History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 83
5. Future planning
To build one Bible School, to be completed in 2004. Had received donation of Kyat 3,000,000.
1. Palong Mission. 2. To send out 2 full-time missionaries and 5 part-time.
The First Church in ShweLi (Stone Church)
The first Church in ShweLi was known as stone
Church because it was built with stones from
NamZaLe and NamYaKau river. It was built
under leadership of Dr. Seagrave. Shan, Kachin,
Karen and other tribes worshipped together in
this Church. In 1933 Shan believers moved out
because of a conflict between Dr. Seagrave and
Shan leaders. It was later called “First Baptist
Church, NamKham.” Its memberships were
mainly teachers, students, doctors and nurses
from hospital and school. It was the first
member of ShweLi Valley Baptist Association
which was formed in 1945. The church building
is now used by Kachin Baptist Convention.
Stone church building as seen in 2003
There is still a dispute between ShweLi Valley
Shan Baptist Mission and Kachin Baptist
Convention regarding the ownership of this
Church.
NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church
(Thatch Church)
Saya Ai Pan was sent by Dr. Seagrave to
Insein Seminary for Theological study in 1929.
He only did his study for four months and went
back to NamKham. He was ordained on October
NamKham NongSanKone church building in 1960
31, 1930. One day in 1933, Dr. Seagrave, the
founder of Stone Church, was very angry when a
leader of Shan believers committed adultery. Dr. Seagrave said, “You Shan people are not faithful. You
must leave the Church.” The Shan believers left and tried to sue Dr. Seagrave in court. The judge
passed the sentence in favor of Dr. Seagrave and punished Shan believers to pay to Dr. Seagrave, as
compensation, one lot of firewood from each family. There were about five Shan families who left.
Shan believers moved out from Stone Church and lived in the near by area. A few months later Dr.
Seagrave called them back and asked them to find a place so that they could live and have their own
Church. They chose a place at NongSanKone and built a Church roofed with thatch in 1934. They
called it “Thatch Church” (uRif;cM;). Saya Ai Pan served as pastor of Thatch Church. 88 Later it is called
NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church.
In 1959, although without a pastor for two and half years when Rev. Ai Pan was on loan to
TaungGyi Bible School, the Church moved forward smoothly under the able leadership of Saya Kham
Yee. Ai Pan served as pastor until he passed away on October 30, 1981 after serving 48 years. There
are about 500 baptized members from 187 families in the year 2000. Rev. Htun Kyaw is the pastor of
the Church in 2001. Saya Hton Wa said, “We have big problem with our young people. There are many
young people got addicted to heroin. We need to do something urgently and seriously. Whenever there
88 As interviewed with Saya Hton Wah and Longe Ye Hton on March 13, 2003, NamKham.