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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Analysis 192<br />
Bixby was call<strong>in</strong>g Colleges, Sem<strong>in</strong>aries and <strong>Churches</strong> <strong>in</strong> United States to send missionaries to<br />
the <strong>Shan</strong>. He said that there were not enough workers <strong>in</strong> the harvest <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shan</strong>. The Baptist mission first<br />
started <strong>in</strong> <strong>Burma</strong> among Burmese and Karen. The mission to the <strong>Shan</strong> began 48 years after Judson<br />
began his mission among Burmese <strong>in</strong> 1813. S<strong>in</strong>ce native helper was very important <strong>in</strong> reach<strong>in</strong>g local<br />
people, Bixby tried to get local helper but could not get one from any mission stations <strong>in</strong> <strong>Burma</strong>.<br />
However later we’ve seen Karen missionaries came along with American missionaries and worked<br />
among the <strong>Shan</strong>.<br />
In mission field, the one who worked, worked very hard. One person did many jobs at the same<br />
time. Bixby said that if he could divide himself <strong>in</strong>to a hundred parts every part would f<strong>in</strong>d a place to<br />
work. How long could a man stand without physical sickness or psychological derange or nervous<br />
breakdown <strong>in</strong> such situation? How long a candle will last if burn<strong>in</strong>g at both ends? We have seen many<br />
missionaries got sick and have to return to America very <strong>of</strong>ten. Some had nervous breakdown.<br />
Slower response, fewer result, low morale and disappo<strong>in</strong>tment <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> work were partly due to<br />
<strong>in</strong>adequate manpower <strong>in</strong> mission fields. There were six mission fields opened almost at the same time<br />
for the <strong>Shan</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> States but only four missionaries were work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the fields. Some mission fields<br />
did not have missionary. How could the work be done without worker? If there’s no follow up, the<br />
seeds sown will be eaten by the birds. That’s why mission among the <strong>Shan</strong> grew weaker and weaker.<br />
Why couldn’t American Baptist Foreign Mission Board send more missionary? Bixby lamented! We<br />
have noticed that foreign mission support was also weaken<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>ancially. That’s why some mission<br />
fields had to be either rearranged or closed.<br />
Present<br />
Today the reapers <strong>in</strong> the harvest <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> are very few. There are not more than one hundred fulltime<br />
Christian workers work<strong>in</strong>g among five million <strong>Shan</strong> <strong>in</strong> Myanmar. S<strong>in</strong>ce 1966 there is no foreign<br />
missionary liv<strong>in</strong>g and work<strong>in</strong>g among the <strong>Shan</strong> <strong>in</strong> Myanmar any more when Burmese military<br />
government took control <strong>of</strong> the country and asked foreigners to leave. No foreign missionary allowed to<br />
live and do religious work <strong>in</strong> Myanmar ever s<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce there are not enough evangelists and missionaries preach<strong>in</strong>g gospel to the <strong>Shan</strong>, those<br />
serv<strong>in</strong>g honestly are work<strong>in</strong>g very hard faithfully but not efficiently. Some dedicated God’s servants are<br />
try<strong>in</strong>g very hard and do<strong>in</strong>g many th<strong>in</strong>gs as a one-man-band among the <strong>Shan</strong>. By His wonderful grace<br />
and assignment I have been able to produce radio program for broadcast<strong>in</strong>g one hour every day,<br />
rewrit<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> Bible, rewrit<strong>in</strong>g and produc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> Hymnal, writ<strong>in</strong>g and publish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> gospel tracts<br />
and books, travel<strong>in</strong>g, preach<strong>in</strong>g, evangeliz<strong>in</strong>g, plant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Churches</strong>, giv<strong>in</strong>g tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to evangelists and<br />
Church leaders, record<strong>in</strong>g and produc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> gospel songs on volunteer basis and also heal<strong>in</strong>g the sick<br />
as a medical doctor. It was reported by Bixby <strong>in</strong> <strong>1861</strong> that a local man went out preach<strong>in</strong>g gospel by his<br />
own expense <strong>in</strong> Toungoo. Today we seldom see <strong>Shan</strong> pastors or evangelists go<strong>in</strong>g out and preach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
gospel on volunteer basis. Instead some Sem<strong>in</strong>ary graduates demand better salary, better hous<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
better benefit for a job at the Church. Some even threaten to resign if they were sent to other remote<br />
places. Nevertheless there are some pastors, evangelists and missionaries work<strong>in</strong>g as tent-maker,<br />
without salary or with m<strong>in</strong>imal support only. We have to raise such dedicated and self-sacrificed<br />
workers among the <strong>Shan</strong>.<br />
Regretfully some <strong>of</strong> our <strong>Shan</strong> students go<strong>in</strong>g to Sem<strong>in</strong>aries and Bible Schools with different<br />
idea, plann<strong>in</strong>g and motive <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> fully committed to serve <strong>in</strong> missions. Some even have the idea and<br />
motive <strong>of</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g abroad after graduation because it’s been claimed that it’s easier to go abroad if they<br />
are Bible School graduates. Locally 65 <strong>Shan</strong> graduated from Bible Schools and Sem<strong>in</strong>aries <strong>in</strong> 140<br />
years. In average only one person graduated from Bible School <strong>in</strong> two years. If we are go<strong>in</strong>g to rely on<br />
these graduates, by proportion, one graduate is responsible for 76,923 <strong>Shan</strong>. Moreover very few<br />
Sem<strong>in</strong>ary graduates want to be evangelists or missionaries because <strong>of</strong> poverty, difficulty, hardship and<br />
suffer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> mission fields. Most <strong>of</strong> them only want to stay at well-established <strong>Churches</strong>. Some even do