The Story of Arthur Carsons: Mission to the Chin

The Rev. Arthur Carson, the first American Baptist missionary to the Chins, was born on August 6, 1860 in Columbus USA. He was ordained as a full-fledged minister or August 29, 1885. After this, the American Baptist Mission Union designated him to be a missionary to the Chins in April 16, 1886. He sailed from USA to Burma on the 14^th day of October and arrived in Yangon on the 13^th day of December. Five-days after his arrival, he married Laura Hardin at the Sgaw Karen Church in Bassein.

Laura was born on September 28, 1868 and on July 9, 1883 she was given the responsibility to work in a foreign land by Women’s Foreign Mission Society of West Chicago. She sailed on September 29, 1883. She arrived in Yangon on November 28, 1883. She worked for a while as a teacher at Kotharbyo High School in Bassein. Having been given the responsibility to work as missionaries to the Southern Chins (Ashochins) by the Rev. Arthur Carson and Mrs. Carson took residence at Thayetmyo in 1888, and accordingly they commenced their missionary assignment there.

The Rev. Arthur Carson and Laura Carson, the first American Baptist missionary came to the Hakha in the Chin-land on March 15, 1899. When Laura Carson saw the backwardness of the Chins, she bitterly wept in the first night and for weariness and disappointment. Her husband (Arthur) told her, “Things will be brighter in the morning. Remember, our motto, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The next day, when she saw a young girl, who carried their loads yesterday, she was reminded of Drummond’s words, “Love is the greatest thing in the world.” This became a challenge for her. She changed her mind due to love and even spent another 12 years in the Chin Hills, after husband’s death. This is the story of the beginning of the Chin Hills missions.

They started preaching of the Good News about Jesus Christ among the Highlander Chins. The Theo-centric concept of the sovereign God of the Chin traditional religious belief had been fulfilled. Through the works of the missionaries several Christian churches were established, when Laura Carson returned to the USA in 1920, there were already 10 organized churches with about 800 baptized members and 24 native Christian workers.

There was no foreign missionary present in the Chin Hills from April 1942 to February 1946, because the Japanese advanced into Burma. The missionary Rev. Franklin and Philda Nelson came back to Tedim in May 2, 1946. The last missionary couple to the Chin Hills were Robert G. Johnson and his wife, Elizabeth. They arrived in the Chin-land on the 5^th February 1947. They worked in the Chin-land for a number of years then they went back to their native in 1966. Their memorable works includes the establishment of a Bible School in 1948. Together with the Rev. David Van Bik, they translated the Holy Bible in Hakha dialect. Adding 460 hymns to the existing one, they were able to publish a hymn book. Using local masonry they were able to construct the Hakha Baptist Church. The couple did things for the benefit of the Chins and left many valuable spiritual things for Chins to inherit. Sadly, the Burmese government deported them in April 28, 1966 and this is the end of the American Baptist Chin mission. By that time almost all of the Chins were already baptized as Christian as a result of the mission work to the Chins. 

The first missionary Arthur Carson had great visions. His vision included, not only preaching, but also the enhancement and development of other aspects of Chin life including agriculture, health and education. He introduced new crops, fruit trees and plants. The missionaries’ achievements included the establishment of the first primary school in 1901 and the hospital in 1907 at Hakha. Arthur Carson had also begun translation of the Bible and Hymnal. The first Chin Hill bible school was founded at Hakha in 1928. Later, it moved to Tedim and was called the Zomi Baptist Bible School. It was opened in May 1947. Then the Johnsons also reopened a Bible school at Hakha in 1948 but it was moved to Falam in 1959 and was called “Zomi Theological Academy” in 1960. Now the name has been changed into “Zomi Theological College.”

Conversions to Christianity

Pu Pausuan and wife, and pu Thuamhang from khuasak village from the Chin Hill were the first converts and were baptized by Rev. Dr. East on May 11, 1905. The first person embrance to the Good News of Christ from Hakha was Pu Siakhaw. He was baptized by the Rev. Arthur Carson on the 1^st day of January 1906. On February 1, 1906 seven persons from khuasak village were baptized. The believers continually increased in number and in the end of 1906 they totalled to 29 persons.

The first Baptist Church in the Chin Hills was opened at Khuasak on February 17, 1906. The founding members were composed of three couples and another three single persons.

The second Christian Church in the Chin-land was established at Hakha in 1908. Dr. East had commented that the people of Hakha were of the dissident character and only few followed the footsteps of Pu Siakaw’s baptism. The Chin Hills Baptist Association was officially formed and recognized on March 24, 1909 at Hakha.

Today, the Chins have the highest percentages of Christian and of literacy among other ethnic groups in Myanmar. The Chin Hills, a mission field in the past, now has become a sending church. Amen!

By: Victor Aung Thu Lin