctrinal Statement of the Kachin Baptist Convention “ in written document.
The Holy Bible
We Believe that the Holy Bible, the living Word of God written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit which consists of ( 66 books ) as our sole standard of faith and living. We believe that the Bible is infallible, being the true record of God’s revelation to our world and the supreme written guide for our faith and practice. ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Isaiah 8:20; Heb. 4:12).
God
We believe in God in three persons ( Father, Son and Holy Spirit ) as attested to in the Bible. We will not accept any higher authority than our God who created heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. We believe that God is the only one Lord to whom we give our honor and praise. ( Deut. 6:4; Isaiah 45:21-22; Ps. 34:8; John 1:1 )
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is a begotten Son of God, conceived with the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is our Lord and through His death on the Cross and resurrection, God has forgiven us our sins and opened the way for us to have salvation and eternal life through Christ. ( Matt. 1:23; John 1:1, 14:20, 28; 1Tim. 3:16; 1Cor. 15:3-7; Acts. 1:11, 4:13; Heb. 1:3; 7:25, 1John. 2:1; Rom. 3:20-26; 8:33-35; Gal. 3:13)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that Holy Spirit comes to reveal the truth about God, and the Holy Spirit being with us. The Holy Spirit enables the Church to hear the Scriptures afresh and so to be renewed in every generation, while also making the proclamation of the gospel effective in the life of an individual believer. ( John. 14:16, 17, 24; 16:7-15; 1Pet. 1:2, 11-12; 2 Thes. 2:13; 2 Cor. 13:13)
Man
God created man, male and female in his own image. Human beings in the image and likeness of God, have body, soul and spirit. God’s image in human beings reflects in terms of their moral conscience, self knowledge, and capacity for a spiritual communion with their Creator. Adam and Eve, the first human beings, freely choose to disobey the divine command, which resulted lack of good communication with God, and they become sinful creatures. In order to restore the broken relationship between human beings and God, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God become the mediator of a new covenant and he offers sacrificial gift of his own blood once and for all the restoration of a broken relationship. For this relationship Jesus Christ is to become fully human beings in order to give eternal life to all human being. ( Gen. 1-3, 1:26-27; 2:7; 4:8; Ps. 8:5; Matt. 6:25; Act 17:26; Rom. 5:12ff; 6:12ff; 7:14-25)
The Church ( The Fellowship of Believers )
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, and it represents the fellowship of the believers by sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers. We believe that the church has a mission to preach the gospel to the end of the world. We also believe that human development and the welfare of human beings are done as a result of the gospel of Jesus Christ. While we value local church autonomy we work together for deeper relationships between churches and other Christian Organization. We carry out believer’s baptism by immersion. ( 1Cor. 1:2; Ephesians 4:4-5; 11-13; Acts. 2:42-47, 11:29-30, 13:21; Matt. 28:19-20; Mark. 16:15-16; Rom. 12:1-12; Col. 1:18)
Believer’s Baptism by Immersion
We Baptists affirm that baptism is for believers only. We also hold firmly that immersion, rather than sprinkling or pouring, is the appropriate mode of Baptism. Our traditional belief on Baptism of the New Testament teaches this. It is also consistent with the teaching of the New Testament that believers are sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in baptism. ( Rom. 6:3-4; Matt 3:16, 28:19; Mark. 1:9; Jn. 1:31; Acts. 2:37-38, 8:12, 16:15, 18:8)
The Separation of Church and State
We believe that every local church has its own autonomy and right to govern the religious affairs under the lordship of Christ. It is also our general view that the church should be free from the impact of any political or other religious influences. If necessary, the church should be avoided or defended the internal as well as the external interference for the sake of maintaining the religious liberty. Working for justice, reconciliation and peace are the essential part of the mission of the Baptist. ( Matt. 22:30-21; 28:18; Rom. 13:7)
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ who will bring judgment and restore his lordship over the world with glory. In the last day, both the good and the bad will rise from the death, and those who refused to do the will of God will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will have eternal life. ( Matt. 24:27, 30, 25:41, 46; Acts. 1:11; Rev. 20:1-6; John. 5:28-29; 2 Thes. 1:9-10)
Priesthood of All Believer’s
There are no degrees of status among Christians. Every Christian is called upon to fulfill the ministry of the church through direct relationship with God. The priesthood of all believers includes also what might be called “ the prophethood of all believers”. All believers are to be involved therefore, in the worshiping and witnessing in the life of the church. ( 1 Pet. 2:9; Heb. 4:14; Gal. 3:26-29; Luke. 23:45; Rev. 5:10, 20:6; 1 Cor. 11:5-12; Ehpesians. 4:4-5; Acts. 2:18, 18:25-26, 21:9).
