Shan Missions
Asian Reports
Doctor by Day, Broadcaster by Night.
Dr. Sai wishes he could serve the Lord even more.
When Dr. Sai Htwe Maung was about to leave Myanmar in 1979, his friends sighed, “Your departure is a great loss to the Shan people.”
Born of devoted Shan Christian parents in the Northern Shan State, Sai Htwe Maung grew up to be an active Christian fellowship leader at the medical institute and later on, a mission minded Christian leader of the Shan. But what could he do for his people if he left the country?
In retrospect, Dr. Sai says, “I believe God has a plan. Things were very difficult for people in the medical profession at that time. I applied to leave the country knowing all too well that it was next to impossible. I waited for one year and without pulling any strings or paying horrendous sum, I obtained permission to leave.”
On the night of the farewell, he told his friends that, God willing, he would like to preach gospel one day on the radio to the Shan people.
He went to Hong Kong and came to know Rev. David Wang of Asian Outreach. Together they started a joint ministry to the Shan. In the last fifteen years, they have facilitated theological and missiological training of Shan Christians, bringing the number of full-time Christian workers from 14 in 1983 to 100 today. Footsoldiers continue to be trained. A Shan Hymnal was published.
In 1989, Dr. Sai started producing a Shan gospel program, which is broadcast from Far East Broadcasting Co; Manila, Philippines. For the past seven years, he has recorded radio programs every evening after coming home from the hospital. At first he was worried that nobody would listen. The program is on at the same time as the BBC broadcast, and most people in Myanmar listen to the BBC every day. But the time conflict turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Many people accidentally tune in to the Shan gospel program when they try to get the BBC!
The response from listeners is astonishing. Many confess their faith in Jesus, other repent and turn to the Lord and ask searching questions – and all ask for Bible.
Seeing the overwhelming spiritual hunger of his people back home, Dr. Sai wanted to settle in Myanmar again and go personally to tell the people about Jesus. But the Shan Christians said, “Don’t come back. In Myanmar you won’t be able to do what you are doing now. It would be a great loss to the Shan if you come back.”
So Dr. Sai continues to serve his people from abroad. He produces daily 45-minutes program single handedly – writing the script, recording, and answering the letters from listeners. He has the full support of his wife and three daughters. Please pray for this family as they serve the Lord together.
Asian Report
November/December 1987 by Susan Poon
We Can’t Wait Another Century!
Since it first reached the Shan State of Burma more than 100 years ago, the Gospel has been rather coolly received by the Shan, the largest of several tribes in the country. The “21st Century Shan Mission Project” is designed to change all that, for as Shan Christian Dr. Sai says... “We Can’t Wait Another Century”
A SIAN OUTREACH co-workers in Hong Kong had always known Dr. Sai as the gentle mannered, neatly dressed Christian physician from the Shan State in Burma. One evening three years ago, Dr. Sai did something that took us by surprise. Before a gathering of AO leaders from various parts of the world, he rolled up his shirtsleeve to reveal a five-inch tattoo on his right forearm. We gazed in surprise at the strange markings, which were apparently the script of a foreign language. “This,” said Dr. Sai, “is my passport to the Shan State.”
He explained: “Nearly all the Shan men bear one or more tattoos identifying them as Shan. We live in the remote hills and jungles of Northeast Burma where there is continual insurgent activity. The tattoo is for safe passage through the Shan territory.”
This was my introduction to the Shan of Burma. As I learn more about them, I, being Chinese, feel a growing affinity for them, because while four million Shan live in Burma, another million live in Southwest China where they are called the “Dai” minority group.
The Shan are the largest of several tribes in Burma but are also the country’s least evangelized. “The Shan are staunch Buddhists,” Dr. Sai told me. “To be a Shan is to be a Buddhist. This along with the remote and secluded mountainous terrain we live in are obstacles to the spread of the Gospel. Other tribes, such as the Karen, Kachin and Chin, have responded well to Christianity. But the Shan have not.”
In fact, Christianity reached the Shan people 127 years ago. In 1861, American missionary Rev. Moses Bixby began the historic mission among the Shan, in a small town called Toungoo in the upper part of Burma, near Mandalay. Then came Rev. Josiah Nelson Cushing, also American, who translated the Bible into the Shan language. But in the years since then, only 6,000 of four million Shan have accepted the Lord as their Savior. “We cannot wait another 100 years!” Dr. Sai exclaimed:
For this very reason, Dr. Sai and 19 other Christian leaders from all corners of the Shan State conferred in the Burmese capital of Rangoon recently. Out of this meeting, the “21st Century Shan Mission Project’ was conceived. Dr. Sai was named director of the working committee.
The goal of the Shan Mission Project is, by the grace of God, that there will be in the year 2001;
- 201 Shan evangelists trained
- 201 Shan Churches planted
- 21,000 Shan souls saved.
Everything starts with workers. The training of evangelists is therefore the number one priority far the project. “Shan evangelists are needed because they can best understand the customs and mindset of their own people,”
Dr. Sai explained. “Besides, foreigners are not allowed into the Shaw even if they want to help evangelize.” Not long ago AO sponsored young Shan through two years Bible college in Rangoon. However, given the hand-to-mouth existence of the Shan, not many can afford to lay aside several year for Bible college. Therefore, Sai is now busily working with AO in translating teaching materials for three-month intensive evangelists training program for the Shan. The course is due to start in 1989 and will be the launch pad far the Shan Mission Project
Two Shan who are potential leaders of this short-term program recently sent to AO for training. They have just completed AO’s Great Commission Institute program held last September in Singapore. For now it looks as if a lack resources will limit Dr. Sai’s evangelist training program to 15 trainees a year. “We want the training to be really intensive and the trainees to get maximum attention,” Dr. Sai said. “We will provide the training, meals and lodging at no cost to them. The Shan have a very low standard of living. The monthly income per family is about 350 Kyat (US$45).” Dr. Sai expects that for the most part the trainees will be men, the breadwinners in Shan families. “For this training we’re seeking people of faith and commitment. The training will require them to leave their jobs for three months and eventually they may have to abandon their jobs permanently.” After completion of the course and the successful passing of an exam, the newly trained evangelists will be sent to work in target areas together with two experienced evangelists for at least two months. The guiding teams will be composed from the ten AO sponsored Bible college graduates. Wherever people are won to the Lord, a Church will be formed. The new evangelists are to work in the field for two years, after which they will be evaluated by the Project Committee.
“21,000 souls or more must be saved by the year 2001,” said Dr. Sai, a strong note of determination in his voice. “Only by prayer and supplication can this be done.” Hence a prayer program has been devised. Information memos will be sent to Shan believers to remind them to pray for the 21st Century Shan Mission Project. Fast and corporate prayer meetings will be organized periodically by leaders of the 28 Churches existing in the Shan State. Then, once a year, all the Shan believers around the world will pray for this project at 11:30 a.m. Burma Standard Time on the second Sunday of December, wherever they may be.
Dr. Sai invites Christians worldwide to join Shan believers in prayer during this period of preparation for the training program. Specifically, you can pray for:
- fast compilation of teaching materials
- selection of dedicated trainees, teachers and volunteer workers
- availability of lodging and finances.
The goals of the Shan project are great: 201 evangelists, 201 Churches, 21,000 souls saved. But, as Dr. Sai says, “We trust God for the impossible.”
Asian Report
July 1990
SHEPHERDING THE SHAN
by Marla Stewart Konrad
As he watched the witchdoctor draw the whip back and snap it loose upon the back of his friend, Sai Sun. Sai Sun fell to the ground with a sharp cry. “Oh Jesus, I believe you can overcome the witchdoctor’s demonic power. Please help me,” prayed Kham, a new believer. All around Kham, villagers were lying on the ground recovering from the witchdoctor’s painful treatment. For in their Burmese village, known to outsiders as Demonic Village, a series of calamities had occurred. It was the witchdoctor’s task to find out who or what had caused them.
In Demonic Village, every person was under the control of demons. To displease the demons meant illness and death, so the people lived in fear, hoping they would never offend them. The witchdoctor perceived that demons from another village had been causing the trouble and he was determined to find out who had brought them in. Lining up all the villagers, he began trying to cast out the demons with a whip.
