KTCS

History
The history of Kachin Theological College &
Seminary (KTCS) can be traced back to 1901.
Rev. Dr. Ola Hason, a missionary, who
translated the Bible into Kachin language,
introduced Bible classes for Kachin and Karen
evangelists somewhere in Myitkyina, Bhamo
and Nam Hkam in 1901. Rev. Sword, another
American missionary, also established a small
Bible School in Nam Hkam. These Bible
classes could be considered as the
forerunners of KTCS.
However, the actual formation of Kachin Bible
School took place not until 1932. In 1930,
three of the Kachin leaders: Maran Robin
(Myitkyina), Lahpai Zau Tu (Bhamo), and
Labya De (Shan State) requested at the
Convention meeting of the Board of American
Baptist Mission Head quarters in Yangon to
grant a separate Bible school for the Kachin
church. Consequently, the request was
accepted and finally led to the initial plan for
the formation of the Kachin Bible School.
While this formation was in the process, Rev.
George J. Gies and Mrs. Gies, a former retired
missionary couple, were requested to return
to Kachin State and to resume their ministry
as the principal of the Bible School. Arriving
back in Bhamo in 1931, the Kachin Bible
School was established in the mission
compound of Bhamo on June 1, 1932. The
Bible School was started with 9 students in
the first year.
On April 15, 1935, the Bible School was
moved to Kutkai in the northern Shan State.
This time, the school was able to offer a two-
year course. The main aim and purpose was
to help the students improve in their
preaching and witnessing the gospel. The
school prepared its curriculum to meet the
immediate needs of the new Kachin faith
community who had recently converted from
an animistic background. The classes were
interrupted by the political situation in the
country between 1942 and 1945. The school
was able to resume its teaching work in April
1946. From 1950, the Bible School accepted
the students who passed the 7th standard.
While this academic transition was in the
process, the Bible School was again moved
far up to Nawng Nang, Myitkyina, Kachin
State, the northern part of Myanmar, in 1966.
In 1974, the school was upgraded to offer a
four-year diploma course. Again, the Layman
Course was integrated in 1976, which was
later replaced by the L.Th course in 1985. In
September, 1982, Kachin Theological School
became a member of ATESEA. Although it
had yet to be approved by the ATESEA, B.Th
program was started in 1990. In 1990, Rev.Dr.
Saga Hkyen Naw, who returned from the USA
with a D.Miss degree, was appointed as
Acting Principal. From 1993 Rev. Dr. Saga
Hkyen Naw became the principal and under
his leadership the college received its
accreditation for the L.Th and the B.Th
programs from ATESEA.
As the college has been encouraged by the
ATESEA, M.Div program was started in
1996-1997 academic year, which was
accredited in 2000. In 1998, the Bible School
of Kutkai which existed independently since
1966 became affiliated School of Kachin
Theological College. (This KTCS – branch
school in Kutkai continues its Layman Course,
Diploma, and L.Th in Kachin vernacular. The
college also started its B.Th program in
2006).
As KTCS moves toward the 21st century, the
college remembers the Diploma and the L.Th
graduates who are serving in the respective
local church ministry. Thus, in the beginning
of 2003-2004 academic year, the college
started to offer the Bachelor of Ministry
(B.Min) program. The aim and purpose of the
B.Min course is to update and upgrade the
theological education of the experienced
ministers and to encourage the community
based church ministry. With the same aim
and purpose KTCS launches a new academic
program, the Master of Ministry (M.Min) in
2011. In the same academic year KTCS also
launches a long awaited program, Master of
Arts in Christian Studies (M.A.C.S) with the
purpose of promoting lay theological
education. The school started liberal arts
program called Bachelor of Arts in
Theological Studies (BATS) which later
renamed College of Liberal Arts Program
(CLAP) in 2013. As the school has
encouraged by the ATESEA, M.Th Program
was started in 2018-2019 Academic Year, and
D,Min program and M.Min (Kachin) program
were started in 2022-2023 academic year for
higher theological education.
KTCS made a significant milestone in 2008 as
she celebrated 75th anniversary Diamond
Jubilee. In order to establish a monument for
the anniversary, the working committee of the
Diamond Jubilee constructed the three storey
Diamond Jubilee Building which is able to
accommodate over a hundred of students.
After the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee,
KTCS makes another great effort to build a
Main Building, which provides class rooms,
meeting rooms, faculty offices, student
recreation centre and other multi-function
rooms. The construction of Main Building has
completely finished in March, 2015. In 2012,
KTCS has launched liberal arts program
which is much needed for the Kachin
community.
KTCS had admirable principals in her long
history: Rev. Lahpai Zau Yaw
(1946-1965);Rev.Dr. Lahtaw Gum Se
(1966-1993); Rev. Dr. Saga Hkyen Naw
(1993-2010); and Rev. Dr. Nalaw Dai Hkawng
(2010-2018). In 2018-2019 academic year,
KTCS has seen a new president Rev. Dr.
Zinghang Lat Nawng, formerly a vice-
president of KTCS, who was elected as a new
president of KTCS in 38h Quadrennial
General Mass Meeting of Kachin Baptist
Convention which was celebrated in Waimaw.
Under the new president’s leadership the
college is pressing toward the holistic
development and theological education that
is sound and relevant to the churches and
soc