History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 37
said to Bixby, “The foreign doctor was very unlike the Shan and Burmese doctors. He would go miles
by day or night to give medicine without charge while Burmese and Shan doctors refused to go or give
medicine without money paid in advance.” Later he accepted to be a teacher at Bixby’s school but
refused to attend worship service. However, his heart, by dying love compelled at length yielded to the
claims of Christ, he was clothed and in his right mind rejoicing with exceeding joy. He had given out
word before his conversion that he knew the teacher to be the friend of the Shan and recommended
them to call and see Bixby at his house. When he became fully convinced of the truth of Christianity he
went from house to house exhorting the people to turn from their idols and embrace true God and the
only Savior. He was the means of the conversion of several souls before he was baptized.
First theological training
Bixby reported in February 1863 that he knew the importance of training locals and used them
in evangelizing their own people. Bixby said that there were more men longing for the work of mission.
He had taken six Shan, six Burman and fourteen mountaineers into the service on trial as studentpreachers.
The method of instruction was sending them directly to the field. Each evening or in some
portion of the day a scripture lesson was given. Study, prayer, praise, preaching were the works of each
day. Bixby called it a “Live Theological Seminary.” The models were the disciples and the Lord, on job
training. Bixby said, “The effect of going before and telling the assistants how to preach, how to pray,
how to praise by exalting the redeemer over redeemed is wonderfully inspiring. They use to go together
but separate into twos to reach a larger number but they were careful to get together often so that they
may not lose their sympathy or the power of united prayer. A bed of live coals separated in many parts
would soon become pale and dead but by keeping together each lends to others its heat and glow.
Sometimes when jealousy developed among the preaching band immediately the power was gone and
every man became a dead weight to the spirit. But when repented the current sympathy was restored
and every man became a wing to waft heavenward.”
Preparation for travel to Shan country
Since Toungoo was not a Shan country and the Shan in Toungoo were only refugees from Shan
country, Bixby was very eager to visit Shan country where Shan people lived. On December 1, 1863
Bixby reported, “I am now ready for the journey and leave in a few days. I take with me as preachers
Maung Pho Maung and Maung Shwa Ong, Maung Carn and Maung Oung Myat (Shan), Plaipan and
another Karen. The country is up heaving with civil strife and overrun with lawless bands of thieves
and robbers. The flesh sometimes shrinks from the fearful ordeal but so strong is my conviction that
God bids me go in His name. I shall go forth joyfully and take whatever befalls me as a part of my
Father’s preordained plan both for my redemption and the redemption of the Shan. If I fall in the
attempt you will not call it rashness in me, you who have given your sons to the demons, war, - you
who live in the midst of carnage and blood. If I fall into the hands of banditti and you never hear of me
again, you will not refuse to send others to the same place - you who advocate the filling up of the
thrice thinned ranks of a death-stricken army. If I fall from the jungle fever, which sweeps in potential
blast, over these tropical plains, you will not neglect to fill the vacancy - you who send your sons into
the rice swamps, dank and low and leave them there to die. Whatever the loss in life may be, whatever
the cost in cash, you will not count it too dear a price, you who have been disciplined in sacrifice and
have sacrificed your blood and your gold without reserve, in a glorious yet temporal cause. I go forth
not knowing what will befall me there but I have this assurance this consolation that whatever it may be
it will be for the redemption of the Shan that though the pioneer fall in death he will rise again not only
at the last day but even now he will rise with some fruitful seeds multiplied many folds in the good
soldiers who’s waiting not far a draft will rush forward to fill the vacancy.” 8 Bixby was very uncertain
8 The Baptist Missionary Magazine, May 1864, pp129-133