The members of this family are among only 6,000 Shan believers in the entire Shan State. The witchdoctor turned to Kham. Now it was his turn. With friends and neighbors lying around him, Kham continued to pray. The witchdoctor drew back the whip to strike Kham and snapped it on his back. Nothing happened. Again and again, the witchdoctor struck Kham but Kham stood firm. By now, the villagers were looking fearfully from Kham to the frustrated witchdoctor. “I am not afraid of the demons that plague our village,” said Kham. “Jesus Christ in me can overcome.” As Kham shared his new faith with the villagers, fear began to dissipate. For the first time in their lives, fear was replaced by hope, peace and joy. When Kham had finished sharing, the villagers welcomed Jesus to be the Lord of their village and praised Him that they did not have to suffer from the curse of demon possession anymore.
Asian Report
March/April 1993
21000 BY YEAR 2001
by Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
Burma, a nation of 52 million souls, is ruled by military dictatorship for over 34 years. The Shan tribe is a minority people that inhabits the Northern part of Burma, Northern Thailand and South-west China.
The Shan have until recently exhibited a natural resistance to Christianity. The few who have embraced it have been shunned by their communities. Despite the fact that the first Christian mission was established among them in 1861, there are still only 10,000 Shan Christians out of a population of 4 million. One of the biggest hindrances to the growth of the Church is the lack of trained, full-time Christian workers. Although there are close to 100 Shan Churches, many are without pastors or trained leaders.
“The 21st Century Shan Mission Project”, was established in 1986 to combat this problem, to train new evangelists and pastors, establish new Churches and to strengthen the Churches that already exist. The project goal is to have by the year 2001, 201 evangelists, 201 new Churches and 21,000 Shan believers.
In 1992, the short-term evangelists training program trained 19 virtually illiterate Shan people. Seven of these “Barefoot” evangelists, as they have been dubbed, were sent into seven selected areas and after only three months, many have given their lives to Jesus. In one small village alone, all 20 families accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. In another village under communist control, 19 communists were baptized by a courageous ex-communist who shared the Gospel with them.
In June 1992, 12 people were baptized in a small Buddhist village. One of the evangelists reports that he was approached one day by a farmer who had lost his pregnant pig. “If your God is almighty and can do all things,” challenged the farmer, “Can He find my lost pig? If you get my pig back home, I will believe in Him..” The evangelist had no choice but to pray. A few days later, the pig returned with four piglets! Four new Churches have been planted and another evangelism training program is planned for 24 people in March.
Dr Sai Htwe Maung, a member of the Shan, has been working as a medical doctor in Hong Kong for the past 13 years, while working on a voluntary basis with Asian Outreach. He has recently finished a new volume of Shan Hymns and scripture readings, which have been printed by Asian Outreach and are to be distributed among the Churches in the Shan territory. Plans are also afoot to produce a copy of the Shan children’s Bible. Dr Sai gives his testimony:
“As a native Shan myself, I have a tremendous burden for the millions of people who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, living and working in Hong Kong, I was unsure as to what service I could be to the Lord in winning souls for Christ among the Shan. I prayed fervently that the Lord would provide me with an opportunity to serve Him and He graciously answered my prayer in November 1989, by giving me a chance to broadcast a Shan Gospel program every morning through radio. I produce the program myself in Hong Kong and then send it to the Philippines for broadcast. Although only 45 minutes long, the program takes me about four hours to prepare because I have to both write the script and do the recording myself. But it is well worth the time and effort because the Shan in Burma, Northern Thailand and South-west China can now listen to the Gospel each morning. The success of the radio program in reaching the Shan is evidenced by the many testimonies that have flooded into my office since the program went on air.”
“I’m so happy to come to know that Jesus died far my sins. Please continue telling this to our Shan people,” enthused a young listener from Northern Shan State. Wrote a young midwife: “I am the only Christian in this small village. I was transferred here from NamKham. I was so lonely and depressed before I heard your program. Now I know that God is with me and I can worship the Lord together with you in your radio program every Sunday morning. Please remember me in your prayers. I’m interested to know more about Jesus Christ. Please send me a Bible,” wrote a young Buddhist monk clearly hungering for the Gospel.
Please continue to pray for 21st Century Shan Mission Project and our radio ministry. With your support and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will reach the Shan people by the year 2001.
Asian Report
November/December 1993
SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST
By Sai Stephen as told to Low Yeow Mooi
Sai Stephen, a Shan, was born into a Christian family in the small town of KengTung, Eastern Shan State, Burma. The total population of the Shan tribe is five million, with two million living in Eastern Shan State. With a deep burden to reach the Shan for Christ, Sai Stephen went to the Burma Institute of Theology and obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree. In 1990 he started Calvary Baptist Church, which now has a membership of 110 people.
The Church has a gospel team, which goes out once a year throughout the region for a period of 30 to 40 days. During this time, they visit Buddhist villages to share the gospel. The gospel is presented to the villagers in the form of drama, songs, dance, children’s stories and preaching of the Word. No commitment is sought from the villagers during the first visit. Out of all the villages they go to, the team selects the most open and receptive ones and asks permission far an evangelist to go and live among them and teach them about Jesus. If a village welcomes the evangelist the villagers build a house for him and his family.
Last year, the team visited 22 villages. After returning to their Church, Sai Stephen assigned six evangelists to six villages to start planting Churches. These men were trained under the Shan Evangelist Training Program sponsored by Asian Outreach, which is closely related to the Great Commission Institute, of which Sai Stephen is a graduate.
SiLu Village is about 60 miles from Sai Stephen’s Church in KengTung. To visit the village, one has to spend a day on the bus from KengTung, traveling on very rough roads. In 1992, the gospel team went to this village, which is occupied by communist soldiers who oppose the government, to share Jesus with the people. One of the soldiers accepted Jesus through the ministry of the gospel team. His name is Sai Kong and he was then 22 years old. In his desire to know more about Jesus, he walked for five miles to the next village in order to attend Church. Shortly after that, he was lowered into a well to be baptized because there was no river in the vicinity.
In 1992 after completing the Shan Evangelist Training Program Sai Kong went back to SiLu Village to resume his duties as a soldier. But this time, he was also a soldier for Christ. He became an evangelist and pastor sharing Jesus with his fellow soldiers. Now he has a strong Church of 40 members (most of whom are soldiers and their families) and it is still growing. In April this year, they dedicated a bamboo Church to the glory of God.
Sai Stephen and his team have been working for the past year in WanSai Village, which is eight miles from KengTung. They often go and live with these mountain Shan in order to share Christ with them. Other than preaching the Word, they do a lot of mercy ministry distributing old clothes, providing medical help, visiting families and praying for those in need.
The Shan people are severely bound by the worship of demonic spirits. Whenever anyone falls ill the family members offer sacrifices to the evil spirits in order to appease them. Many children die at a very young age because of lack of health care as well as the bondage of spiritual darkness. The people believe that when a child in a family dies it is an indication that the family is being attacked by evil spirits. From that time on they live in fear. Everyone wears an evil spirit wristband for protection, believing that the demons will not attack them if they have the wristband on.
When Sai Stephen and the team first started working in the village they would visit and pray for families that had lost a child. Often after prayer the Shan people would feel a sense of peace. They sensed the power of God and the love of Christ and would often give their lives to Jesus. Other villagers who heard their testimony have also accepted Jesus.
Since the team has been living in the village only three children have died. That in itself is a testimony to the protective power of God. After a year of caring for these people 29 families (47 adults) came to know Jesus and were baptized. After a person accepts the Lord the evangelist prays for them and cuts off the wristband that holds them in bondage; they then experience the freedom of deliverance.
Evangelists trained under the Shan Evangelist Training Program are now living in SiLu village, teaching the people the Word of God as well as hygiene and health care. The living standards of these people are pitifully low. They live in primitive dwellings with no electricity living physically as well as spiritually in darkness before they came to know Jesus Christ. But now they at least have clean drinking water as a practical testimony of God’s love for the villagers. Asian Outreach footsoldiers dug a well for the village. But it is the life-giving stream of the Holy Spirit that these simple people desire most.
