History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 250
gospel. Some Churches are rich. They never have deficit in their budget. Some have thousands, some
have millions of Kyat in their Church account. If they could afford to spend millions of Kyat in building
a beautiful church building they should also afford to send preachers into missions regardless of
expensive traveling cost. Most of the Churches have a car. One Church in the North has four cars. It
depends on how they use it.
Poor road condition is also a hindrance to our mission work. In some area a hundred miles
journey may take three days by car on muddy, rocky, uneven and dangerous road. During rainy season,
car and motorcycle are useless. They have to go on foot or by cow cart. Evangelists stopped traveling
during rainy season. In some areas commercial transportations are only available once a week or once
in a while or not available at all. It is also not reliable. However this poor transportation should not stop
us going out preaching good news. Rev. Cushing spent 52 days to get to KengTung not by car but on
foot, bullock cart and ponies. Dr. Griggs traveled on foot for two months through terrain of Shan States.
If American can walk, Shan can walk.
Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you
are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Romans 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the
feet of those who bring good news!”
35. Written Record
Past
The missionaries and organization had a very good system of keeping record of their work and
reports. We appreciate very much their good recording and keeping system for we can now read their
letters and reports and study their services among our people one hundred forty years ago.
Present
It is amazing to see hundreds of old papers, reports and records properly kept in library archives
at American Baptist Mission headquarters in USA. Regretfully today, no writing and proper recording
system is implemented in Shan Churches and associations. They use to write the minutes of the meeting
but fail to keep them properly. When I try to find the minutes, record and papers regarding Shan Baptist
work at Myanmar Baptist Convention Headquarter, Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention Office,
ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission Office, many records, even the recent ones, are not found. They
do not have library archive. The records are neither kept properly in file or office, nor put into computer
or microchips. I have seen a Church in ShweLi which has three computers but the ShweLi Valley
Baptist Association does not have one. Vice-chairman of the association said, “We don’t have money to
buy a computer.” A Church is rich but association is poor. We will not be able to read what has
happened in the past if there are no records. We may not be able to learn, change or improved our
missions and ministries for the future without knowing the past. Very little pictures or photos are
available as record. Shan Churches need to develop good recording system.
Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord replied, “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.”
Revelation 1:19 “Write , therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.”