History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 228
that those people are too wealthy, influential and intellectual to approach. They may have inferiority
complex and not confidence enough to preach to those people. They dare not to tell them that they are
sinners who need Savior. They seldom get educated, rich and famous people converted. Most of the
educated, rich and famous people in the Church are second or third generation Christians. We need
evangelists who have the gift, who have the opportunity, who dare to evangelize the rich, the famous,
the influential, the key persons and the authority, who are courageous enough to go like Moses to King
Pharaoh. Sadly to say very few Shan pastors and evangelists have tertiary level education. Only five
Shan University graduates have attended Seminary in 140 years and serving as full-time pastor or
evangelist or missionary. Sometimes Christianity is also seen as religion of Chin, Kachin and Lahu hill
tribes because 90% of the Chin, Kachin and Lahu tribes are followers of Christ.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of
the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
21. Leadership Quality
Past
Rev. Bixby reported in 1864, “Therefore I selected several young men and brought them home
with me on my second tour. Not one of them have had ever been to Toungoo to school neither before
nor had any of them been baptized. I preferred to take those whom others had no claim and to have the
entire training of them myself.” 101 Dr. Kirkpatrick reported from NamKham in 1893, “As usual we had
a daily training class for all of the native workers and any other Christians who would come during the
rainy season. We spent about two hours a day in Bible study and prayer. Our hope for the
evangelization of the Shan is in training on the field Shan converts for the work.” 102
Kirkpatrick reported in 1895, “We now have a service at the hospital six mornings in the week
also at the jail. At BawGyo and HsiPaw we have zayats in the bazaar and each fifth day we have a
service at each place. The training class meets five times a week. All these services with the school and
four regular services on Sunday keep us all busy.” 103 Dr. A. H. Henderson said in August 1936, “The
Shan had been isolated from the world for 2000 years. Their way of life and conservatism was
understandable.” It was reported in 1954, “The work had grown to such an extent that some reliable
source of better-trained pastors and workers was a very urgent need.” 104 E.E. Sowards reported in
1954, “The great need of most of the fields in the Shan State is for many more and much better trained
pastors and Christian workers.” “A possible candidate for this position is Thra Aung Din now at
KengTung. He had two years in Judson College and then completed the four years in the Divinity
School obtaining the degree of B.Th. He has been in KengTung for several years and now speaks Shan
and Lahu in addition to Burmese, Karen and English. Thus he possesses many of the qualifications we
would desire in an efficient Director of Evangelism for the Shan State.” 105
All of the past Shan pastors and leaders were trained by missionaries as they helped and lived
with them. They did not have a chance of going to Seminary or Bible School. Rev. Ai Pan went to
Insein Seminary and studied for four months only. Nevertheless his Biblical knowledge was amazing.
His book “150 Sermons” written in Burmese was very popular among preachers. Spiritual quality is
much more important than educational knowledge.
101 Letter Of Moses Homan Bixby, 25 July 1864, (The Missionary Magazine, Feb 18, 1865)
102 79th Annual Report, 1893. American Baptist Missionary Union
103 The Baptist Missionary Magazine 1895
104 American Baptist Convention Year Book 1951
105 A Study of Baptist Work in the Shan States, By E.E. Sowards, 1954, Burma Baptist Mission, Rangoon.