Next week, the Center for Asian American Christianity will host the second of three annual events, Our Stories, Our Faith, in Indianapolis, IN. Each year, the OSOF conference is designed to highlight the unique social histories of Asian American communities scattered about North America. Last year, we spent time in Northeast Philadelphia exploring the rich, multifaceted histories of Indian and South Asian American Christians. Next year, we plan to bring the party to Los Angeles to celebrate 150 years of Japanese American Christianity. Next week, we will put the spotlight on the largest settlement of Burmese Americans outside of Myanmar on the Southside of Indianapolis. The Burma diaspora in Indy boasts over 35,000 people representing a great diversity of ethnicities and dialects. The OSOF conference will explore the multigenerational pains and pressure points of refugee resettlement, family and ecclesial life, and the importance of the gospel and faith for sustaining a life together. What follows is an exclusive look inside a beautiful, if under-represented, Asian American community. We welcome you to the Burma Christian Diaspora!
You are warmly invited to attend the 2026 Our Story, Our Faith (OSOF) Conference: Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges—an in-person and online gathering centering the faith and life of the Burma Christian diaspora.
***NOTE***
English to Burmese live interpretation is available for in-person participants.
အင်္ဂလိပ်ဘာသာစကား အခက်အခဲရှိသူများအတွက်လည်း မြန်မာဘာသာပြန် စီစဉ်ဆောင်ရွက်ပေးထားပါသည်။
📍Dates: August 7–8, 2026
📍In-Person Location: Falam Baptist Church of Indiana in Indianapolis, IN
📍Virtual Attendance: Airmeet
Together, we will:
Celebrate stories of migration, resilience, and faith
Address trauma, healing, and intergenerational challenges
Empower youth and emerging leaders
Reflect on Scripture through the lens of diaspora
Strengthen unity across churches, generations, and communities
Anyone interested in Asian American history, theology, discipleship, and mental health, regardless of connections to the Burma diaspora, is welcome to attend. You are all invited to join this meaningful space for both lament and hope as we seek renewal together in Christ.
The Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: A Community Portrait
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December 12, 2025
By Dr. David C. Chao, Director of the Center for Asian American Christianity. This report draws from conversations with multiple community leaders, pastors, and organizational staff in Indianapolis’s Burma Christian diaspora, conducted during a September 2025 research visit in preparation for an August 2026 conference on Burma Christian diaspora history. Throughout, numerical estimates should be read against a backdrop of data disparity, as publicly available statistics seldom adequately capture the specific experiences of Burma‑origin refugees and other Asian American immigrant and refugee populations in Indianapolis.
Chindianapolis and the Heartland of America
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Jul 13
Local Indiana high schooler Beata Borja-Westin writes, "Finding a thriving Burmese community in Indianapolis forced me to rethink my assumptions about Indiana and what it means to be American. Getting to know 'Chindianapolis' revealed to me some important truths. Contrary to the typical portrayal of the Midwest, refugees are very much in the heart of our country. Even more, in a country that claims to welcome the poor and downtrodden, refugees are the heart of our country."
Remembering, Resisting, and Belonging
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May 25
Dr. David C. Chao reports, "In February 2026, I attended the 78th Chin National Day celebration in Indianapolis. The gathering brought together members of the Chin community, clergy, civic leaders, public health officials, youth performers, families, and invited speakers. Over several hours, the program wove together prayer, historical narration, political testimony, civic engagement, and cultural performance. The result was a layered enactment of memory, theology, and diasporic identity."
Dialogues Podcast
Leading with Faith and Purpose
Mar 17
David Chao and co-host David Moe welcome Rev. Dr. Stephen Hre Kio, senior pastor of Indiana Chin Baptist Church. He shares his journey from Chin State, Myanmar, to ministry in the United States, reflecting on his education, his work translating the Bible into the Falam Chin dialect, his PhD studies at Emory University, and his years with United Bible Societies overseeing translation projects across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The conversation also explores the arrival and resettlement of Chin refugees in the U.S., the growth of a large Indianapolis congregation, and the challenges and hopes of pastoring immigrant communities.
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