The Untapped Resource of Burmese Churches

ELIM International Burmese Church, pastored by James Amar, is a shining example of what it means to live out the Great Commission. Now in its fourth year as a church, ELIM has already commissioned six missionaries back to their homelands, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to taking the gospel to the nations. Their faithfulness reflects a growing movement among Burmese believers across America, where the Southern Baptist Convention now includes more than 160 Burmese churches.

As a refugee community, however, the challenges facing Burmese churches extend far beyond traditional ministry needs. Many families continue to wrestle with trauma, while communities face ongoing needs for counseling, job placement assistance, ESL education, job skills training, cultural assimilation support, and intentional ministry to second- and third-generation youth. Following discussions between Burmese pastors and Kaleidoscopic Call, it has become clear that there is only a dim light on receiving the level of assistance necessary from convention structures to adequately address these real and pressing community needs.

Yet within these challenges lies an extraordinary opportunity. Burmese churches provide an open door to more than 45 million unreached people and 1.7 million unengaged people groups both here in North America and abroad. This reality highlights the need for church-to-church partnerships that move beyond conventional approaches and embrace a deeper level of cooperation, discipleship, and community engagement. Churches like ELIM are not simply ministry recipients—they are strategic Great Commission partners actively sending missionaries and reaching nations.

The example of ELIM International Burmese Church reminds us that ethnic churches are among the most missionally significant partners available to the American church today. As they continue to serve refugee communities while advancing the gospel among unreached peoples, they deserve intentional partnership, encouragement, and support.

To learn more about how your church can partner with a Great Commission Ethnic Church, contact ksccall@gmail.com.