Did you know that people whose families have been persecuted since World War II found refuge in Owensboro? Would you be surprised to learn that they read the Bible in their own language because Adoniram Judson brought the gospel to their homeland and began translating Scripture?
The Karen are an ethnic people group native to the eastern region of Myanmar, formerly called Burma. Traditionally, they made their living by farming rice and other crops in tropical jungles. During WWII, they sided with the British while the majority of Burma sided with the Japanese. Unprotected at the end of the war, they became targets for discrimination and violence. For decades, Burmese vigilantes burned their villages, destroyed their crops, and violated their rights, forcing this predominantly Christian group to flee to refugee camps in Thailand. In 2011, the United States Refugee Resettlement Program began relocating families to Owensboro. Many families came with young children who had never known life outside of a refugee camp.
Now, fifteen years later, those refugee children are young adults with ambitious plans for their future and eagerness to grow spiritually. As proficient English-speakers, they have more access to Biblical resources than their ancestors. As high school and college students, they are at prime ages for learning. Into this fertile soil, the Lord has led our Refuge team.
This January, we began our third Bible study with this sweet group of Karen young people. Our current Bible study through the book of Jonah led to a discussion comparing the Ninevites to the Burmese Tatmadaw. The Ninevites were known for brutality in war, such as flaying captives, impaling rebels, and displaying heads as warnings. The Burmese Tatmadaw is also known for brutality, with humanitarian groups reporting that they poison water supplies, shoot rockets into villages, rape women, and set men on fire while alive. Our group of Karen young people could sympathize with Jonah’s conflict better than any native-born Americans in the room. Yet, one young man was able to say, “By earthly standards, they don’t deserve to hear the gospel, but God’s love is unconditional.”
Praise the Lord for a Karen church in Owensboro where over two hundred people gather in worship every Sunday!
The students who participated in our summer program called The Nations Next Door were able to visit the Karen church building and eat one of their ethnic dinners. We are now scheduling The Nations Next Door for the 2026 summer! If you would like to bring a group to meet people like the Karen and participate in a full day of cultural immersion through fun activities, ethnic foods, and Biblical teaching, please pick a Saturday between June and August. We will treat you to a great experience! Email or call us to sign up!