Gift from heaven
Sai Stephen claims that the Shan hymnal is the best gift the Shan have received, next to the Bible a sentiment shared by many Shun believers who have received a hymnal. The hymnals were transported from Thailand where they were printed in Chiangmai, a town on the Thai/Burmese border. From there, professional couriers were hired to carry them across to the other side of the border to a town called TaChiLeik. Transportation of each book cost 15 Kyat (about US 10 cents).
From TaChiLeik, Christians as well as professional couriers, took the hymnals to KengTung (100 miles away), Southern Shan (300 miles away), Mandalay, LaShio and NamKham (Northern Shan State).
Christian workers took a big risk in delivering the hymnals to the Churches and the believers. They could have been sentenced to five years imprisonment if they had been caught carrying them but God protected all those involved, as well as all the 5,000 hymnals, which were distributed to a total of 51 Churches throughout Burma.
The hymnals are being sold to believers for 250 Kyat, to ensure the recipients treasure them. From the proceeds, 50 Kyat pays for transportation, while the other 200 Kyat finance the training of “footsoldiers” for Jesus.
Reports From Asian Outreach International
February 1994 Prayer Challenge
Radio Ministry to Burma
Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, a Shan doctor living in Hong Kong, produces a 45-minute radio broadcast, which is beamed into Burma each day. The program of music, gospel message and Bible teaching is widely heard. Many letters have been received from Buddhist monks. One recently asked, “Can you explain to me the difference between Jesus and Buddha?” and “I am very interested, can you please send me a Bible?” Dr. Sai now urgently needs an assistant to help in the production of the radio programs. Please pray that God will call a Shan-speaking, dedicated person to serve in this ministry.
Rev. Sai Stephen
Pastor Sai Stephen is married to a schoolteacher and has three daughters. He leads the footsoldiers in Burma, responsibilities include training and overseeing Church Planting. Being the only ordained minister among the footsoldiers, pastor Sai Stephen travels frequently to baptize new Christians in the region. After March 1994 he will be working full-time with the footsoldiers. A Seminary graduate will take his place at the Church.
Personal Prayer Needs: Pray that God will supply all that pastor Sai and his family will need; as they will no longer receive financial support from the Church. Communication is poor and travel is very dangerous. Pray for safety and improvements. Pray that God will supply a motorcycle to enable easier travel from village to village as this can involve distances of hundreds of miles.
Sai Kong
Sai Kong was a communist insurgent. After becoming a Christian and graduating from the local evangelistic training center, he went to evangelize an un-reached village. Now 15 of the 68 families are Christian and Sai Kong has a congregation of 33. The village is controlled by Communists. However, they do not threaten the work of Sai Kong or his Church. Many of the villagers are involved in the insurgent fighting, which makes spreading the gospel particularly difficult.
Personal Prayer Needs: Pray for protection in this Communist village and a continued openness to the preaching of the gospel. Pray that God’s power will penetrate the spiritual darkness of Sai Kong’s village. Pray that Shan language tracts will be more available. Pray especially over the dangerous supply route.
Sai Stephen
This young man lives and works in Leprosy Village. Whilst many are afraid to go near the lepers, Sai Stephen demonstrates the love of Jesus as he eats with them, sleeps with them and cares for them. Many have had their lives changed by accepting Jesus as Savior and Sai Stephen has now established a Church in the village. He was sponsored by AO to study at a Seminary for four years, praise God that his local Church in Burma now finances his work.
Personal Prayer Needs: Pray for continued protection and spiritual and physical strength in this ministry of mercy and evangelism. Praise God for his dedication. Pray for spiritual guidance and encouragement as Sai Stephen works independently, without the fellowship of other Christian leaders. Pray that medical needs for the leprosy sufferers would continue to be available along with other essentials such as clothing.
Asian Report
May/June 1995
SHAN FOR JESUS
By Jean Harper
Of the five million Shan people living in Myanmar, 90% are Buddhist. Buddhism has been mixed with their culture, there are to be a Shan is to be a Buddhist. American Baptist missionaries were the first to work among the Shan in 1861 and in 135 years of mission work, only 10,000 Shan have accepted Christ. In addition to the Shan living in Myanmar, 10 million also live in China. It is only in recent years that the Shan have become a little open to the gospel.
Dr. Sai Htwe Mating, a resident of Hong Kong, has devoted his life to evangelizing the 14 million Shan. Every night before he sleeps, he makes a 45-minute radio program to be broadcast by FEBC into the Shan State. Dr. Sai also translated the first Shan hymnal set to music. He, together with the Shan leaders, has developed the 21st Century Shan Mission Project by the year 2001 to train 201 Shan evangelists, to plant 201 new Shan Churches and to add 21,000 new Shan converts.
Dr. Sai’s concern is that because Myanmar is a restricted access nation under military rule, the Shan have had no opportunity for outside input and no exposure to anything other than their traditional teaching. “I want to break the mould they are in,” he says, “But it is not possible for foreign leaders to train our Shan people in Myanmar.” So he and Sai Stephen, a footsoldier with Asian Outreach came up with the idea of holding a two-week GCI training program on the Thai border last year. This was a very unique program in that the participants lived on the Myanmar side of the border and the teachers lived on the Thai side. The participants crossed the border each morning for their teaching and went back home in the evening. It was also unique in that we were working together with Dr. Sai towards the goal of Shan 2001. As part of long term planning, Sai Stephen and Sai Thein Aung Kham have received training in international GCI programs and are now conducting ongoing training programs in Eastern and Northern Shan State.
“Training and sending out Shan evangelists is very important and urgently needed,” says Dr. Sai. “So far we have trained 109 workers and sent out 17 as full time footsoldiers of Christ to break down the wall among the Shan. The rest are serving on a volunteer basis in various Churches. New Churches have been planted and new believers have been added to the Church, amidst signs and wonders.” Sai Kong, the youngest evangelist at 22 years of age, commanded a demon to leave a man in front of many onlookers. As they saw the demon-possessed man fall to the ground, convulse and then become calm, the onlookers were amazed and all accepted the Lord. Signs and wonders also follow the oldest evangelists. Rev. Ah Yai, who is 68, prayed for a man who had a tumor in his stomach, which had been progressively growing making the man could not sit up, could not dress himself and couldn’t even wear his trousers. His family had given up hope of his recovery and had already bought a coffin in preparation for his funeral. Ah Yai came to live with him and prayed for him every day. The man’s abdomen began to become smaller and smaller day-by-day until he was able to dress himself once again wear trousers and live a normal life. Now he is a Christian and will be baptized soon.
The simple faith of these evangelists is yet another miracle. A young man had been bleeding from the nose continuously from morning until night. There was no doctor and no hospital. The young man had become pale and was on the point of losing consciousness. Sai Phut prayed and God told him to take green leaves from a nearby tree and put them in the man’s nose. He prayed again and then removed the leaves. The bleeding stopped completely. Now everyone in the village comes to Sai Phut for prayer when they are sick, even for a minor scratch.
Sai Kong, Ah Yai and Sai Phut were among the 28 Shan pastors and evangelists who participated in the training. We fell in love with these gentle Shan, with their servant hearts and teachable spirits. Many testified they felt inferior in the ministry. One nearly went back home because of his lack of education but was surprised to find that he could understand what was being taught. And when they sang, unaccompanied, it was beautiful four-part harmony. Dr. Sai used every spare minute to tape hem singing from the new Shan Hymnal for his daily radio broadcasts.
One of the “moulds” that the Shan find themselves in is that the Church is a building rather than a body of believers. Teaching on Church Planting therefore was quite revolutionary to some. Sai Stephen shared, “We appreciated the clear teaching on methods of planting a Church. Most of our evangelists know nothing about the steps of planting a Church. Now they go back to their fields with new methods.” Ministry Planning was a new concept. “Most of the students did not know what planning is and how to plan. They did not know that planning is very important in ministry. But now they have all made out their own ministry plan which I believe they will put into practice in their respective fields.”
