History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 191
1. Workers in The Harvest of Shanland
Past
Rev. Bixby said on June 28, 1861, “Must they die forever because there is no one to lead them
to the tree of life? It seems to me that Christians in America cannot allow this. How many there are in
our Colleges and Seminaries and Churches who would be delighted to tell them of a Savior’s dying
love! Why not send them? Have compassion on the long reaper; have compassion on these multitudes
and send them help from your many sanctuaries. The Churches must give up their pastors and
businessmen must give of their substance to send them and they must go into the entire world speedily
for the night cometh.” “The harvest before me is indeed great but what can I say of the laborers? As I
stand on the border of this broad harvest-field and look over it I am overwhelmed with a sense of the
magnitude of the work and when I turn my eyes to a single sickle my heart sinks within me. Can one
reaper garner such a harvest?” 1
Rev. Bixby said on November 6, 1861, “When I left Rangoon I tried to get a Burmese preacher
to accompany me to this place (Toungoo) but did not succeed. Since coming here and seeing the
demands of the place and the very great destitution I have written to different stations with feeling that I
must have a native helper but hitherto have failed. But thank God a man has been raised to me on the
ground who boldly and intelligently proclaims the gospel in all places at proper times and all at his
own charges.” 2
Rev. Bixby said on November 12, 1862, “When will you send him? If I could divide myself into
a hundred parts every part would without delay find a place to work in the center of a rich ripe harvest
field. But alas! It is hard to be only one. In America, twenty or thirty applicants for every vacant pulpit
for every chaplaincy in the army! In this portion of “the field” not one preacher to a million. “How
long, O Lord, how long?” 3
Rev. Bixby said in 1863, “How can I do all this work and not break down? I am the pastor of a
growing Church whose members need the most constant watch care and the most patient and thorough
teaching, teacher of a Theological Seminary with six young men preparing for the ministry, a preaching
missionary at large with souls millions of people to care for, a writer and translator for a whole race of
Shan and an explorer of unknown regions. This is the outline. Can I fill it up?” 4
Rev. Cushing said in 1893, “The present need of the Shan mission is men, who are ready to go
into the interior take up a life of comparative isolation and pioneer labor and availing themselves of the
preparatory work already done vigorously prosecute the work of evangelization.” 5
It was reported in 1916, “While missionary efforts among the Karen have been signalized by
great evangelistic results, among the Shan who are intense Buddhists, the work has been characterized
by a slow ingathering of converts. Part of this has been due to small number of missionaries engaged in
the work. Shan stations have been opened at Bhamo, HsiPaw, NamKham, MuongNai, TaungGyi and
KengTung but the missionary staff has become so depleted that only four men, A. H. Henderson, M.D.,
at TaungGyi, Rev. Dr. H. C. Gibbens, M.D., at MuongNai, C. A. Kirkpatrick, M.D. at NamKham and
Rev. W. M. Young at KengTung are now working in the Shan language. Bhamo has not had a Shan
missionary for years. HsiPaw is without a missionary and Rev. Young though speaking Shan has his
time occupied in work for the Muhso, Lahu, Wa and Lolo tribes of the KengTung field who are coming
in masses towards Christianity.” 6
1 Letter From Mr. Bixby, June 28, 1861. Toungoo.
2 Letter From Mr. Bixby, Nov. 5, 1861. Toungoo.
3 Letter From Mr. Bixby, Nov. 12, 1862, Toungoo.
4 Letter From Mr. Bixby, Jan. 16, 1863, Toungoo.
5 “The Shan Mission” By Rev. J. N. Cushing, D. D. Boston, American Baptist Missionary Union 1893
6 102nd Annual Report, 1916, American Baptist Missionary Union