History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
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Twenty-first century <strong>Shan</strong> mission project 161<br />
gospel, teach<strong>in</strong>g the commandment <strong>of</strong> love and sav<strong>in</strong>g the soul are the best strategies <strong>in</strong> reach<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
<strong>Shan</strong>.<br />
The social action will vary enormously from context to context, but will concentrate on achievable aims<br />
and work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> solidarity with others “<strong>of</strong> good will” <strong>in</strong> the community. The worship <strong>of</strong> the Church will<br />
be related to its community action, not disconnected from its social context. The partnership with<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the wider community opportunities will arise for shar<strong>in</strong>g faith with those who already<br />
know Church members through shared <strong>in</strong>volvement.<br />
We should have the whole Church, the whole Gospel to the whole World as declared by Lausann II<br />
World Evangelization Congress <strong>in</strong> Manila <strong>in</strong> 1989.<br />
4. Identification<br />
<strong>Shan</strong> people are quite “nationalistic” and “patriotic.” Why? Accord<strong>in</strong>g to history they were be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
attacked and governed by other people s<strong>in</strong>ce their first k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>in</strong> AD 225. Today they were scattered<br />
to many parts <strong>of</strong> Asia. <strong>Shan</strong> people can be found <strong>in</strong> India, Ch<strong>in</strong>a, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and<br />
Vietnam. But they do not have their own <strong>in</strong>dependent k<strong>in</strong>gdom or country or land today. They become<br />
m<strong>in</strong>ority <strong>in</strong> the other land. They always want to be united and have their own land.<br />
<strong>Shan</strong> always <strong>of</strong>fer very warm welcome to any one who identify with them as a <strong>Shan</strong> or the one who<br />
show them love and concern. When I went to Yunnan, South-west <strong>of</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a <strong>in</strong> 1997, to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>Shan</strong><br />
people whom I have never met before but I have heard about them s<strong>in</strong>ce I was a child. When I was on<br />
the street <strong>of</strong> Dehong, Yunnan, I met three men walk<strong>in</strong>g on the road near rice field. I started talk<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
them <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> language and identify<strong>in</strong>g myself to them as a <strong>Shan</strong> from <strong>Shan</strong> State. When they identified<br />
me as a <strong>Shan</strong> by my <strong>Shan</strong> cultural tattoo on my arms, I was warmly welcomed and <strong>in</strong>vited to stay with<br />
them, be their guest, eat with them, visit the families <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> people and I was <strong>in</strong>troduced to all the<br />
people <strong>in</strong> the village. They even allowed me to tell them about Jesus.<br />
I met a missionary from Holland. She lives and works among <strong>Shan</strong> people for 30 years <strong>in</strong><br />
MaeHongSon. She lives <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> village, wears <strong>Shan</strong> dress, eats <strong>Shan</strong> food and speaks <strong>Shan</strong> language to<br />
be identified with locals. She has <strong>Shan</strong> name. Her m<strong>in</strong>istry is very successful.<br />
5. Build<strong>in</strong>g Church Build<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Is build<strong>in</strong>g a church build<strong>in</strong>g important or necessary for <strong>Shan</strong> Christians? <strong>Shan</strong> people consider<br />
monastery as holy place. They do not wear sandals or shoes even <strong>in</strong> the muddy ground <strong>of</strong> the monastery<br />
compound. They always go to monastery for worship and do any k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> religious rite. <strong>Shan</strong> do not feel<br />
“home” as holy place so that they can worship God <strong>in</strong> the home. However <strong>Shan</strong> Christian do have a<br />
home fellowship and home service apart from Church service at the Church. <strong>Shan</strong> believers also<br />
consider church build<strong>in</strong>g as a holy place where they can meet God and worship Him. They use to take<br />
<strong>of</strong>f their shoes or sandals before go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to church build<strong>in</strong>g. They sit properly and do not speak out<br />
loud. They never make loud noise, never play games, and do not eat <strong>in</strong> church build<strong>in</strong>g. Rev. Bixby, the<br />
first missionary to the <strong>Shan</strong>, built a church build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Toungoo just two years after his arrival.<br />
Build<strong>in</strong>g a beautiful and attractive church build<strong>in</strong>g, which makes the people feel “holy”, is important <strong>in</strong><br />
the heart <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> believers. That is why we can see big, beautiful and expensive church build<strong>in</strong>g, which<br />
cost millions <strong>of</strong> Kyat when they do not have much money to spend on evangelism and mission. <strong>Shan</strong><br />
Christians put “Build<strong>in</strong>g Church build<strong>in</strong>g” very important m<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>in</strong> their Christian life. Believers are<br />
will<strong>in</strong>g to give bigger sum <strong>of</strong> money to church build<strong>in</strong>g fund than to mission. We need to have a church<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g whether big or small for worship.<br />
Problems<br />
1. Thousand years old culture and Christian practices.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Shan</strong> has adopted Buddhism as their religion s<strong>in</strong>ce AD 71, all their festivals and practices<br />
are becom<strong>in</strong>g their culture. <strong>Shan</strong> claim, “Buddhism is <strong>Shan</strong> culture” and “<strong>Shan</strong> culture is Buddhism.” If