History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 73
Mission School
Mission school was started in 1904 by Dr. H.C. Gibbens. Mr. Antisdel had to abandon his work
at KengTung and proceed to America in 1912 because of poor health. The pupils were from six
different tribes but the examinations were conducted in Shan, which was the common language for all.
A rudimentary normal department for the training of teachers had been opened and industrial training in
carpentry, masonry, seed sowing, laundering, cooking, care of animals and housework were given. San
Lu was the head master of the school in 1927. He got his training in the Methodist School, Rangoon,
and Baptist School in TaungGyi. San Lu could speak and teach in languages such as Shan, Burmese,
Lahu and English. The children came from non-Christian Shan, Burmese, Chinese and Indian families.
Those boys and girls while in school lived in a Christian atmosphere and they carried back to their
homes Christian influences, which helped to dispel misunderstanding their parents had about mission
work. Apparently it seemed essential that, in work for the Shan, confidence and friendship had first
been established as a basis of approach for the Gospel message. San Lu had won many friends among
the parents of his pupils. He was quick to note the absence of a student and he promptly found out by a
personal visit to the home and the reason for a student’s absence. His interest and enthusiasm for the
success of each individual pupil inspired the parents to show more interest in the education of their
children.
San Lu had gathered to the school a fine company of boys and girls who paid monthly fees for
their education. There was the SaoPha’s school in town where free education was given but despite this
competition many parents preferred to send their children to the mission school where both the teaching
and the discipline were better. Even SaoPha sent some of his children to mission school. In the absence
of the pastor of Shan Church, San Lu conducted the religious services. He also taught a Sunday school
class and he had, on different occasions, gone to the KengTung market to preach the Gospel to his
fellow Shan. He even had conversations with the SaoPha about the Christian religion. The SaoPha was
a staunch Buddhist. San Lu had a likable personality and he was a great Christian leader among the
Shan. San Lu was honored by the prime minister of Burma, U Nu, as Mahathraesethu San Lu, as
minister of transportation in 1953. 75 His memorial hall was built in KanNaLone Shan Baptist Church,
KengTung.
Aung Din, Saw Maung and Saw Ka Le Htoo also arrived KengTung and helped Rev. Young in
mission school until 1956. New school building was started in 1959. School was teaching up to six
standard in 1962. The school had become a High School and the headmaster was David Hsam. All the
teachers were Christians except one. A children hostel was built in mission compound in 1978 with 22
students. There were 28 students in 1988. The objective of having this hostel was to give opportunity to
hill tribe children to have opportunity of continuing learning in KengTung and to produce future
Christian leadership. Twelve of them were children from leprosy villages. Now there are two children
hostels under Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention. Hostels accept children from primary to
high school. A kindergarten was started in KanNaLone Church in 1981 with 60 children and 3 teachers.
It increased to 85 children and 4 teachers in 1985. In 1988, the number of kindergartens increased to 7
in 7 Churches under ESSSBA.
Mass Baptism
Whenever some one believed in Christ water Baptism was conducted to accept him or her as a
member of the Church. According to Baptist practices baptism was conducted on Sunday. Sometimes a
large group of people baptized at the same time. Noticeably mass baptism use to be taken place during
big and special occasions.
75 As interview with David Hsam, February 23, 2003