Biography Myanmar Christian Writers

Hmyin, U Ba

    (b. Thon-ze, Burma, 10 Mar 1912; d. Rangoon 7 Sep 1982). Teacher, pastor, church administrator, and pioneer of ecumenical" and youth movements in Burma / now Myanmar.

   U Ba Hmyin was the preacher at the opening service of the Third Assembly of the World Council of Churches at New Delhi in 1961. The seventh of the nine children of U Ba Pe and Daw May Khin, U Ba Hmyin studied teacher training and taught at the school in Ok-kan town. Tharrawaddy district, southern Myanmar,. Helater studied at what is now the Myanmar Institute of Christian Theology at Insein. He graduated with distinction and was invited to teach full-time at his alma mater for five kyats per month (approximately one US dollar). At the end of World War II, together with a few friends, he organized the All Burma Christian Youth League and was its president,. The aims of the league, a postwar pioneer ecumenical body, included an increase in the leadership roles of nationals in Christian mission, effective use of youth talent in church work, church based missions, interchurch and interethnic unity in mission; and higher theological training in the service of missions. Its motto of "service and sacrifice" was subsequently adopted by the Myanmar Baptist" Convention and the Myanmar Institute of Christian Theology, two bodies in which U Ba Hmyin held key posts on different occasions.

   After his studies at Yale Divinity School in the United States, U Ba Hmyin returned to serve as secretary of the Myanmar Baptist Churches Union (1952-66) and the Myanmar Baptist Convention (1970-73). On 21 Nov 1953, he married Daw Hnit, a senior teacher at the Baptist Girls' High School, Kemmendine, Yangon, and a national Christian leader. After his marriage, he served many years as the chairperson of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Myanmar Council of Cuhurches. From 1964 to1970, he was pastor of Judson Church on the campus of the University of Yangon and was involved with the national Student Christian Movement. He also served as pastor of the First Baptist Church at Lanmadaw in Yangon. The last church in which he served was the Baptist church at Kemmendine, a model among Burmese-speaking churches. In all he did, U Ba Hmyin served with distinction until his last days.

KYAW NYUNT

A Dictionary of ASIAN Christianity
Scott W. Sunquist, editor
David Wu Chu Sing and John Chew Hiang Chea, associate editors.
@2001 Wm, B Berdmans Publishing Co. Michigan, USA