It became clear that one of the most important topics taught was that of Prayer. Some of the participants did not know how to pray or what to pray about. One participant confessed, “It is very rare for people in our village to know how to pray.” This was reflected in a class survey which revealed that many prayed for three to four minutes a day. One participant confessed, “Because of my lack of prayer the Church is very slow in growth. In this GCI I have learned how to pray hard so that when I go home I will continue to pray hard.” Dr. Sai himself felt the best things from this GCI were the teaching of the topics of Prayer and Planning. For Sai Kong, he felt that the lessons he learned are like a big, big mirror hanging on the wall into which he can look and see because all the teaching was very, very important for him in his ministry. God has given Sai Kong, an Ahku, a burden to reach the 500 Ahku living in his area of the Shan State. Sai Phut confessed, “My lack of education and sense of being inferior have hindered me in my ministry. I thank God for all this teaching, which gives me confidence that though I am nothing God will use me.” “I realized Jesus chose fishermen,” said Sai Lukar, “even though I am uneducated I believe God can use me for I prayed and He gave me a vision.” Sai Lukar had no opportunity for education as both his parents suffered from leprosy. Initially he worked among lepers but more recently has been involved in evangelism and Church Planting. He is one of the 14 evangelists, which Sai Stephen has trained and sent out as a full time worker among the Shan people. Sai Stephen is a key man among the Shan. He encourages his trainees by saying, “we need many dedicated leaders for the Shan mission. Even though we are an uneducated people if we consecrate ourselves totally to God we can do great things by the power of God.” Jesus commissioned simple fishermen to evangelize the world. Today He is still commissioning those with simple faith who think they are nothing to accomplish great exploits for Him and to bring many into His Kingdom.
Sai Yo Aye was trained by Sai Stephen and was one of the participants at the GCI. Before he became a Christian Sai Yo Aye was a gambler and a drunkard. But he loved to play the guitar and sing. One day an evangelist visited his village and taught the people how to play the guitar and sing in choir. Through this interest Yo Aye eventually came to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was baptized. Then he had the opportunity to participate in one of Sai Stephen’s training programs. Following the training program he was appointed youth leader in his Church and led the young people to evangelize in non-Christian villages. One day he found a woman possessed with evil spirits. Three or four men could not hold her down. Recalling the incident Sai Yo Aye says, “All I knew to do was pray and place my Bible on her head.” Then I said, “In the Name of Jesus Christ I cast you out from this woman.” Instantly the demons left and now she is a faithful Church member. Five families have come to the Lord in the village. Having completed his GCI training Sai Yo Aye is now a pastor in the village.
Asian Report
March/April 1996
Teach Me Your Way
by Jean Harper
Our Great Commission Institute (GCI) team came from Delhi, Hong Kong and Singapore and met in Bangkok for the onward flight to Myanmar’s capital Yangon. Our first impression of Yangon was one of surprise at the vast number of cars on the road. When we learned that each motorist was only allowed two gallons of petrol a week and that everything purchased on the black market was sold at highly inflated prices, we were shocked!
The next morning we flew South to TaungGyi (pronounced towngee) for our first ever GCI inside Myanmar. In the past each region of the Baptist associations held their own training, mainly due to distance and the cost of transport. This was the first time in more than 100 years of the Shan Baptist Association that outsiders were involved in training among all the groups. One hundred years of history, without outside input, does present its challenges as tradition does not easily give way to new concepts. Although our teaching and even our method were totally new to them, the participants were very responsive. Forty-two people took part in the training and all submitted their Great Commission life plans before graduation!
Many of the participants came from a distance of over 400 miles, which took them three days to cover. One woman traveled for seven days to get to the venue, while one man walked 30 miles just to get to the bus stop. We are always challenged by such hunger for training.
Pastoral ministry is very important for the Shan. They wanted us to teach them new ways to be effective pastors. Another concept they struggled with was that children cannot be led to the Lord. They can only be taught about Christ and, when they are older, then be led to the Lord. They made a paradigm shift on this one after being shown Scriptures and given examples. On the night before graduation we prayed for all the students to receive the Holy Spirit. Many were weeping as they sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit. God did a work in each person’s heart and each one experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in a new way. The next day Sai Stephen, a footsoldier with Asian Outreach, told me, “Now we have a new friend in the Holy Spirit.”
Sai Aung Than graduated from a Seminary and was appointed a pastor of a Church. He was young and was afraid to stand up and preach in front of the Church. He would often prepare for two weeks and practise preaching repeatedly during morning devotions. Sometimes, after preaching, he would think over the sermon and conclude that it was good. Then he would remember that it was only because of the help of the Holy Spirit that he was able to minister to people.
We also heard testimonies of divine intervention. Sai Mun is an evangelist and farmer. One day he was wrongly accused by the people in his village, arrested, tortured and beaten until his eyes were bloodshot. The soldiers told him they were going to kick him down into the river and kill him and asked if he had a last wish. “Please give me three minutes to pray,” was all he asked for. After he had prayed the soldiers tied his hands behind his back and kicked him into the river. He fell into deep water and couldn’t breathe. Suddenly he saw a yellow ring in the water encircling him and found he could breathe. He floated downstream and found his way home. His eyes so swollen from the beating he could not see. He prayed and asked the Lord to restore his vision he could see perfectly! He’s going back to those who had beaten him to show them what God had done for him. When he reached the army camp many soldiers came to see him. The camp official asked him to come to his house and teach him about Jesus. The small room was packed with 50 people, so Sai Mun suggested they go outside under the trees and there he preached to an amazed crowd. His village now has 15 Christian families.
On the night of the graduation, different participants shared what GCI meant to them. “The blessings I have received are too many to mention.” “I have got a new vision. I will dedicate my life for Christ among our Shan people.” Yet another told us, “I was very discouraged in my ministry but now I have been revived by this training.” A dedication service was also held to send out six men who felt God’s call to full-time ministry. Some will join with the Shan 21st Century Mission. For these Shan to commit themselves to full time ministry is definitely a step of faith demonstrating a willingness to be sacrificed for the sake of the gospel.
“I’m Alive”
Nang Sanda Aung
In September 1994, I started having pains in my stomach. I thought it was a minor problem. A month later, despite taking medication, I was hospitalized because there was no improvement. After the examination the doctor told me I had lymphoma cancer and I would die. My condition deteriorated everyday. Water accumulated in my stomach and lungs. The local hospital was not well equipped so I was advised to go to Yangon. I was admitted to cancer ward but the water in my lungs and stomach increased. I could not sleep, eat or even breathe. They had to drain out all the water from my lungs and stomach. Then I began passing blood everyday. I was suffering so badly I almost lost consciousness. It was difficult to find blood for me. It seemed no one could help me.
My mother is a devout Christian. She fasted and prayed for me for seven days. I still remember her telling me, “your life is in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. The most important thing is not to lose your faith.” So I dedicated my life to the Lord and didn’t worry at all. During my illness an evangelist visited me and prayed for me everyday. One day he asked if I wanted to walk. I hadn’t been able to walk because of bedsores. On December 21 I started walking and was discharged from the hospital the next day. I returned to my village and am getting stronger everyday. Despite the hopeless situation I was in, Jesus Christ gave me hope. The medical check-up showed no evidence of the cancer. Jesus healed me. That’s why I’m alive.
Asian Report
May/June 1998
Shan
At least 69 people have been saved in this state in the past couple of months as a result of the efforts of the 24 member, AO-supported evangelist team. Following last December’s Great Commission Institute (GCI) session, four graduates were selected and added to the team, which now reaches into six different townships. In addition to developing evangelists, AO is working to nurture future Shan leaders by helping to support six Bible college students.
Pray for the evangelists and students to stand firm in the Lord’s work.
Asian Report
Easter 1998
I cried to God to help my father and family!
Rev. Sai Stephen
My parents were Christians but father was a compulsive gambler. One night, in 1971, we waited for father to come home but there was no sign of him. I went to look for him and found him gambling. When he finally got home he and mother had a big fight. Father packed his things, intending to leave. I begged him to stay but I knew inside that only God could bring peace to our family. Somehow we all gathered together. We sang a hymn, read the Bible and asked father to pray. He refused. So mother prayed. After that I was so discouraged I went to my room to pray. I cried to God to help us. Hearing my prayer as he passed the room, father was touched. He promised to change and we prayed together. From that night on my father never gambled again and family life became better. I realized God had used me to change him and that He could use me to change the lives of other Shan people. That has been my heart since. Stephen is sharing the Gospel with the Shan people.
