History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 92
Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention (ESSSBC)
We had tried to unite all Shan Churches from all over Shan States to form “Shan Baptist
Convention” since 1978 but unsuccessful. The main reasons for our failure were; the refusal of Burma
Baptist Convention (BBC) to give us permission to form Shan Baptist Convention and also lack of
unity among Shan Churches’ leaders. Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha had tried to convince the executive members
of BBC three times since 1979 but failed.
In the beginning of our endeavor, when Sai Nyunt Tha was the General Secretary of ShweLi
Valley Shan Baptist Mission, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission supported the effort in forming
SBC. However when Rev. Shwe Htun became General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist
Mission they withdrew their support. Formation of SBC is not successful till today.
In Eastern Shan State there are Baptist Churches Associations such as Lahu Baptist Association,
Ahka Baptist Association, Wa Baptist Association and Shan Baptist Association together they formed
Eastern Shan State Baptist Convention (ESSBC) as a Multiracial-Regional-Convention. When Lahu
withdrew from ESSBC in 1987 and formed its own “Eastern Shan State Lahu Baptist Convention.” Sai
Stephen and other leaders of Shan Churches in the Eastern Shan State began to try to form their own
“Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention” (ESSSBC) which is a racial convention. At the meeting
held on April 1, 1991 at WanMon Shan Baptist Church all Shan Churches in Eastern Shan State
unanimously agreed to form ESSSBC.
Preparation for Formation of ESSSBC
As the leadership of Myanmar Baptist Convention (formally known as BBC) has changed, their
attitude towards Shan Churches has also changed. The meeting with Rev. Saw Marge Gyi, General
Secretary of MBC and Rev. A. Ko Lay, Treasurer of MBC in 1993 had paved the way for formation of
ESSSBC. Leaders from Eastern Shan Churches drafted a constitution of ESSSBC in WanTaZan Baptist
Church on April 8, 1994. At the same time three Shan Baptist Conferences were formed in order to
meet the constitutional requirement to form a convention. The three conferences were; MuongYawng
Shan Baptist Conference, MoungPyat Shan Baptist Conference and KengTung Shan Baptist
Conference. A meeting was held again from March 1 to 2, 1995 at ThanLwin Shan Church for ESSSBC
formation. In 1995 Wa Baptist Conference joined Shan Conferences and increased to four Conferences.
In September 1995 the formation of ESSSBC was approved at the EC meeting of MBC.
Recognition of Convention
The official announcement of the formation of “Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention.”
was made at 116 th MBC Annual General Meeting held in Haka, Chin State, on January 18, 1997.
ESSSBC is the 15 th Convention in MBC. Because of Wa conference included in this ESSSBC, the
convention becomes another regional convention. It doesn’t represent Shan Churches alone. Wa
Churches are now trying to form their own convention.
The first executive board members
Chairman
Rev. Seng Tip
Vice-chairman 1 Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha
Vice-chairman 2 Rev. Sai Choik
Secretary
Rev. Sai Stephen
Vice-secretary Rev. Sai Philip
Treasurer
Sai La La
Auditors
Saw Mu Di
Saya David Hsam
Women Min. Sayama Htwe Yu Hein