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 234<br />
manag<strong>in</strong>g and lead<strong>in</strong>g the Church and organization are not so considerate to their pastors. They are<br />
eager to spend millions <strong>of</strong> Kyat to build a big and beautiful church build<strong>in</strong>g but reluctant to give one<br />
hundred Kyat more to support their pastor. Their wrong concept is “pastor must be poor.” Four hundred<br />
Kyat a month (<strong>in</strong> 1985) for the pastor with family <strong>of</strong> four is far from enough. At least one thousand<br />
Kyat is needed. Today a pastor is paid between Kyat 5,000 to 15,000 a month when low-quality rice is<br />
Kyat 5,000, high-quality rice is Kyat 20,000 per bag and one catty beef is Kyat 3,000. An orda<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
pastor from the South said, “Oo ma ma thaung, thi la me zaung na<strong>in</strong>g” literally means “If stomach is<br />
not full, no one can be righteous” “It is very difficult for us to rema<strong>in</strong> righteous. We have to do what<br />
they do just for our survival.” Is this corrupt motto <strong>in</strong>filtrat<strong>in</strong>g the m<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> our Christian leaders? If so<br />
what is the difference between Christian and non-Christian? Do we have to lie as the others lie? Do we<br />
have to cheat as the others cheat? Do we have to steal as the others steal?<br />
Some pastors do not want to go to the rural area, small towns, or remote places to serve <strong>in</strong><br />
m<strong>in</strong>istry or mission. They want to live and work <strong>in</strong> the big town or city at a well-established Church for<br />
the sake <strong>of</strong> their family and children. They want to work <strong>in</strong> the <strong>of</strong>fice but not <strong>in</strong> the mission field for<br />
comfort and opportunity. If someone is commissioned to go out or sent out to remote area, they would<br />
resign. Go<strong>in</strong>g abroad is one <strong>of</strong> the dreams that Christian leaders are always dream<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>. Whenever the<br />
opportunity has arisen for Christian leaders to go abroad for tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g or sem<strong>in</strong>ars or conferences or<br />
study tour, many may apply but only a hand full <strong>of</strong> Christian workers who are work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the <strong>of</strong>fice or<br />
convention have more opportunity. Some may have made the trips for more than five times but the<br />
others may have to wait for ten years for the opportunity. More over, the most suitable persons are not<br />
selected for foreign trip but the most favorable people are. Why do they want to go abroad even only<br />
for three days? Some tried to go even when the conferences, sem<strong>in</strong>ars or meet<strong>in</strong>gs are already over.<br />
Go<strong>in</strong>g abroad is the most blessed opportunity. They don’t have to pay for their air tickets, or hotel fee.<br />
All are sponsored by foreign organizations or <strong>Churches</strong>. They have a chance <strong>of</strong> see<strong>in</strong>g the outside<br />
world. They have a lucrative opportunity <strong>of</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g TV set, video recorder, camera, watch etc. back<br />
to <strong>Burma</strong>. Importation <strong>of</strong> such electrical appliances must get prior approval from government <strong>in</strong><br />
normal circumstances. But those who come back from abroad are allowed to br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> without permit.<br />
When a man leaves <strong>Burma</strong>, he is allowed to carry foreign currency only US$15 (<strong>in</strong> 1980s) out <strong>of</strong> the<br />
country. However, when he returned, he would br<strong>in</strong>g several th<strong>in</strong>gs back with him worth US$500. Isn’t<br />
it amaz<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
Some local evangelists are be<strong>in</strong>g labeled “opportunists” because <strong>in</strong> some occasions they gave<br />
some wrong <strong>in</strong>formation to the foreign mission boards or foreign mission organizations <strong>in</strong> order to get<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ancial or material supports. Some got foreign support for the Church or mission but it was misused<br />
for their own benefits. I have seen a pastor whose salary is Kyat 10,000 per month but he owns a car, a<br />
motorcycle, a big house, he can support his daughter to study <strong>in</strong> University, which cost about Kyat<br />
100,000 a month. How can he afford it? Isn’t it a miracle or a misery? Some pastors’ wife has to do<br />
secular work to earn money for their family. Some Sem<strong>in</strong>ary graduates, even though they were sent to<br />
Sem<strong>in</strong>ary by the support <strong>of</strong> the Church, they don’t serve <strong>in</strong> the Church after graduation. Some quit the<br />
m<strong>in</strong>istry after serv<strong>in</strong>g for a while and do their own secular bus<strong>in</strong>ess. Pastors don’t have medical,<br />
hous<strong>in</strong>g or educational allowance like other pastors <strong>in</strong> developed country. Some cannot stand the<br />
poverty and hardship and they quit the m<strong>in</strong>istry. Some fall to temptation.<br />
We should not allow this poverty to be used by Satan as his weapon to make our Church<br />
workers down, committ<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong> or not serv<strong>in</strong>g God. Faithfulness is very important <strong>in</strong> the life <strong>of</strong> leaders<br />
and pastors. Without faithfulness there is no credibility. As poverty strik<strong>in</strong>g the economy and livelihood<br />
<strong>of</strong> the people, some leaders and pastors acted unfaithfully to the Church, organization and to God. I<br />
have heard and seen some leaders and pastors have acted unfaithfully especially concern<strong>in</strong>g money. A<br />
former treasurer <strong>of</strong> Myanmar Baptist Convention warned me repeatedly not to use a <strong>Shan</strong> leader who<br />
was not trustworthy and un-faithful <strong>in</strong> handl<strong>in</strong>g association’s money. A leader misused Church’s money<br />
by lend<strong>in</strong>g the association’s money to a bus<strong>in</strong>essman and take the <strong>in</strong>terest from it for himself, a leader