Asian Report
November/December 1998
Sai Moe Lawn
Age: Early 30s
Even though my father was a pastor, I was not a serious believer. I went to Church mainly out of habit. One day I was selected to be a cell group leader. My group was asked to do some evangelism and I found myself with a big problem! I asked the Lord to help me lead and be a good example. But my ministry had no power. There was no change in the lives I prayed for. One day I visited two friends. I said what should we do today? They said let’s enjoy ourselves. Then they got drunk and cared about nothing. Something whispered in my heart, “Who will look after your paddy field?” So I went home. But when I got there, people were shouting, “Fire! Fire!” The whole village was under fire. Everyone, me included, was trying to put out the flames. I suffered burns and had to go to the hospital. Later I learned that my two friends had died in the fire. Then I realized God had rescued me and I felt He had something He wanted me to do. So I gave my life to serve Him. Now every morning, while my wife teaches our children, I go to different villages to witness for the Lord. I am so excited to be able to serve the Lord!
Asian Report
Jan/Feb 1999
Shan
The third Great Commission Institute (GCI) session for the people of Myanmar was completed in December 1997. Forty people from eastern Shan State attended the training, which focused on ministry planning, leadership training and evangelism. The session capped a successful year of AO ministry in the state with a total of five new Churches being established and 300 additional converts.
Pray for more workers to be trained for the growing work and for more local Churches to participate in outreach programs to other areas.
Soled Out For Jesus
Reported by Katie
Approximately twenty different Churches were represented at the recent GCI in MayMyo. The oldest of the 72 full-time participants were two women of 77 years. Nurses by profession, these two were present for every single class. Furthermore, one of them proved to be the speediest of all the students to look up scriptures!
The youngest to attend the GCI was a 17-year-old man who traveled down from near China border. He arrived at the training with no shoes and the other students responded to his need in true Acts-like fashion: they went out and purchased him a pair. He also had no Bible but one was provided for him. He proved to be a very attentive student, noticeably coming alive during the teaching.
Each of the students were sent to MayMyo by their local Churches, as most of them were already involved in some ministry. The seven-member teaching team included two teachers from Singapore, one from Australia, one from Malaysia, two from India and one from Hong Kong. Together they covered a wide range of subjects, including Prayer, Children’s Ministry and Discipleship.
There was a graduation service at the end of term in which students shared songs and personal testimonies. GCI ministry director, Lau Tak Siong, presented the students with their certificates.
Asian Report (March/April 1999)
Footsoldiers are doing the Job
By Rev. David Wang
After more than 25 years of ministering in the remote regions of Asia and visiting its “closed countries,” I am pretty much convinced that it is the nameless, ordinary and simple followers of Jesus who are really reaching out to the lost and making a difference. On a day-to-day basis, it is these footsoldiers of Jesus, often women, who are in the very front lines of missions, doing the job. That is why our most qualified co-workers and partners, such as Dr. Sai, Dr. Chu, Dr. Ong ... are so committed to Dr. Lau Tak Siong, our Director of Training, to go to the remotest regions of Asia to conduct footsoldiers training.
Shan
The Shan radio program produced in Hong Kong is accepted by the Shan people. There are reports of salvations through the message and many write asking for a Bible. The messages are saving lives as in this recent report. One morning a man was preparing to go out to kill someone who had cheated him. But before he went out to kill the man he tuned into the radio. The message was “Forgive, love your enemy, pray for them and God will take care.” After listening to this message he abandoned his plan of killing the man.
Please pray for the continued effectiveness of this ministry.
The New Testament has been rewritten in Shan new script and is now ready for printing. Please pray that good quality copies will be available soon. Currently only about 10 percent of Shan Christians have their own Bible.
STRUGGLING TO GO FIRST
By Jean Harper
(Jean Harper has been the Administrator of the Great Commission Institute for the past 11 years and has worked with Asian Outreach for almost 17 years.)
The only thing on Aung Kham’s mind was making money. The best of his energy and enthusiasm were directed at making money. His parents urged him to study but he could think of just one thing: making money. That is, until he had a dream and an accident.
Jesus appeared in his dream: “Do you love money or Me?” What?! Jesus- a Westerner [so he thought!]- is speaking Burmese?! Directed to read Matthew 6:33, where it talks about seeking first the Kingdom of God, Aung’s heart was never to be the same. A Christian, he couldn’t believe he had twice read the New Testament and had never seen that verse before. Then one day soon after, while riding his bicycle, a car ran into him and Aung found himself with a broken leg. The doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to walk for two months. This so discouraged him he prayed, “Lord, please heal my leg and I’ll attend the next GCI.” The Lord healed him within a week. That next GCI session was organized by Asian Outreach for the end of 1997 in Myanmar and Aung began to understand the truth that when we serve God first, He adds everything else. Today Aung is active in his Church and desires nothing more than to go and make disciples.
The GCI, on the road now for 11 years, is a mobile Bible school designed to teach and train grassroots evangelists, pastors and Church workers who otherwise would not have the opportunity. Asian Outreach’s philosophy is to train indigenous peoples to reach the un-reached and to plant Churches among them. These nationals already know the language, the culture and are “ready-made” to live in their physical environments. But like many other Christians, GCI students struggle with the dilemma of whose goals to pursue first, their own or those of the Kingdom? Moreover, our ever-modernizing world seems to have intensified the challenge. Sai Hsam, for example, while a faithful worker in his Church for several years, had to endure the eventual deaths of his wife and four children. Never in his life had he felt so alone. But he remained steadfast and, over time, the Lord healed him emotionally. He has since re-married and he and his second wife are now expecting their fourth child!
Asian Report
May/June 1999
WanHook is a village with a population of 76 people. The villagers used to worship evil spirits. But this all changed early this year. In December 1998 an evangelistic team went to the village from a nearby town and preached the gospel. The village leaders told the team leader about all the sickness in the village and the sacrifices of animals to evil spirits.
The team sent a 78-year-old pastor to live and preach in the village. He drove out the evil spirits and with the villagers’ consent destroyed all the things they worshipped. After two and a half months 30 people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Please pray for these people as they learn to live for Christ.
Asian Report
September/October 1999
The first Shan Church in the Capital of Myanmar
By Dr Sai Htwe Maung
Daw Mya Nu, a 60-year-old Shan widow, was encouraged by her younger brother to attend GCI (Great Commission Institute) in TaungGyi, Shan State of Myanmar, in 1995. She graduated from this course and her ministry plan was to start a Shan Church in Rangoon, the capital city of Burma. After graduation, she returned to Rangoon and gathered her relatives and friends and started a fellowship at her home.
The group started to grow so they hired a hall for Sunday worship. The Church quickly increased in numbers, so that they needed a full-time pastor but they did not have enough money to support one. The Praise City Church of Malaysia became aware of their need and offered financial and spiritual help for two years. About 150 people attended the dedication service of Yangon Shan Baptist Church in January 1998. At the altar call, about 50 people accepted the Lord. I have never seen such response among the Shan, for whom changing religion is a very serious matter. In 1998 Sai Kyaw Tint became full-time pastor of the Church. Under his leadership the Church is growing and continuing to reach out to the Shan people in Rangoon. Pray that they may have their own building and be able to stand on their own feet when PCC finishes their support, for unity and for their continued outreach to the Shan people.
Asian Report
November/December 1999
The Shan Gospel Radio Broadcast, produced in conjunction with FEBC, is very popular among the Shan people. This is a daily 45-minute program targeted at the four million Shan people living in Myanmar and Northern Thailand. Over 1,000 letters are received from listeners each year, many of them from Buddhist monks.
We need your prayer for this program to continue. Some radical Buddhist leaders in Myanmar are very upset with the effectiveness of the broadcasts, which are leading many to Christ. They have declared Christian radio programs a threat to Buddhism and published a document suggesting ways to eliminate Christianity from the country.
Please also pray with us for God’s provision to produce the Shan New Testament & Psalms for the believers. Each copy costs US$2.
