History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

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