History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Twenty-first century Shan mission project 140
filled with a Burmese longee and Shan tea! OSH gave a short word of encouragement to the students
and Stephen preached the main message. At the conclusion he challenged those who were willing to
dedicate themselves to serve the Lord, wherever He would lead them, with or without salary, to come
forward. Immediately 23 came forward.
After graduation seven graduates were dedicated and sent out with full support.
1. Sai Paulu - has resigned from school headmaster and will go and live in a Christian village to pastor
them and train their people to become evangelists. He will also open up a school.
2. Sai Moe Lawn - he will live in an Ahka village in MuongYawng.
3. Sai Sam Khong - a Wa - he will live in a Wa village on the China border.
4. Sai Yo Bar - he will serve in MuongYawng, planting Churches among animists.
5. Saw Luther, from TaChiLeik - he will do Church planting in MuongYawng.
6. Rev. Marko Crain, a Wa pastor - he is working on the China border.
7. Sai Enoch - will do Church planting in TaChiLeik.
Stephen said he had to choose out of seven and when we asked him who the other three were, we
thought they were also good candidates:
The monthly allowance for an evangelist is Kyat 3,000. On present exchange rates horrendously
low that amounts to about US$10. But Stephen said to let the Shan Churches accept responsibility for
Kyat 2,000. Takashi will share on these needs when he returns to Japan and will challenge seven
different Churches to adopt one footsoldier. In the meantime I left Kyat 10,000 with Stephen for the
first month’s support for five of the above. There was no point in my exchanging them back in to
dollars for a much lower rate than I bought them! As there is some gap between January and Takashi
returning to Japan. Can AOI make some arrangements for the interim period of support? I understand
there are funds in the Shan account.
Budget
The budget for this GCI was US$2,200 for all food, traveling expenses of those from outside
KengTung, stationery and other miscellaneous items. Each participant contributed Kyat 500, not much
when you convert it to dollars but it is close to a week’s wage for the evangelists. Stephen gave me an
itemized income and expenditure statement.
Testimonies
The response from trainees to GCI was as follow;
It gave me spiritual strength and encouraged me to serve the Lord. (6 persons)
The subject of Children’s Ministry helped me so much. It helped me in leading the Church. I know
more about how to plant a Church. This training changed my life to be humble and to dedicate myself
totally to serve the Lord.
The teaching on Leadership helped me to become a good leader in my youth ministry. It got me in
touch with the Holy Spirit. I know more about how to praise and worship God. I will practice it in my
Church. It brought me closer to Jesus Christ.
I am a pastor so the Pastoral Ministries helped me so much in pastoring my Church. It made me more
eager to learn the Bible. The Christian Family lectures helped me so much in my family. I can see
clearly what to do in the future. It touched my heart to change my life and serve the Lord. It encouraged
me to give more time to prayer. My ministry will become more lively. I saw the needs and how to plant
a new Church. This training changed my life. I have become more spiritually mature. It helped me how
to pray. (2 persons)
My viewpoints on mission work have become widened.
The Leadership subject made me to evaluate my life.
This training changed my life and gave me strength to dedicate my life to Jesus.
This training gave me so many benefits. I learned about prayer and how to study the Bible.
The subject of Leadership was very helpful.