History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 236
ecumenism is all about. Baptist leader seldom taught them about ecumenism. They are very loyal and
obedience to Myanmar Baptist Convention. Whoever come from MBC they are given the warmest
welcome and offered the best treatment and hospitality. I remember one small and poor Church in the
North slaughtered their chickens and pig to cook a good food for MBC delegates. A daughter of an
MBC officer said, “Father, you told me that the village people are poor. It is not true. You see, we have
a delicious chicken meat here that we cannot afford to eat in Yangon.” Shan Baptist Churches show
their dislike when talking about “The Holy Spirit.” They accused that whoever talking about Holy
Spirit is non-Baptist. But they say that they believe in Trinity. They say that fasting and prayer is not
Baptist practice.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts
are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one
body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
We have organized Great Commission Institute Trainings for Shan Churches for six times
between 1994 and 2001. Some of the trainers are from Pentecostal background. We also have Baptist
trainers. The trainers did not teach denominational doctrine. They taught the Bible. All the lectures are
Biblical. We conducted training together with local leaders such as Stephen from the East, Htun Myat
from the South and Thein Aung Kham from the North. They all are Baptist pastors. They have attended
our training program many times. Stephen and Shan Churches from Eastern Shan State are more openminded.
They listened, learned, adopted and put into practice, what they have learned, in Baptist way.
They also worked with Methodist Church from Malaysia and other Charismatic and Pentecostal groups
in their missions. Their Churches grow and multiply rapidly. However Shan Baptist from the North use
to say, “We do not recognize this training because it is AOG.” Nevertheless, they kept on sending their
people to the training and also invited GCI to do special training session for them in MayMyo in 1998.
When I visited ShweLi Valley Shan Churches in 2001, my hometown and my home Church, the pastor
of MuSe, in the beginning refused my offer for training, but later reluctantly allowed me to teach Bible
to the Shan believers. MyoMa Shan Baptist Church in NamKham allowed me to teach three days but
pastor of NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church in NamKham refused my offer without reason. I was
baptized by the first Baptist pastor of ShweLi, my membership is still in the Baptist Church. My
ordination ministers are from Baptist, Lutheran, Mennonite, and Pentecostal to show that I am
ecumenical minister. I have my doctor degree in medicine and master of arts degree in theology. I have
been preaching and teaching in radio for more than ten years, I have conducted training for Shan
Churches many times, I have helped them in many ways in the past. Am I not qualified to teach? Why
do they refuse me? Probably they consider me non-Baptist because I worked with some AOG trainers
when giving them trainings. They do not want anyone from any other denomination except Baptist to
preach or teach at their Church. I am not ashamed of the gospel and the truth. Jesus commanded,
“Go..Teach...” There’s no denomination in Jesus Christ. There’s no denomination in heaven.
Matthew 13:57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his
own house is a prophet without honor.”
Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”