History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Twenty-first century Shan mission project 152
despite shivering with Malaria. 20 people traveled from the Southern Shan State. It took two days to get
to Yangon. There are only three Shan Churches in the South. 27 came from Yangon Churches and
others. Despite that Yangon Shan Church is only two years old it has developed tremendously. They
hosted GCI twice this year very successfully. They lead worship & praise program. They have good
musician, song leaders and hard working members.
Difficulty
1. It takes a long time for trainees to get to Yangon.
2. It is too expensive to travel. They cannot afford for their traveling expenses.
3. GCI trainers cannot spend fulltime for the whole course with trainees.
4. Denominational minded is so strong in Baptist Churches’ leaders.
5. Foreigners are not allowed to travel to some area of the Shan State because of security and political
reason.
As we prayed for life changing ministry during training, we certainly had achieved it. Pastors,
lay leaders and many others repented and rededicated their life.
Testimonies
Following his lesson on “The Biblical Basis for Missions,” pastor Winston asked for a show of
hands when he asked the class, “How many of you would like Jesus to return quickly?” All but one
sister had their hands high up. Thinking that she had not understood the relationship between the
Abrahamic Covenant and the return of Jesus, Winston went on to revise that portion of the lesson.
When the question was asked again, the same sister was the only one with her hands down. At the end
of the lesson, she came up to Winston with tears streaming down her cheeks and explained, “Teacher, I
don’t want Jesus to come back yet because I have not done anything for Him.” Her sincerity touched
Winston’s heart.
Pastor David Kueh shared a message on repentance in one of the evening ministry sessions. A
pastor said in tears that he had confessed his sin to the Lord as he had been living like a Pharisee and a
hypocrite. He would return to his home Church with “a new life and new commitment.” At the same
session a brother who had drifted from ministry and presently engaged in business was on his knees
weeping in repentance. I told pastor Winston during one of the mid-session breaks: “GCI is in the
business of changing lives; something big is going to happen at this GCI.” Something big did happen.
Six trainees committed their lives to serve as fulltime footsoldiers for the Lord. Praise the Lord!
From this year our Shan graduates will take GCI training deep into Shan State into areas
inaccessible to foreign missionaries. They have planned two GCls, in May and November 2000. GCI
will continue to make inroads with the other people groups in Myanmar with a first time GCI for the
Burmans in July 2000.
7 th Shan GCI, TaungGyi, Southern Shan State.
May 18-24, 2000
51 people from various Shan Churches from Southern Shan State attended. This is the first
training to be conducted with local trainers. A missionary to the Dai of China Mr. R. Minick helped us
teaching three days. He traveled with us by bus the whole night through from Yangon to TaungGyi.
Rev. Sai Aung Win, a pastor of MyoMa Church, NamKham and Sai Hla Shwe, a GCI graduate from
Yangon also helped us teaching.
There was a good experience. A Buddhist man from KoLum who had no knowledge of
Christianity but just recently converted came to attend the training. He was once possessed by evil
spirit. He was chained to the tree and beaten. He was exorcised by witchdoctor but to no avail. He was
running on the street of the village naked. He was about to be killed. But he was released and healed by