Arrival of the Zomi in Oklahoma, USA
The first Zomi (and Burmese) arrivals in Tulsa occurred in 1991 when Dr. Ch.n Do Kham and his family came to study in the D.Min program at ORU. Subsequently, in 1994, Dr. Howard Chin Khen Mang, Rev. Cin Khaw Kham, and Peter Mang arrived. Pastor Kham Khai and Rev. David Suan Za Lian joined them in 1994 to study at ORU. In 1995, Gin Za Pau and Khup Kam arrived in Tulsa; Rev. Dr. Pum Za Thang Tombing followed to pursue further studies at ORU. Later, Kenneth Kham Go Mang and Dr. Thuam Khan Thang arrived from Myanmar. Soon after, David Zam Khan Thang Tombing, and Dr. Sei Kam Touthang from India also landed.
Mary Khai arrived in Tulsa to attend Victory Bible Institute (now Victory College) in 1998. Mary married Pastor Kham Khai on October 17, 1998, at Garnett Assembly of God. For their wedding, Pastor Kham Khai invited Professor Dr. Ron Meyers, his wife, and Dr. Norwood from ORU.
Samuel Khai was born in 1999, becoming the firstborn son among the Zomi people in Tulsa. Kim, the daughter of Rev. Dr. Cin Khaw Kham and Ngul Lian Cing, was also the firstborn daughter among the Zomi people in Tulsa.
In 1997, Pastor Kham Khai initiated the Myanmar Christian Church with his wife and a small group of people. Thanks to Victory Ministry, Pastors Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty, who opened their church facility for 20 years at no charge, facilitated this by connecting with Pastor Henry and Tonia Bartlett, who served at Victory as International Pastors.
God has grown the church to over 400 members, and MCC signed an MOU with ORU in 2021. Presently, Rev. Dr. Kham Khai has served as one of the advisory board members at the School of Theology and Ministry at ORU since 2018.
After 2010, many individuals from Myanmar arrived in Tulsa due to Pastor Kham Khai and friends who attended ORU. Currently, the Zomi (Chin)-Burmese community comprises 15,000 people in Oklahoma. Over 500 children attend Jenks Public School, with some attending Union, Glenpool, and Bixby schools. Around 20 Myanmar ethnic churches are in Tulsa.
“While we were studying at ORU, Dr. Kham Khai prophesied, ‘I see that one day many Zomi young people will arrive in Tulsa,'” as stated by Rev. Dr. Pum Za Thang Tombing in his message at Myanmar Christian Church in Tulsa. This is the fulfillment of Pastor Kham Khai’s prophetic word. God has done great things among the Zomi people in Oklahoma!