We have supported 10 footsoldiers (evangelists) to the Shan for two years to evangelize and plant Churches. They are;
Nang Shwe Nyein
Ministry : Children Ministry in Man Pan Village, Northern Shan State
Planning: To get children evangelized and the to the parents.
Has 25 children under present ministry and 6 families converted.
Sai Myint Thein Win
Ministry : New Evangelist in Signpae Village, Southern Shan State.
Planning: To plant a Church.
Sai Hla Htwe
Ministry: Assistant Pastor, LoiLem, Southern Shan State.
Planning: Evangelism and Church Planting in the villages near LoiLem area.
Sai Thein Htun
Ministry: New Evangelist in Southern Shan State.
Planning: To plant a Church in Panu village. 10 new converts last year.
Sai Soe Myint.
Planning : To plant a Church in Mine Wee Village, Northern Shan State. Has four families converted last year and to have ten more new converts this year.
Sai Than Htay
Ministry : Evangelist in Narkan Village, Southern Shan State.
Planning : Six families converted last year. More convert this year and plant a new Church.
Sai Shwe Hla.
Ministry : Evangelist in three villages in Northern Shan State. 14 families converted last year. His new Church has been burnt down by military.
Planning: To plan a new Church in Kolon Village.
Sai Htun Yin
Ministry : Evangelist in Minepan and Laecha Villages in Southern Shan State.
Planning : Plan new Churches in these villages.
Sai Kyaw Harn
Ministry : Pastor of Emok Church in Southern Shan State.
Planning : To plant a new Church in Laepu Village.
Nang Theinke Aye.
Ministry : Children Ministry in Yangon and assisting Church ministry of Yangon Shan Baptist Church, Burma.
Planning : Planting home cells and outreach program in Yangon.
Asian Report
January/February 2000
The Long Road to Yangon
By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
In spite of difficulties, or perhaps because of the sacrifice, which those difficulties necessitated, the recent Great Commission Institute, held with the Shan people in Yangon, was a tremendous success. This was the sixth GCI in Yangon, with 77 in attendance.
They had come from the Northern, Southern and Eastern Shan State, as well as from Yangon itself. For the 15 who came from the Eastern Shan State, where there are about 60 Churches, it took 10 days traveling by bus to reach Yangon. The fare for each person was equivalent to 10 months salary of a pastor. Half of these trainees paid their own expenses to come to the GCI. These Eastern Shan people have invited Asian Outreach to conduct a national GCI in their area in November 2000 with local sponsorship and have re-contributed ten percent of the allowance they received from GCI back to the training expenses.
Another 15 people came from the Northern Shan State, taking three days to reach Yangon. They had to spend a night on the road because of flooding and one lady became ill and had to be hospitalized after three days of training. Another man attended the full course, shivering all the while from malaria. One of those from the North was Sai Shue Hla. Every Sunday he walks for four hours to the villages of PanKa and MuntBain where he ministers to a handful of families.
From the South it is two days journey to Yangon. Among the 20 who came from that area to the GCI was Sai Kyaw Han, a pastor with a heart burning to evangelize the nearby villages including a minority tribe called Danu. During the year 2000 he plans to organize a team of ten young people to reach out to two villages where there are currently no believers. Also from the South was Sai Htun Yin who aims to reach the PaO people in NaMa village.
Those who attended training found it to be a life-changing experience. Not only did they learn the Word of God but many came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. One of the trainers asked, “Those who want Jesus to return today, please raise your hand.” All the students raised their hands except one young lady. Thinking she might not have heard the question, he asked again. Still she did not raise her hand. Perhaps she had not understood the question. He explained and asked the question again with a clearer translation. When she still did not raise her hand, the leader approached her personally and asked why. Don’t you want to see Jesus coming again? “Yes,” she replied solemnly. Why? “Because I haven’t done anything for Him yet. I am not ready to see Him again.” As a result of this GCI training ten people are now serving God full time. Another GCI will be held in May 2000 in one of the Southern Shan State. Because of the political situation it makes difficult for foreigners to go to this area. This GCI will be a national program run by local Churches with local trainers.
Our team is planning two more GCIs this year. Pray for the success of these programs and that those who sacrifice so much to attend will be blessed with the super abundance of the Spirit.
Asian Report
May/June 2000
Shan State
Eighty Church leaders, workers and pastors have just gathered in a city in Southern Shan State for their first Great Commission Institute training. Most of those who came will have spent one month’s earnings on transportation to get from their village to the training place. “But they are willing to do that because they want so much to receive training in the Word of God,” said Dr. Sai, the man who is coordinating this GCI training. After the training the 80 trainees will spend a week doing evangelism in the surrounding villages. “Please pray for us, as the area we are going to in Southern Shan State is a politically sensitive area. Yet we must go and train because the workers are ready but they need to be equipped.” This is the cry all over Myanmar and Asia. Dr. Sai is planning two more GCI trainings in Myanmar during July and November. Already 160 workers are waiting to be trained. Please pray for God’s provision, as the average cost of each training is US$2,500.
Asian Report
July/August 2000
“We Want to be Well Prepared”
By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
At the end of May, people from 13 towns and villages in Myanmar gathered in TaungGyi, Shan State, for Great Commission Institute Training. It took us 20 hours on a bus from Rangoon to TaungGyi, where the GCI was held. Housing, food and a subsidy for traveling and materials, were provided for the trainees through generous mission partners. Yet some still find it a challenge to scrape together up to one month’s income to travel to the GCI. A young man from another village heard about GCI from a previous graduate. In order to have enough money for his bus fare he went fishing for several days. He then sold the fish to cover his traveling cost. Another young man who is a new believer did not have the funds either. None of his family or friends is Christians. By faith he got on the bus to TaungGyi, believing God would provide the fare. And God did, through another participant traveling on the same bus!
The trainees spent 10 days together, receiving teaching and getting involved in practical sessions on evangelism, praise and worship, how to study the Bible, ministry planning etc. At the end of the training, 40 dedicated themselves to serve the Lord part-time and four for full-time. One retired government official, the general secretary of a political party, decided to resign from his post and serve the Lord after attending the GCI. Indeed God chooses the foolish and the weak things of this world for His mission. The outstanding trainee at this GCI was once an evil spirit possessed. He ran around his village, shouting, jumping and crying every day. Villagers chained him to the trees but he always managed to free himself. He was taken to magicians and witch-doctors to be healed but nothing changed. One day he met our evangelist who shared with him the gospel, prayed for him and gave him a Bible. From then on he was released from the demonic bondage and accepted the Lord. He reads the Bible all the time, even during breaks at the GCI training and is eager to learn. He is now serving God as evangelist in a village in KoLum, Southern Shan State.
Asian Report
November/December 2000
Shan Missions (Myanmar)
In June, after conducting 10 days of GCI training, Dr. Sai, our Shan missionary, took his first mission trip to the Southern Shan State. During six days he traveled to seven villages. This was not without difficulties - sitting on the bus for 20 hours, walking on the muddy road barefoot, riding on cow-cart. But preaching and teaching to believers and non-believers from dawn to dark was a wonderful experience which made it all worthwhile. He found that many people were very hungry for the Good News. Some said that they had never heard the gospel in their own language. They wanted to hear more. Some listened until dawn, refusing to go home even after the meeting ended. Hundreds of people accepted Jesus by the end of his mission trip.
Although there are already groups of believers in these areas, these new Shan believers do not have any pastor to take care of them. There are few Chinese and Lisu Churches but there is no Shan Church. At the moment a few Shan workers have been placed there to disciple and help the young babes in Christ but there is still an urgent need for more workers. Please pray for our co-workers as they take the Gospel to un-reached regions of Asia.
Shan Missions Report
February 2001
By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
Report from Frontline Mission
Every where in the village there are altars of the evil spirit. Most common places are at the entrance of the village, under the tree, on top of the tree, in the middle of the village, in front of the house, at the door of the house and in the field.
