History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 58
among the people. Our Bible-women have been faithful and as a result more than half of
the adults baptized are women. The school is growing slowly, for we are careful to admit
only such as give promise of making useful helpers. All above twelve years of age are
Christians. The oldest boy, a Kachin, is beginning to be very helpful by preaching in
Kachin at the bazaar meetings. We have two young men in the Theological Seminary at
Insein. As usual we had a daily training class for all of the native workers and any other
Christians who would come during the rainy season. We spent about two hours a day in
Bible study and prayer. Our hope for the evangelization of the Shan is in training on the
field Shan converts for the work.”
Dr. Kirkpatrick reported in 1899,
“The past year has been the most trying in all my experience as a missionary. The three
senior native preachers have been dismissed and excluded from the Church. One Bible
woman died and another has gone to work in her old home at Bassein. Three Christian
women have died. Two students from the theological seminary have left their studies
and gone into secular work and one of them has taken a heathen wife. The anti-foreign
feeling and persecution of Christians is worse than ever before. On account of the
hostility of the native officials all of the children have left the school at SeLan, our most
promising outstation, and twice within the year in connection with a Chinese and Kachin
from over the Chinese boundary have the Shan officials in NamKham planned to ‘wipe
out’ the mission and all foreigners. The raids were not made and we were not disturbed.
The English officials have recently had a consultation with the Chinese officials and the
Chinese are to pay Rupees 26,300 for recent depredations. Doubtless this will have a
salutary effect. We saw one European in NamKham in over eleven months. 57 During the
year two girls from the school were baptized and some other pupils, we think, are
Christians. Seven were baptized at SeLan. A prominent businessman and leader among
the Buddhists were baptized at NamKham and others are asking for baptism. We have
been alone in distant frontier stations for eleven years. Promised an associate many times
especially since coming to NamKham but no one has come yet. Our hearts were made
glad on New Year’s Day by the announcement of the appointment of Dr. Harper for
NamKham also for the promise of some good native helpers to come to us in January.
The prospect was never so bright for NamKham.” 58
Dr. Kirkpatrick reported for the year 1902,
“The year 1902 has been one of growth and encouragement. In January we secured the
services of a Karen hospital assistant who came to us at two-thirds the salary he was
receiving from government because he wanted to work for Jesus. He has proved to be
skilful, faithful and an earnest Christian. In February two Bible-women from Mrs.
Rose’s Bible school came to help us. They have been faithful in the study of the
language and are already doing good work. In May two Karen preachers from Insein
Theological Seminary were added to our band of workers. They have made wonderful
progress in the language and in six months were able to help in bazaar meetings and in
the work in the district. On May 22, Dr. Harper arrived in NamKham and from the first
of June took over the medical work. I was very ill in July and September and his
presence was a great help to me personally as well as to the work in general. October 1, I
made over to Dr. Harper all the appropriations and the general care of the work. From
that time as a rule one of us has been out in the district. During the year our staff of
workers has been increased, the school has made progress, a day school has been opened
57 85th Annual Report, 1899, American Baptist Missionary Union, p69
58 85th Annual Report, 1899, American Baptist Missionary Union, p69