JULY HTOO our outstanding student from the Karen Community of Philadelphia July Htoo is the younger son of Saw Noah and Naw San San Tin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He came to resettle in the United States with his parents and siblings in 2007 when he was 13 years old. He started his education here at Abigail Vare Elementary in South Philadelphia. From there he went on to the Middle School and graduated in 2008. In June 2012, with flying colors, he graduated high school from Horace Howard High School with an average grade of 99.8 and a GPA of 3.97, and stood first among 106 students. Ever since he began school in the US, he always obtained top grades throughout the years. He has been admitted to Pennsylvania State University and will major in Business (Accounting). Our heartfelt congratulations to him, and we wish him God’s abundant blessings in his academic pursuit as well as in all his future plans.

youth program day

monthly meeting photo

Christian Education at PBBC for Children.

The number of children at PBBC has grown since the church was first established, so the EC members met and discussed how to properly and effectively conduct the Church School. On July 1^st we were blessed to have Lal Rodawla and Andrew Ankrom two experienced Sunday School teachers from Princeton Theological Seminary to lead a workshop on Christian Education, and on their advice grouped the children according to their grades in public schools instead of their age. On the next Sunday, July 8^th, students were grouped according to their respective grades. Since there are no proper classrooms, partitions have to be used in the fellowship hall to separate the kids; even the kitchen has to be utilized as a classroom.  Evidently, the first day went well now that the Sunday School program is systematically in place.

PBBC Children using their God given talents for the Glory of God. Children's program on Sunday, June 10, 2012.

Worship Through Music with Klo and Kweh Music Team (Stars of the East) - October 16, 2011

Thanksgiving and Cristian Home Program - November 20, 2011

Greater Washington DC Karen Baptist Fellowship at PBBC on Sunday, July 10 - 2011

On July 10, PBBC celebrated Judson’s Sunday and was honored and blessed to have members of the Greater Washington DC Karen Baptist Fellowship visited us and led the worship service. The chairman, P’Doh Saw Kapi opened the service with word of greetings and invocation followed by the honoring of PBBC’s first high school graduates led by Emerald Cribb, secretary of PBBC. Charge to the graduates was given by Emerald Cribb, word of advice by P’Doh Saw Kapi and a special prayer said by our pastor Dr. La Seng.


Dr. May Paw


The service then continued with songs by the visitors, inspiring testimony by Saw Soe Moe Oo, exhortation by Thra Marshall, message by Thramu Dr. May Paw, and a special prayer led by P’Doh Saw Eh Kler. The worship program was closed with a prayer by Pastor Dr. La Seng.

The service was followed by a fellowship dinner prepared by families of PBBC which was greatly enjoyed by all present. We thank the Karen Baptist Fellowship of Greater Washington DC and pray for God’s continued blessings on everyone, and harmonious fellowship between them and PBBC in days to come.

From Refugee Camps to a Brighter Future - Q&A with Grads.

PBBC warmly and proudly congratulate our first Karen High School graduates of 2011: Saw Eh Klay Klay, Naw Ka Mwee Paw, Saw Eh Soe Soe, Saw Aye Min Thu, and Saw Min Oo. These young people came from refugee camps without any knowledge of the US Education system, and limited use of the English language. It has been a great challenge for them to pursue education in US schools    where conditions are absolutely different socially and culturally from what they have experienced in camps. Especially, student-teacher and student- student relationship are just the opposite. The fast pace of life in the US proved to be a great shock for them to keep up with. However, with the help of teachers and support of family members, community, and church, they could not only adjust but also prevail over these hardships and succeed with flying colors. These young high school graduates are the first among those who arrived in Philadelphia in the year 2007.

PBBC caught up with them just after their graduation ceremony and interviewed them. Below are their interviews with PBBC.

Myanmar Theological Fellowship International

Worship Through Music - May 29 - 2011

Dr. Anna May Say Pa and Rev. Florence Li at PBBC on February 27, 2011-Sunday

             On Februrary 27th Sunday, Dr. Anna Ma Say Pa, ex Principal of Myanma Institute of Theology came to give a message at Philadelphia Burmese Baptist Church and Rev. Florence Li of American Baptist Home Mission Sociaties of ABC USA gave a DVD presentation on America For Christ "Mission Moment" and conducted Holy Communion at the end of the service.
             Below is the full text of the message given by Dr. Anna Ma Say Pa ;

MEDIATOR OF BLESSINGS TO THE NATIONS


Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. “Genesis 12:1-3

All of us adults here had to get on a plane to get to where we are now. When we got to the airport we had to find our destination and plane that would take us to our destination. None of us set out from our place of origin not knowing where we would be going. If someone had said to us, “Pack your bags and just get up and go,” we’d say “Wait a minute, where is it I am supposed to go?” But this man Abraham and his

PBBC Welcomed Ex Pastors in 2010

2010 is a special year for PBBC as both the ex pastors Rev. Dr. Lincoln and Rev. Sanno Thuan came back as ordained pastors and shared their messages as well as administered Holy Communion at PBBC. These were the only two pastors since PBBC was established and they were still seminary students when they led PBBC. But now they are ordained pastors serving in different mission fields. Below are their messages, in a concise version on two different occasions:--

2010 Christmas at PBBC - Ho! Ho! Ho!

Merriment and joy filled the church on Sunday December 19th when PBBC celebrated the birth of Jesus with carols and scriptures about the story of Christmas. Images of Mary, Gabriel, the shepherds and the three wise men and the nativity scene were projected on the screen while scripture verses were read both in English and Karen. Carols were sung by the congregation apart from individuals singing some of the selected songs. The children also contributed an item at the beginning of the program. The pastor of St. John’s Baptist Church Rev. Dave Powles and his family also graced the occasion with their presence and we also had other American friends joining us. Benediction was pronounced by Rev. Powles at the end of the worship program.


There was potluck dinner after the service with various traditional Burmese dishes prepared by groups of members from different localities in Philadelphia. Not only the food was great but presentation of gifts was highlighted by the presence of Santa who distributed gifts to the kids as well as young members and guests. It was truly a happy occasion, especially for the kids from refugee camps to see Santa in person. Everybody went home filled with love, peace and joy of Christmas.

Josh Groban - O Holy Night