History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Shan Bible, Hymnbook, Radio, Literature 181
look for a Church. Finally I found a Lahu Church on the mountain. I went to that Church and told the
pastor about my faith. And I got baptized in that Lahu Church.”
When we were on short-term mission trip to Northern Thailand with medical and dental team
we met a blind woman. She was smiling so sweetly and dressed with a flower in her hair. When asked
why did she seem to be very happy, she said, “Because of Christ.” How did you know Christ? “I have
listened to gospel message from radio.”
I did not expect that Buddhist monks would listen to the gospel. But it is amazing. I have
received many letters from Buddhist monks from different places all over Burma. Some have expressed
their beliefs in Jesus Christ, some have expressed their interest and wish to know more, some have
requested for Bibles and some have asked intellectual and theological questions. About four hundred
letters were received in 1996. Most of the letters are from Burma, Shan State, and Central Myanmar
such as Bagu, Sagaing, Pyinmana, Mon State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Rakhine State, Chin State,
Yangon Division and some from Thailand. The questions in all letters are answered during the radio
program to enable all listeners to hear and know the questions and answers. I have received a letter
from a prisoner in Thailand saying that the message he had heard in the radio was a blessing for him
even though he was in prison for five years. He asked for a Bible so that he could read the words of
God every day in prison. I have received a letter from Buddhist monk from Burma saying that he never
knew that someone died for the sins of the people. He wanted to follow Jesus so that he would be free.
In 2001, I have received a call from our evangelist telling me that Shan people in golden triangle have
been listening to the gospel in radio for years. Now the son of the head of the village has accepted the
Lord. They want me to go there and preach the gospel to them. (As I am writing this book we have
planted the first Shan Church in Golden Triangle in 2002)
It was reported from Mission Network News, “Missionary radio broadcasters are seeing success
in reaching out to Buddhist monks in China, Myanmar and Thailand. Jim Bowman, president of Far
East Broadcasting Company, told Mission Network News, the company’s Shan language broadcast
resulted in more than 1,000 responses in 1997. There’s a lot of terminology in other religions than
Christianity that sounds the same as Christianity,’ said Bowman. ‘For example, Buddhists are looking
for salvation. And, when they hear we’re talking about salvation or when we use the term God, they
have a concept of God but it’s not the same as the God that stands outside and loves us.’ Bowman says
the Shan broadcast has been on the air for some time. ‘People are attracted to it because it’s in their
language and the broadcaster learns more and more about the skill of broadcasting,’ Bowman observed.
He continued, ‘We’ve noticed... a remarkable change in the response in our listeners on almost all
fronts. And I’d have to give the credit to the Holy Spirit.”
It was reported from Northern Thailand, “How did you come to put your trust in Christ?” I
asked. “The Lisu people shared the Gospel with us and when I heard the Shan FEBC radio broadcast, it
confirmed what the Lisu had been sharing and so I prayed to receive Christ.” Sai has been a believer for
about five years; he has a passion for the Word of God, and is now a leader in a Shan-Tai Church of
about 50 Shan-Tai people. Isn’t it wonderful when Christian ministries compliment each other and
testify to the truth of the Gospel. To God be the Glory! Pray for the Shan FEBC radio broadcast, pray
for freshness and creativity, and pray for it to be used to see many new Churches planted throughout the
Shan State. Pray for people groups like the Lisu and the Kachin. Thank God that He has been using
tribal Christians to bring the message of God’s love to the Shan-Tai people in some very remote places.
Pray for God’s blessing to be upon the Lisu and Kachin and pray that God would bring unity to their
Churches. Pray for the fruit of outreach to the Shan. Pray that it would be a pure and holy offering to
the Lord and that Shan-Tai Christians would be compelled by the love of Christ to reach their own
people. 7
7 http://www.infomekong.com/prayer_shan_050915.htm December 12, 2005