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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Baptist mission among the <strong>Shan</strong> 36<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluential man was found guilty <strong>of</strong> polygamy as he had taken the second wife. After receiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>struction on the subject but he refused to put her away he was excluded from the Church. He reported<br />
on August 10, 1864 that Maung Wyne was also excluded because <strong>of</strong> bigamy. Another believer was<br />
found <strong>of</strong> gambl<strong>in</strong>g and excluded from the Church. However the Church grew. Two more <strong>Churches</strong><br />
were planted. Seven people from five tribes were baptized and there were about one hundred members<br />
<strong>in</strong> three <strong>Churches</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1864.<br />
Opposition<br />
Bixby reported <strong>in</strong> his letter dated October 25, 1862 that public sentiment, which was powerful<br />
for good or evil everywhere acted strongly aga<strong>in</strong>st Christianity. The fear <strong>of</strong> ridicule kept back many for<br />
a time. The abusive language seized people and dragged them upon the ground. If it was known that a<br />
man was an <strong>in</strong>quirer to Christianity he became at once an object <strong>of</strong> persecution and scorn. A <strong>Burma</strong>n<br />
was a hero who came out boldly to despise Jesus. The cross was an <strong>of</strong>fence everywhere but to some it<br />
was the power <strong>of</strong> God and the wisdom <strong>of</strong> God unto salvation. An effort had been made directly by the<br />
Buddhist priests and others to separate wives from their husbands whom Bixby had baptized with the<br />
hope <strong>of</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g them to abandon their faith.<br />
School<br />
Bixby reported on October 25, 1862 that school was one <strong>of</strong> the most important and successful<br />
m<strong>in</strong>istries <strong>in</strong> mission. Mrs. Bixby received boys and girls, young men and young women at school.<br />
When Miss. Marston came the girls were recommended to go to her and she had about twenty scholars<br />
all girls and women. Mrs. Bixby’s school <strong>in</strong>creased until it was found necessary to have an assistant<br />
teacher but there was no fund.<br />
The first <strong>Shan</strong> convert<br />
Bixby reported on October 25, 1862 that the SaoPha <strong>of</strong> NanTok placed his eldest son, a young<br />
man <strong>of</strong> about twenty-one years, to be educated by Bixby but requested not to make him a Christian.<br />
Bixby told him that he had no power to make Christian, God alone could do, but it was their duty to<br />
teach him about Jesus. If he could not allow them to teach him about Jesus then it was <strong>of</strong> no use to<br />
make him his pupil. He would not force him to worship Jesus contrary to his convictions and he would<br />
not baptize him if he did not ask for it. Then the SaoPha said, “Very well. Take him and be to him as a<br />
father.” When he was first <strong>in</strong>structed <strong>in</strong> the scriptures he soon became so fond <strong>of</strong> the Bible as to prefer<br />
it to other studies. After a few weeks, one Monday morn<strong>in</strong>g, he came to Bixby to talk about the sermon<br />
he heard at the chapel. He said, “Teacher, idols are not God. The eternal God, He alone is God. What<br />
must I do to worship Him?” Then Bixby told him if he would worship God, he must believe <strong>in</strong> His Son.<br />
With<strong>in</strong> a week he appeared to have received the Lord Jesus as his Savior. He talked freely about the<br />
true God and the only Savior to the <strong>Shan</strong> who came. The next Sunday his father came to see Bixby and<br />
Bixby persuaded him to attend worship service. SaoPha consented reluctantly but listened attentively.<br />
His son told him that he had received the doctr<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the true God and <strong>of</strong> the Lord Jesus Christ. Then<br />
SaoPha said, “If you believe <strong>in</strong> Him, cont<strong>in</strong>ue to worship Him. I shall not yet change my religion.”<br />
SaoPha’s son Oung Myat was baptized on October 1, 1862. 7<br />
He was the first <strong>Shan</strong> convert <strong>in</strong> Toungoo, one year four months and twenty two days after<br />
Bixby’s mission among the <strong>Shan</strong>. His wife was also baptized on February 1, 1863. On January 18,<br />
1863, five <strong>Shan</strong> and two <strong>Burma</strong>n were also baptized. On November 30, 1863, three more <strong>Shan</strong><br />
baptized.<br />
<strong>Shan</strong> Buddhist teacher<br />
Bixby reported on January 6, 1863 that Le<strong>in</strong>g Ta Ka, a <strong>Shan</strong> man, was one <strong>of</strong> the most stubborn<br />
Buddhists teachers he had ever met. He possessed great <strong>in</strong>fluence over the people <strong>of</strong> the village. Bixby<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered him as high as fifteen rupees per month to teach at his school but he decl<strong>in</strong>ed. But one day he<br />
7 Letter from Bixby, December 1, 1863, Toungoo.