December 9, 2024
ATLANTA —The Atlanta Metro Baptist Association made history on Sunday, Oct. 20, at its annual meeting by electing Hang Do Lian, pastor of First Zo Baptist Georgia, as moderator. Lian is a native of Burma, also known as Myanmar, who arrived in the U.S. 11 years ago. Due to the current political situation of Burma, like other Burmese who support and advocate femocracy in Burma, It is unsafe for Lian to go back.
Jimmy Baughcum, executive director of the association, said he believes Lian is the first Burmese moderator of any Baptist association in the United States. “Lian represents people undergoing persecution in their homeland,” Baughcum said. “He is a steady servant of Christ who has endeared himself to our Atlanta Metro churches and other regional Burmese pastors.”
Baughcum sees Lian’s election as a natural progression of the diversity in the region that is reflected among the association’s churches. “The Kingdom of God is available to all the world, including every nation and tongue under the sun. We’re grateful to be a reflection of that,” Baughcum said.
This year’s annual meeting was held at Gospel Hope Church in Atlanta, pastored by Ryan McCammack. Further reflecting the association’s diversity, the church also hosts a Spanish-language church plant, Gospel Hope Español.
For his part, Lian said he is eager to learn from his fellow associational leaders and work alongside them in any way possible. Lian has studied in Burma, the Philippines, Korea and in the U.S., and he is working on completing a Ph.D. in the United States.
While historic, Lian’s election did not surprise Baughcum. “For Atlanta Metro, it's a normal progression to have integrated diversity in our leadership,” Baughcum explained. “The Atlanta Metro Baptist Association is diverse in ethnicity and racial makeup. We do not force diversity in our leadership. Still, we recognize the diversity that God has gathered into our association and continue to seek other voices to raise the harmony of our service to our King, Jesus. How beautiful are the varied followers of Jesus worldwide who are also reflected in our association?”
Lian first came to the U.S. in 2008 on a J-1 visa as a research fellow/scholar. Due to the current political situation in his home country, and because of his research into the Rohingya people, it is unsafe for Lian to go back to Burma. Lian explained that the Rohingya people are considered illegal immigrants by the Myanmar government and have been declared a stateless people, who have no country to call home.
Lian’s church, which averages close to 50 in weekly attendance, maintains ties to his homeland. He said, “We are supporting Christians who have been internally displaced and who are still in towns or villages to continue the ministry and sharing the gospel. We also support Bible students and bible teachers at bible school, in particular Zo Christian College in Kalay Myo, which is run by the Zo Baptist Association.” The church’s members are Zo refugees from Burma who speak that dialect
“Lian’s election as moderator of a significant urban Baptist association reminds all Southern Baptists that we have brothers worldwide who have extraordinary talents and gifts through which we may be encouraged and strengthened,” Baughcum said. “I want to gather with every nation, tongue, and tribe here on earth as we anticipate that great gathering at the throne of God in the future (Revelation 7:9). We have so much to learn from our fellow believers worldwide. Lian offers one opportunity to hear more about the worldwide movement of God.”
In Burma, Lian said, “the circumstances for believers are devastating and drastic. Many Christians are not able to have regular worships on Sundays or any day of the week, many churches are destroyed or burned to the ground by the military, some churches are used as military barracks, and thousands of Christians flee to wilderness as the military burns their villages and towns.”
“Lian’s story and the story of Burma will shape our hearts toward perseverance in our nation that increasingly rejects the truths of God’s Word,” Baughcum said. “We can learn from Lian how to be an effective witness when our convictions are the minority position and not the prevailing position in our nation. We will learn how to live as missionaries in our land through Lian’s influence.”
Baughcum hopes that Lian’s election will be an encouragement to other ethnic Southern Baptists. “Lian’s election reminds other ethnic leaders who think it’s impossible to lead in Southern Baptist life due to their ethnicity and background of the open pathways to leadership in our Baptist networks,” he said. “While his election was not planned due to his background, his background and ethnicity remain core to his identity. While Lian’s background and ethnicity remain core to his identity, these do not define his position or identity in the body of Christ. He, like any other faithful servant and leader, has the potential to lead at heightened levels in our faith tribe.”
Baughcum also expressed the impact that Lian’s election will have on him personally. “After everything is said, I want others to know that Lian has proven to be a close brother in Christ that I cannot imagine serving our God without. I want and need Lian by my side for the gospel,” Baughcum declared.
