1800s—were victims of a military coup in the 1960s. As Christians, the Karen were purged and persecuted by the new regime. At best, they were run out of their villages and the villages burned. With no place to go, they lived in the Burmese jungles before finally escaping to refugee camps housing thousands in Thailand. At worst, they were rounded up and killed. But the hardships for the surviving Karen were only beginning. Many of them were born, grew up, schooled, and lived in the refugee camps for 15 or 20 years.


“It’s worked out that a lot of the Karen finally


came to the United States as refugees and strong Christians,” says Howard. “We’re now working to help them start churches here in America, some- times using the same pastors they knew back in the refugee camps.”


Howard says having their own church—among their own people—helps the Burmese Karen with their relationship with God, and helps them adjust to life in the U.S.


Baptist church volunteers—discipled and en- couraged by Howard—school them on the basics: American currency and how to use a bank, the post


34 Spring 2011 • onmission.com


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