History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 252
1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of
God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
37. Donation and Offering
Past
Bixby said on January 16, 1863, “We want men and money and have them to carry on our work
successfully but it seems to me we want one thing more, which it is in the power of the Church to give a
more general correspondence between the missionaries and their brethren an intercourse full of love
and confidence and words of good cheer” 148 It was reported in 1900 from MuongNai, “Daily thank
offering of rice was collected from many. This was brought in on Sunday and the proceeds applied to
famine relief in India.” 149
It was reported in 1903 from MuongNai by Dr. Henderson, “The Church has started a free-will
thank offering fund and a little thanks offering of rice is given each morning by all who feel so inclined.
This is applied to the support of the orphanage and may amount to Rs. 50 per annum. This is an
instance of a heathen custom being diverted into a Christian channel.” 150 It was reported in 1911 from
TaungGyi, “At the Easter and Thanksgiving services special offerings were taken, the first for Rangoon
Baptist College, and the second for the purchase of lamps. Some brought rice, others drawn work,
others made shawls and some sent to Rangoon or Bhamo for articles, which could be sold at a profit.
One school at TaungGyi supplied presents for a Christmas tree and made a special offering of rupees
14 ($4.67) for the orphanage at MuongNai.” 151 Henderson reported in 1899 from MuongNai, “A daily
thanks offering of rice from many. This is brought in on Sunday and the proceeds applied to famine
relief in India.”
Church ministries need money to function. Money comes from offering and donation of the
believers and non-believers alike. Traditionally offering were not only in the form of money but also
rice and other homegrown products like fruits and vegetables. It was reported in 1893 from HsiPaw that
SaoPha gave a building, a land, logs for hospital and rupees 1,500 toward furnishing instruments and
medicines. Shan SaoPha were not Christians but giving was one of the most important practices to gain
merit in Buddhism.
Present
Shan Christians are very generous in making donation and offering since they either come from
Buddhist or living with Buddhist neighborhood. But they do not know how to give and how to receive.
One Christian donor said, “If you don’t write my name on the top of the door, I won’t donate.” One
donor said, “If you don’t hang my name of the wall I won’t donate.” Some donors want their names to
be displayed. But some want to be anonymous and be a secret donor. In one Church, it takes about 30
minutes to finish announcing the names of donors and amount donated during Sunday worship service.
I asked, “What is the idea of making such long announcement, reading out the names of the donors and
amount of donation during worship service?” the pastor replied, “We don’t want the donors to think
that we have taken away their money and put them into our pocket.” When I listen to the
announcement, some people donate very little, as little as 100 Kyat, but some people donate large
amount, as big as 10,000 Kyat. How would the little donor feel and how would the big donor feel when
they hear their names and amount of donation announced in front of all the people in the Church? It
seems people enjoy hearing their names on donors’ list. In Buddhist monastery, the names of the donors
and amount of donation are written on the wall or engraved on the stone and erected around the ground
148 Letter From Mr. Bixby, Jan. 16, 1863, Toungoo.
149 86th Annual Report, 1900, American Baptist Missionary Union, report from Dr. Henderson
150 89th Annual Report, 1903, American Baptist Missionary Union, report from Dr. Henderson
151 97th Annual Report, 1911, American Baptist Missionary Union, report from Dr. Henderson