Even though they claim to be Buddhist they also worship all kinds of spirit. No one dare to disturb the evil spirit because of the fear of evil spirit attack, sickness and trouble. They have to offer sacrifices regularly and avoid disturbing the spirit. They live under fear. Nevertheless they still suffer from evil spirit attack. One of our GCI graduates went to the village, showed them the power of the Holy Spirit and helped them destroyed all the evil spirit altars in the village. All 37 families of a village in MuongYang accepted the Lord. The old place of the sacrificial stone became the foundation of the Church. Sai Sam is now pastoring the new Church. We have encountered the power of the evil spirit everywhere we go. We have engaged in spiritual warfare all the time when we try to preach the gospel and do His work.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Pray that all His servants will be full of the Power of the Holy Spirit
Asian Report
March/April 2001
“Shan in Myanmar needs Laborers”
By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” Rom 15:20
Mission research organizations have designated the Shan of Myanmar as the ninth largest un-reached people group in the world. In 139 years of mission endeavor among the 5 million Shan people of Myanmar, only 20% have heard the gospel message and 0.4% have responded and given their lives to the Savior.
The mountainous terrain and thick jungles of the region of the Shan State in Myanmar makes efforts to reach this people difficult. A less-well-known mission field in the Shan hinders the raising of laborers and resources. Ninety-nine percent of the Shan population is Buddhist. Shan nationals feel so strongly that when a Shan is converted from Buddhism to other religion he is considered no longer Shan. The only complete Bible that the Shan people have in their own language is a version that was translated by Rev. Cushing in 1891. But many Shan today do not understand this translation well. Most of the Shan know Burmese better than Shan literature. They prefer reading Burmese Bible instead of Shan. Despite these obstacles, however, the work continues and the passion of Christ can be found in the souls who labor “where Christ was not known.”
Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, who gave up his professional medical job, is a missionary from Hong Kong to his own Shan people in Myanmar. Over a period of five years he has translated the New Testament and Psalms into the new Shan writing system. Work is underway to complete the Old Testament (expected to take another five years of effort) and to translate other Christian literature, plus audio and video works, into the Shan language. In addition to all of this he records a daily Shan language radio program that is aired by the Far East Broadcasting Company from the Philippines into Myanmar, Thailand and China. He also makes regular trips to his beloved people, to train them, or to lead outreach teams.
Pray too for Dr. Sai who leads the work. There is a great need for workers’ training through GCI, the translation of the entire Bible and gospel tracts into Shan language, production of the Shan radio broadcasts, production of Shan Bible teaching cassettes and mission outreach to the remote Shan peoples. Please pray that God will guide the workers, raise up laborers for this field of harvest and provide the needed resources for reaching the 5 million Shan and the more than 40 million other Shan people throughout the region and the rest of the world.
Report from Malaysia Team
MYANMAR MISSION TRIP
(28 April – 7 May 2001)
Team Leader: Ruth Choo
Asst. Team Leader: Kelvin Yong
Team Members: Ng Thian Ser, Tan Hong Looi, Wayne Wong, Rebecca Chieng, Stephanie Choo
29 April Highlights
1. Rest and Relax – InLe Lake
Arrived at HeHo Airport and met pastor Saw Aye Wi. On the way to TaungGyi, we visited the InLe Lake.
30 April Highlights
1. Home Visitations
We visited ten homes, including Dr. Sai Johnny Aung’s and his newly built hotel. The hotel was initially intended to be a hospital but was not approved by the local authorities. We also visited a kindergarten – the principal: Cecilia.
At each home that we visited, we talked, encouraged and prayed for its occupants. We were greatly encouraged ourselves by many of the wonderful testimonies we heard. One was how a girl was healed of leukemia. In another home, we met a non-Christian wife of a Christian man (who runs a noodle stall nearby). We shared the gospel and she was led through the sinners’ prayer – first salvation.
1 May Highlights
1. Teaching program – First day
Teaching sessions were conducted for about 35 Sunday school teachers, of whom one-third were pastors. Conducted cell group training (4 Ws) in the morning and afternoon. Did CG simulation in the evening.
2 May Highlights
1. Meetings with Rev. Samuela
Met Rev. Samuela, the Sec-Gen of the Southern Shan State Baptist Convention. Told us that the new committee has just been elected for a 3-year term. Shared his concerns for the youths – temptations and oppressions. Also introduced us to Rev. Wah-Doh, the newly elected President.
2. Teaching Program – Second day
Did teaching on Spiritual Mapping and Prayer Walking in the morning. Conducted session on how to organize and run a Children Church in the afternoon.
3 May Highlights
1. Teaching Program – Third day
Organized a Children Church Party. Invited 104 children from Cecilia’s kindergarten (101 Buddhists and 3 Christians). Committees were set up and all the trainees were involved. Breaking the Barrier was done and half the children responded – 50 salvation.
And evaluation and feedback session was held after the party. Issues and comments were brought up. The attendees were very impressed with the way children were cared for at the party. Another commented that they initially could not see the relevance of the teachings of 4 Ws to children ministry. However, later during the Children’s party, they could see the relevance. Children’s party is a new idea as they do not have children’s Church. Issues of how to handle various situations (e.g. naughty children) were also raised.
4 May Highlights
1. Aye Mauk Village
The team visited a Shan village (about an hour’s drive from TaungGyi). The village has about 60 Shan families (mostly Christians). They are surrounded by homes of the PaO people (Buddhists). Conducted a service at the local Church (for the adults) and did ministry at the end. The Holy Spirit touched many as some wept. A number of the local Christians came forward to give their personal testimonies.
A children’s program was simultaneously conducted and the gospel was shared 30 salvation.
After lunch, the team did prayer walk around the village. And in one home visitation to pray for a sick girl (Malaria-stricken), her father rededicated his life to Jesus although initially resistant.
The team went up the pagoda that was sited atop the TaungGyi Hill. It was one of the highest peaks that overlook the whole team. The team prayed for the town and its surroundings.
5 May Highlights
1. Shopping in the morning and boarded the bus, at noon, for the 18-hour ride back to Yangon.
6 May Highlights
1. Reached Yangon at 6:30 am
2. Attended the English Methodist Church worship service at Yangon
3. Had lunch with Volley and Pam Tangiataua of YWAM
4. Youth Celebration at Daw Mya Nu’s home. The gospel was shared – 6 salvation
7 May Highlights
1. Shopping in the morning before flying back to Kuala Lumpur.
Frontline Shan Missions
Reported by Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
29th April 2001
The security was very tight. The political tension was very high. The army did not give permission for Shan Baptist Churches to hold Eastern Shan Mission Centenary Celebration until last minute.
The fighting at the border of Thailand and Burma was still waging. By His wonderful grace we were able to celebrate, praise, worship every day and preach the gospel to hundreds of people every night at the border town of KengTung for four days from March 29th to April 1st at open-air crusade. The people said “We have never heard such clear and bold Christian message before. It is very good. We now understand about God very clearly” (our local preacher dare not to preach boldly because, in the past incidence, the whole Christian village was burned down for preaching “There is no other God. Thou shall not worship other gods.” A pastor was in trouble for saying “the idols have no power, only Jesus does”) A soldier who was assigned to observe our activity came to me after the rally and said “ it is very good message. The people enjoy it.” On the last day of celebration, 186 people were baptized in a shallow muddy river.
Mat 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The transportation in Burma is unbelievable. Very difficult and dangerous. After visiting Eastern Shan State (Thailand-Burma border) I was heading towards Northern Shan State (China-Burma border). I was exhausted after sitting on the bus for 21 hours and still had to go another five hours drive the next day. However I was excited to visit the most restricted area in the country. No foreigners are allowed to go there because of political reason. The up and down narrow road on the hill was some time blocked for hours or days by accident. After two days and one night on the bus I finally got to ShweLi valley near China border. The Christian mission has entered this area for 108 years. There are two big Churches in this area. One is in MuSe and the other is in NamKham. The Church buildings are beautifully built. But sadly to say the Spiritual house of the believers are not as beautiful as the Church building.
In MuSe
In the beginning the pastor of MuSe Church did not allow us to teach the Bible at his Church. Later he changed his mind and allowed us to conduct Bible teaching to Shan believers.
On the first day of Bible teaching, without notice, 50 people attended.
On second day, 70 people attended.
