History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 218
that Church, she admitted, “Yes. It is true.” Again I asked another senior member of the Church who
was a daughter of the late pastor, she said, “Yes. It is true. A young pastor of the association was very
angry and surrendered his pastoral card immediately.” If it is true, how shameful and sinful way of
raising fund for church building. The place is now the largest gambling city in the country. Another
Shan Church in the East sell lottery tickets for fund raising purpose during Christmas season. Where is
our Christian ethic?
Shan Churches are still very peculiar. The church building must have a tall bell tower. Without
bell tower, the building is not considered as a church building. Shan Christians consider the church
building as a holy building and the church ground is a holy ground. In some Churches people do not
wear shoes or sandals or hats in the church. They do not bring food into the church or eat in the church.
Children are not allowed to run around and play in the church or shout in the church. They consider
making a loud noise in the church is an insult to God.
Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.
Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does
not live in temples built by hands.
16. Evangelism
Past
Rev. Bixby said on June 28, 1861, “My method of labor for the present will be as follows: ‘a
part of the day is devoted to the study of the Shan language and the Burmese language, a part to
preaching to both Shan and Burman. I propose to occupy a zayat daily in some central places where
both races congregate. I hope also to open a chapel soon for regular Sabbath services. Besides I expect
to preach from house to house by the wayside and wherever I can get a human ear. Thus I hope to sow
the seed. It may be a long time before the seed scattered will come to maturity but we will sow in hope.
We feel confident that God has commenced a work among the Shan and He never will be defeated.” 68
Knowing native language was the first priority for foreign missionaries so that they could
communicate with the people effectively. All missionaries to the Shan learned and spoke Shan very
fluently. It was reported in 1915 that Rev. Young spoke Shan very well and used Shan language in
reaching other hill tribes who were Animists in KengTung. It was compulsory for foreign missionaries
to learn Shan language and literature so that they could preach gospel to the Shan in their language.
Zayat was in fact like a convention and exhibition hall of modern day. People from different places
came and stayed together for a short stay at zayat as their temporary shelter. Their methods of
evangelism were preaching in zayat, bazaar, house to house and distributing tracts to non-believers.
House-to-house preaching was like a personal evangelism. It provided good person-to-person contact
and more opportunity for dialogue. I have seen my late pastor Rev. Kham Maung of MuSe did the same
in 1960. It was very successful.
It was reported in HsiPaw in 1889, “During the year jungle trips, bazaar preaching, jail
meetings and house-to-house visitations have been continued as heretofore” 69 Shan villages used to
have fifth-day-bazaar (bazaar on every fifth day). Hundreds of people are selling and buying goods at
one place. Missionaries took opportunity of meeting various people group, preaching the gospel and
distributing the tracts at bazaar. It was their evangelistic meeting place. Sometimes they could reach
more than one thousand people in one day. It was reported in May 1862, “His father keeps on hand a
supply of the Scriptures and tracts for the benefit of himself, son and neighbors. Sometimes he has a tea
party at his house to which he invites his relatives and friends. The preachers are also invited and
68 Letter From Mr. Bixby, June 28, 1861. Toungoo.
69 85th Annual Report, 1899, American Baptist Missionary Union, report from Rev. Cochrane