Ruth Saga of Burma, a spiritual descendant of Baptist missionary pioneers Adoniram and Ann Judson, completed her work this summer at Judson College, which was named for Ann Judson. Saga will begin her seminary studies at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham in the fall.
Saga, 24, said she is looking forward to her new studies. “I’ve felt the leadership of God in bringing me to Judson College and now to Beeson,” she said.
Saga’s father, Hkyen Saga, president of the Kachin Theological College in Burma (now called Myanmar), began to correspond with Judson College President David Potts when Ruth was in eighth grade. “The Judsons are loved in my country,” Ruth Saga said. “We Baptists have ‘Judson Sunday’ every year on the Sunday nearest July 13 when the Judsons first landed in our country and brought the gospel to us.”
Saga majored in religion at Judson and minored in Web site design. She will enter the M.Div. program at Beeson and plans to concentrate in New Testament. “I want to go back home and work with my father in ministry — perhaps teach in the seminary,” she said. “There are so many needs in my country. We need missionaries and teachers and churches and pastors.”
Myanmar is primarily a Buddhist country, and only 8 percent of people in the country identify themselves as Christians. However, Myanmar has the third largest Baptist population in the world.
Wallace Williams, associate dean of vocation and spiritual direction at Beeson, said the school is pleased to have Saga. “We’re putting together a coalition of support, and I’m confident we’ll make this happen. Ruth has a full tuition scholarship, and we’re now working on her living expenses and a work study assignment to provide pocket money.”
Potts called Saga a source of inspiration for others. “She has the distinction of being the first Burmese student to graduate from our school since our founding in 1838. Because of the generosity of Alabama Baptists, The Baptist Foundation of Alabama, Judson alumnae and a host of friends, the college has been able to provide this remarkable experience for Ruth,” he said. “I believe that her country of Myanmar and the Kingdom of God will be the better for it.” (JC)
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