6 November
Celebration of the 200th anniversary of U Naw Baptism is in progress with praising and worshiping at the France Auditorium of Christian Church in Ahlon Township, Yangon.
The ceremony is organized by the Myanmar Baptist Churches Union, and the opening ceremony was attended by Vice President U Henry Van Thio, wife Dr Anna Sui Hluan, Yangon City Development Committee Member Dr Than Myint Aung, officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, and the members of MBCU, Baptist woman missionaries.
General Secretary of MBCU Rev Saw Htoo El and the secretary cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the ceremony. Then, members of organizing committee Sayar U Nyan Wai Tun pursued the agenda of the ceremony.
Chairman of MBCU Rev U Lin Sein extended the greeting at the ceremony.
Vice President U Henry Van Thio said an opening remark at the ceremony, recounting that Myanmar ethnic man U Naw was baptized by Sayar Judson on 27 June 1819, and that day is marked for praising and worshipping of Baptists.
American missionaries also baptized many Myanmar national people starting with U Thar Hla and U Byar.
Although the scheduled date for baptizing was postponed as it was coincided with the period of enthronement of King Bagyitaw to replace the late King Boetaw Phaya.
On 20 January 1821, Daw Min Hla (a) Daw Min Lay established a school at Nan Taw Gone Ward, and it was later tuned into the first Christian school for Baptists in Myanmar.
The MBCU is one of the branches of the Myanmar Baptist Convention, comprising of many ethnic races. The 150th anniversary of U Naw Baptism was also organized in 1969.
Although, majority of Myanmar people are Buddhists, the country recognized other faiths of Christian, Islam, and Hindu which focus on loving kindness.
The Vice President also emphasized the importance of unity in both religious and political organizations, and urged for the contribution of all citizens, regardless of faiths, in state-building tasks for peace and stability.
Then, the Vice President received the commemorative gift presented by Chairman of MBCU. Daw Than Myint Aung, the member of YCDC, extended her greetings.
At the ceremony, the members of Kachin Baptist Convention conducted praising and worship, and the messages sent by member associations of MBC.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
