Myanmar - Institute of Theology

Funding Goal: $13,887
Manipur Baptist Convention

The Myanmar Institute of Theology has offered and provided the highest level of theological education in Myanmar and has trained most of the leadership of the Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Methodist, Mara Evangelical Church and other Protestant Churches in the country.  It is an ecumenical institution in practice though it belongs to the Myanmar Baptist Convention.   Currently, MIT offers programs of Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Religious Education, Master of Theological Studies and Masters of Divinity.   Plans are under way to open a Master of Theology  course in 2000 AD and a Doctorate program in the early part of the 21st century. 

The church in Myanmar is a growing church and the seminary needs to expand to answer the cry for more qualified pastors, teachers and evangelists.  The enrollment of students has increased more than five times from 75 to 450 within 30 years.  Due to limited building facilities for class rooms and dormitories, MIT has been able to accept only half of the applicants in recent years.

Plans have been made to construct a "Diamond Jubilee" building, commemorating the schools 75th anniversary in 2002.  This building is designed for class rooms, seminar rooms, administration office, faculty office, conference room, computer center, cafeteria, guest room, alumni hall, reception room and residential quarters for faculty members.  After completion, all class rooms and offices will be able to move from the ground floors of the dormitories to the new building, thus allowing for more accommodation in the dormitories. 

The total cost of the building is estimated to be $350,000.  Baptist World Aid is being requested to help with $70,000, and it is recommended that a funding goal of 50% of this be set over 2 years.