History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Twenty-first century Shan mission project 134
one. In this one we are awakened for the Lord. We have learned and know especially Ministry Planning
and know how to plan for our ministry in the future. Now we have our targets. We are looking forward
to serving the Lord in the Southern Shan State. Thanks to the Church for hosting us and no one will
forget the cooks and those working so hard for us.”
Rev. Sai Ba Pe
I have been in the ministry for 24 years but I realize I am not doing enough for our Shan. Some villages
have already converted from their idol worship. My wife was a Buddhist leader in the village. I had to
work very hard to convert her. Finally she accepted the Lord. After our marriage, we lived in a
Buddhist community for 15 years. I organized a gospel team to go and evangelize that village. I had
opportunity to fellowship with the Buddhist monk and could go into the village any time to have
discussions with the monks. The Buddhists thought that if I was a Christian then I wasn’t a Shan but an
outsider but they began to realize that Christians are good people and accepted me as one of them. Now
we have moved to another town, which is producing rubies, jade and precious stones. Many people are
trying to do business there. But I’m working there for the Lord. Now we are building a church but the
village leaders said to us, “Don’t put a cross on the church.”
(Some Christian leaders accused him that he moved there because of the good business and he was
trading in jade and rubies. In November he and another pastor are arranging a big Christian rally in the
village. And now he has dedicated himself for the 21 st Century Shan project and is working towards
that goal.)
Sayama Nang Hla Khin
I was invited to lead the Church elders in building a Christian center. One time while witnessing, the
army asked the group who their leader was. They pointed to me. The army kept them under
observation and asked what tribe they were from. I replied, “Shan.” They asked if there were any
Christians among the Shan. I told them I had no gift to give them but the Lord Jesus Christ and He is so
precious. We were detained overnight and the following morning released. After eating breakfast, the
army again picked me up. The major told me not to say anything but to follow him. I took my Bible and
followed him. The major asked me, “Are you really Shan?” He showed me a Shan costume and asked
me to put it on and sing a Shan song for them. I didn’t know how to sing a Shan song but prayed and
God enabled me to sing a Shan song and witness to the people. I sang, “Jesus loves me.” The soldiers
gave me a gift and said, “We haven’t heard pure Shan words for a long lime. Don’t be afraid. We will
arrange a grand dinner for you tomorrow. You are a frontier person, like us, stationed in a very far area.
Sai Aung Than
The Holy Spirit has helped me in every way. When I graduated from Seminary I received an invitation
to be a pastor. Since I was so young I couldn’t imagine how I could be a pastor but I prayed and the
Lord guided me. I was very afraid to become a pastor but what we think we can’t do we find possible
with God. I came to TaungGyi and in order to lead morning devotion I had to pray and prepare for two
weeks and practice and practice. I felt very inexperienced at preaching and had to preach six times a
day when I became a pastor. Sometimes, after preaching, I would think over the sermon I had preached
and think it was quite good. Then I remembered that it was only because of the help of the Holy Spirit.
When the Buddhists buy a new house they invite all the Christians to come and dedicate the house to
the Lord. The daughter of the headman got food poisoning and was ill for a long time. The Buddhists
said, “If the Christians come and pray she will be healed”, so invited them to pray for her. They told
her, “If you have faith to believe that when we pray the power of Jesus can heal you, you will be
healed.” She was healed. Up until now these people are declaring that the Lord Jesus Christ is very
powerful and kind. It is very difficult for the Shan to accept Christianity. Our duty is to sow the seed.
Even if we don’t see many converts, keep sowing. It is God who waters and gives the increase.