History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 232
closet tribes to the Shan are Kachin, Wa, Lahu, Lisu, Palong, Ahka and Chinese. That’s why missionary
working in Shan State required to speaking more than one language. It was also suggested in 1963 that
the Seminaries in Insein should open language classes of major dialects to enable the students who were
going to serve in the different parts of Burma among tribal groups to prepare themselves for immediate
and effective service on graduation. The four years in the Seminary would have ample of time to learn
other language. There were students in secular schools and colleges in Rangoon who would be able and
willing to give part of their time free or for a small sum of weekly allowance to teach language and
literature. 112 However this suggestion was not taken heed and materialized until today.
Present
Insein Burmese Bible School is taught in Burmese, Karen Bible School is taught in Karen,
Myanmar Institute of Theology is taught in English and Kachin Bible School is taught in Kachin. The
other tribes including Shan have to learn their lessons in other languages. They have difficulty in
translating, preaching and teaching in Shan language when they graduated from other languages’
Seminaries.
Today in Burma, many Shan can speak Shan but cannot read and write Shan well. They are
doing better in Burmese. Shan may not speak Burmese well but they can read Burmese better than Shan
because they all have to learn Burmese in school. Shan literature are not allowed to be taught in school.
That is why Burmese are used in many Shan Churches. If we don’t know Shan language how can we
preach to the Shan? Preach through translator? If we don’t know Shan literature how can we read Shan
Bible? Most of the Shan Christians are not very good neither at English nor other languages enough to
be a translator. We would get wrong translation. For example, in one instance, an English preacher said,
“You should be a workaholic” but the Shan translator translated, “You should be an alcoholic” because
translator did not understand the word “workaholic” but he only knew “alcoholic.” One translator
translates more than what the speaker actually said. Sometimes translator said completely different
from what the speaker really said. Knowing Shan language is a must to work among the Shan people
group. Regretfully less than 10% of Shan Christians are using and reading Shan Bible. They prefer
reading Burmese Bible, singing Burmese songs and writing in Burmese. All the minutes and records are
written in Burmese. Not a single Shan Church has recorded a meeting minutes in Shan. Their written
communications are all in Burmese. They prefer wearing Burmese longee rather than Shan pan.
Very few Christian books are translated or written in Shan language. The Holy Bible is the only
book fully translated into Shan. No other Christian books are fully translated. No Bible commentary or
Bible dictionary are translated. We have to thank God and Rev. Cushing for doing such a wonderful
things for our people in translating the whole Bible into our language in 1891. We don’t have many
Christian literatures in Shan because of the following reasons.
1. Man power.
Not many Shan Christians are working on writing and translation work.
Not many Shan Christians are qualified to do translation, writing and publication.
2. Materials.
Shortage of papers and other materials for printing.
3. Finance.
Printing cost is very high.
The financial situation in local Churches are not very strong to do publications.
Churches do not have priority in Shan literature publication.
4. Shan literature
Many Shan Christians do not read and write Shan.
Churches do not teach their children and members Shan literature.
112 Progress Report of KengTung Shan Baptist Field, 1957-1963, 95 th AGM, Burma Baptist Convention, December 1963.