The Batak Protestant Christian Church (HKBP) is the largest Protestant church in Asia with around 3.7 million members. It was created in Indonesia through the missionary work of English Baptists since 1824 and the Rhenish Mission since 1861. In 1940 it became independent. The HKBP employs around 1,100 pastors, more than 30 Bible women, almost 200 deaconesses and 195 vicars, as well as 850 other employees.