Worship
We believe and practice pulpit centered worship by hearing and learning, and by taking meditation to God together in fellowship. We follow our tradition in worship and prayer silently and devotionally. ( John 4:20-24; Mark. 11:1-7; Rom. 8:26; Heb. 13:15-16; Ps. 29:1-2)
Sin
Sin is an act of the revolt against the holiness and sovereign will of God. Sin is more than failure to keep the law, it is also the rejection of the Messiah and the kingdom he proclaims and personifies. Sin begins in the heart of human being because the origin of sin can be traced back to Adam and Eve, for they revolted against the Lord. ( Gen. 3-6; Isaiah 29:13; Jer. 17:9; John. 16:8-9; Rom. 5:12-19; 6:15-23; 2 Cor. 6:3; 1 Tim. 2:14)
Salvation
When we come to Jesus, we receive His forgiveness, his grace, and the gift of eternal life. Salvation is by faith through grace. Belief is a function of the will. The same mind which chooses to believe can also choose to disbelieve and unbelief that leads to spiritual death. It is always possible to return to the old life of sin our names will be blotted out of the book of life and be eternally lost. ( Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 3:22-25; Matt. 7:20-27; 24:13; 2 Pet. 2:19-22; Rev. 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 9:27; 15:1-2; 2 Cor. 7:10; Heb. 2:1-3, 3:12-14, 6:4-8, 12-19; 10:26-31; Gal. 5:16-27; Luke. 3:6; 9:62; 1 John. 1:6-9)
The Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is the realm in which God’s reign is experienced. This realm is sometimes being in the present, and sometimes in future. The future realm of the Kingdom is inaugurated by the return of Christ. The righteous will inherit this Kingdom like the sun in God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom is God’s rule dynamically defeating evil and redeeming sinners. ( Matt. 6:33; 13:43; 19:16; 23:30; 25:34; 1 Cor. 15:34-36; 2 Tim. 1:10; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:14, 21)
Hell
Hell is a place of the wicked and a condition of retribution for the unredeemed. It is the place where there is absence of righteousness, separation from God, and judgment. ( Ezek. 3:18; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 18:8; 22:13; 25:30-46; 3:12; John. 3:36; Judge. 7; Mark 9:44, 48; Rev. 20:14, 14:10)
Mission and Evangelism
We believe that every Christian and every Church have the serious obligation to obey the Great Commission of Jesus Christ ( Matt. 28:18-20). All human beings are responsible to become the disciples of Jesus and to teach all that Jesus has commanded. Personal evangelism should be one of the great passions of Baptist believers. ( Acts. 1:8; Mark. 16:15; Matt. 28:18-20)
Theological Trend of KBC
We are committed to follow and live according to the Scripture, the Word of God. From this perspective the Kachin Baptist tries to maintain conservative thinking in Theology and yet since our Kachin Baptist Organization has been related to Myanmar Baptist Convention ( MBC), Asia Pacific Baptist Federation ( APBF) and Baptist World Alliance ( BWA), we should be faithful to our traditional statements of Baptist Doctrine. AT the same time, as the Kachin Baptist Convention has been related to Ecumenical Trend in its beginning through Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC) and Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), we have connection with World Council of Churches ( WCC). It is, therefore, our heritage of Christian faith and practice appeared to be a wholistic mission as Jesus practiced it in his preaching, healing, and teaching ministry. ( Matt. 28:20; John 15:12, 17; Ephesians 4:3-15, 15; Col. 3:14-15; 1 Thes 5:23-24)
(Quotes from Doctrinal Statement of Kachin Baptist Convension)