History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 47
religion is being spread all over this part of the country. At these meetings many tracts and books and
portions of scripture are sold and given away and we often have people coming back after many months
to ask us questions and to get more books.” 27
2. Jail meeting
By request of SaoPha, jail meeting held every day except Sunday. For one hour the prisoners
were called together from their work and listen to the gospel message. Several professed conversion
and all seem to appreciate our kindness in looking after them.
3. Bible class
During rainy season travel was very difficult. The missionaries did not waste the time and
organized Bible classes. Preachers, teachers, Bible women and others had regularly attended with full
interest. The average attendance was thirteen.
Church
Rev. Cochrane reported that in 1899 there was 1 Church, 42 members and 2 added by baptism
in HsiPaw. The native Church at HsiPaw raised its pastor’s salary (forty-five rupees per month) in full
during the year and had a good balance over. In 1911 Miss. Slater had been caring for the work during
the absence of Rev. Cochrane on furlough. She reported four baptisms and a Church of 65 members.
Mrs. Kirkpatrick had written and translated hymns and had a tract printed. One man who had
been a Christian for many years, worked as an assistant preacher, never owned a New Testament until
he came to HsiPaw. Sunday services were well attended and the people were learning how to give for
the work of the Church. Since the Church was organized about nine months the collections had
amounted to rupees 200. Almost every member gave at least one tenth of their income and some even
gave more. Dr. & Mrs. Kirkpatrick were the only Europeans in the city. Regretfully, today, there is no
Shan Church in HsiPaw. Hospital and school were also taken over by government. HsiPaw mission
field closed in 1922.
Getting SaoPha’s support
Kirkpatrick reported, “The SaoPha continues to be very kind and helpful. He gives land, money
for medical and schoolwork, all the logs for the chapel and assists us in every way he can. On
Christmas day we had a double wedding in the chapel and gave the SaoPha and some of his ministers
an invitation. They all came and seemed much interested and impressed by the wedding ceremony.
Before leaving the chapel the SaoPha gave each of the grooms a large silver betel-nut box, and to each
of the brides he gave a ruby and diamond ring. To each child in the school he gave rupees 3 and to me
he gave a bag of rupees 200 for mission work. I doubt if any other station of our society has ever had so
much help from the native ruler as we have had here. We do not forget that it is the living God who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” 28
Kirkpatrick reported in 1895, “I was going to HsenWi to see SaoPha and I felt sure if Brother
Cochrane would go with us so that he could get from SaoPha the land he needed for school and chapel
in NamKham. He finally decided to go with us. Mrs. Cochrane bravely offered to stay with the few
natives for ten days in NamKham when he would be gone. It was a great sacrifice on her part willingly
given for Jesus’ sake. We were four days on the road and at every stopping place we had a good
number of listeners and patients.” 29
“Last year I was able to do something for SaoPha, which he had not forgotten. He came to see
us as soon as we arrived and was very cordial and attentive all the time we were in his city. He was
pleased to hear that a mission was being started at NamKham and readily gave Brother Cochrane an
27 The Baptist Missionary Magazine 1895 44-45
28 The Baptist Missionary Magazine 1895, 44-45
29 Ibid pp44-45