History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 103
representative of Eastern Shan Baptist Convention, all the owners of the cars who allow us to use their
cars without charge, U Sai Hsai, Pastor of Wan Yuet Church, and Sai Ye from BaMine Church for their
contribution in writing Centenary Choir and leading in singing, Dr. U Hla Shwe, Dr. U She Kham, Dr.
Daw Thein Thein Oo, Dr. U Kyi No, Dr. Khun Yae Aung, Dr. U So Naing and all the nurses from
KanNaLone Shan Baptist and Calvary Baptist Churches who offered their services at the clinic, Sayama
Daw Catherine Bu, the pianist from TaChiLeik Church, Saya Sai Kyaw Tint from Yangon who leads us
in singing choruses.
Testimony from celebration
There was a fierce fighting between Shan State Army and Burmese Military on the border
between Thailand and Myanmar two months before the celebration began. The border situation was
very tense. KengTung is a border town. It was military order that the Church must obtain permission
from authority to hold any gathering outside the church building. The committee of the celebration had
applied for permission half a year before the event took place but nothing was heard from authority.
Rev. Seng Tip was very determined to go ahead to hold the ceremony whatever the consequences. The
permission was given only one day before the celebration began on condition that the event must not go
beyond 9 PM. By His wonderful grace there was no interference.
The mass baptism of 168 people took place in a muddy shallow river on March 31 was
unforgettable moment. We had to walk for half an hour from the church through the rice fields to the
river. About 15 pastors line up in the water to receive believers and baptize them group-by-group. After
coming back from mass water baptism we met a girl on the street who was in tears because she could
not get to the river in time for baptism even though she had already registered for baptism half a year
ago. She missed the chance because she had to take care of the children at home while her mother was
away to the market. She was so sad for missing opportunity to be baptized with friends. I asked her, “do
you really want to be baptized today?” She said “Yes. I have registered my name long time ago and
waiting for this opportunity for months. I really want it.” Then I talked to pastor Rev. Seng Tip. He was
so willing to conduct baptismal service for her at the same place at 2 PM on the same day. She was
over whelmed with joy when she was baptized alone in the river. So were we.
Eastern Shan Baptist Churches need a lot of money to hold this centenary celebration. They
have to feed two meals a day to at least three thousand people every day for three days. When the
occasion began they still in need of Kyat 4,000,000. By faith and prayer they went ahead. At the closing
ceremony the treasurer announced that the total income for the celebration was Kyat 5,996,352 and
total expenses was Kyat 3,965,055. They had surplus of Kyat 2,031,297 plus Kyat 1,000,000 extra
donation from other Churches. What a miracle!