On third day, 80 people, including people from Chinese Church and Burmese Church, attended.
During lunch break for one hour, a lady came to me and said, “Please come and pray for my grandson. He is four months old. He cries since midnight last night without a pause until now. Already 12 hours.” I said “Ok. I’ll come after this cup of noodle (this is my lunch).” Before I finish my noodle she came again and said, “please do not forget to come.” I went with her immediately to her house, which was just at the side of the church building. I saw the baby was crying fiercely in the arms of his mother. He was restless and sweating. I took hold of him from her mother’s arms into my arms. I examined his body and found nothing wrong physically. Spiritual warfare again! I put his head to rest on my right palm and his body on my left palm and I pray for him in the name of Jesus. After my prayer I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was also staring at me quietly. I handed the baby over to her mother and asked her mother to have faith in Jesus. The mother is a believer but the father is not. I went back to training and teach again in the afternoon. After afternoon session I went to visit the baby again. He was absolutely well sleeping quietly. No more crying after prayer. I went back to see the baby again next day morning he was absolutely well and smiling in his father’s arm. Praise the Lord!
Many people came to us and asked for prayer. They brought us to visit and prayed for the people who were sick and lying on beds. Some time until 10 PM. Not less that ten people we have visited in one day. I was told that they have never been taught about Spiritual Truth. They wanted to learn more.
After three days Bible teaching in MuSe we went to NamKham.
In NamKham
Pastor of NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church refused to allow us to teach at his Church. MyoMa Shan Baptist Church opened the door for us.
1st day 50 attended.
2nd day 60 attended.
3rd day 70 attended.
Six people walked for three hours from the hill to NamKham MyoMa Shan Baptist Church to attend the Bible teaching. Most of the trainees are young people. NongSanKone pastor did not encourage his members to come. Nevertheless some did come secretly. I have found that Satanic influence in the Church leadership is very strong. Some of the Church leaders and pastors are facing spiritual warfare in their life. Some were defeated. Some leaders do not believe the whole Bible as the Word of God. They only take some portions of the Bible, which are applicable to them or what they like. Some pastors do not want to preach the Truth because of fear. Moral characters are in questions. There are many leadership and spiritual problems. It is difficult to know whether it is the Church of God or the Church of men. The pastors did not want to hear about Holy Spirit and Born again teaching.
Some pastors, leaders and members of the Churches asked me to go back and hold training for them again. Should I go back again?
Report on Shan Radio Gospel Broadcast
May 2001, By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
I have been preaching Gospel in Radiobroadcast for 11 years. How can I know the impact of my Shan Gospel Radiobroadcast? By letters received from listeners, by testimonies from listeners and by meeting and hearing from people, the impact and effectiveness of gospel radio broadcast can be assessed. I have received about one thousand letters from listeners in one year.
Factory Owner
I met a candle factory owner in NamKham. He said, “Your radio program is a great blessing to me, my family and my factory workers. I tune in your program every morning and relay it to my factory work place with loudspeaker and ask my workers to listen to it every morning. This lady is ready to accept Jesus. She is going to be baptized next month. Please pray for her.”
Chairman of Chinese Church
He said, “Your radio program is the only source of my encouragement specially when I was in the jungle working alone. I never miss your program.”
A butcher
A man who worked at abattoir said, “It is war and sorrow when I listen to BBC. But it is peace and joy when I listen to your song and message in radio. I feel like I am in heaven whenever I hear your music, songs and message. I am glad to see you and know you personally now. May God bless you richly.”
Seminary graduate
A young Seminary graduate said, “My father use to tune in your program every morning, increase it’s volume to maximum level and put his radio on the window bar so that all the people walking by on the street may hear it.”
Ex-soldier of drug warlord
A man, a formal soldier of drug war lord Khun Sa said, “When I was in the jungle, I was very sick and closed to death. When I was on sick bed alone I listened to your program every morning. I got healed and I continued listening to your message for three years. Then I believe in Jesus Christ. I wanted to be baptized. But there was no Church or Christian around here. I tried to look for a Church. I finally found a Lahu Church in a village. I went there and confessed my faith to the pastor and got baptism.”
Many people including Buddhist monks and Shan politicians came to express their thanks to our Shan radio gospel broadcast. To God be the Glory and Honor
The first New Khamti Shan Radio program
A man named Sao Noi Man Han wrote to me two years ago that he would like to help me reaching another Shan group called Khamti Shan. Who are Khamti Shan?
Khamti Shan has different dialect and literature even though they belong to Shan (Tai) group. Their population in Burma is about 40 thousand and 60 thousand in India. Only 20 Khamti believers in Burma.
Sao Noi gives his personal testimony.
I am Khamti Shan, a son of the chief of Khamti people. I graduated from University. In the past I had a very bad character. I was once addicted to drugs. An astrologer gave me a prediction that I would die at the age of 25. I felt very sick at the age of 25. I was really near dead. I lose my consciousness again and again. I even saw the suffering in hell. I thought I was going to hell. At that moment I remember Jesus. I heard about Jesus a few years ago in TaCheLeik but I did not believe in Him. I was desperate. I said “Jesus, if you are God, please help me. Save my life.” Immediately I regained my consciousness and recovered. Then I forgot Jesus again. I got married and my wife got pregnant. We did not want to have the baby. We tried to get rid of the baby by doing induced abortion but not successful. The baby grew inside the mother womb until the time of giving birth. At the hospital while I was waiting for my wife’s childbirth I saw a baby born from other woman in the room. The newborn baby looked very ugly and the body was badly deformed. It looked like a demon. They told me that that woman had tried to get rid of the baby by doing induced abortion in the past but not successful. That’s why the baby born like this. I was so scared that my baby would also be born like this. I was on my knee. I prayed to God “Lord, help me again please. Do not let my baby born like this. Save my baby Lord. If you save my baby and my baby born normally I will believe in you immediately Lord.” Not very long my baby born perfectly normal. Since then my wife and I accepted the Lord. Both of us went to Seminary and graduated a few years ago. I am now working among Khamti Shan people. We have 20 Khamti converts. I am also doing Khamti Shan dictionary and Khamti Shan Bible translation. I would like to have a Khamti Shan program in your radio broadcast to reach our Khamti Shan people. Can you help?
Praise the Lord for choosing this man from Khamti Shan!
Sao Noi Man Han will record his gospel message in Khamti Shan language and send it to me. I’ll then edit and complete it into 15 minutes program and will broadcast it from FEBC radio international at 15520 KHz every Sunday morning starting from January 2002.
15 minutes Chinese Shan program will reduce to Monday to Saturday and giving slot for Khamti Shan on Sunday.
45 minutes Common Shan will continue as usual seven days a week.
Please pray for Sao Noi, the only one pastor in Khamti Shan who has tremendous work for the Lord.
Revised Cushing Shan Bible
June 2001, Reported by Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
Praise the Lord! Our Shan New Testament and Psalms in new writing is finally out. It’s printed locally in Myanmar. The cover and binding come out quite poorly. We bought synthetic leather to cover and wrap it up to be looked better. It is well accepted by the people. The first person to use this new New Testament is Rev. Ya Kuk. He takes the first copy and uses it in the Communion service on Sunday at Eastern Shan State Centenary Celebration. About two thousand believers partake the communion that Sunday.
I have received a letter from Mr. N. R, a missionary to the Shan in Northern Thailand said, “Dr. Htwe Maung - I met you in Chiang Mai two years ago at an Inter-Dev conference I believe. I heard you were up in Thoed Thai back in February but was unfortunately unable to visit you at that time. Recently one of our OMF co-workers got a copy of the Cushing Shan New Testament in modern script while he was in Burma. He likes it very much but we would like to get many more! I previously was able to purchase some of the Gospel Harmonies at Wat Pa Pao in Chiang Mai that you edited but have distributed them all also. Can you recommend a place here in Thailand where we could purchase some New Testaments - perhaps a hundred would meet our needs for the present? I have been receiving requests from Churches from Bangkok to Maesai for Shan New Testaments. Presently there is none of the UBS edition available here in Thailand either. Presently much of our efforts are in the area of producing Shan evangelistic and teaching materials. There is a growing demand, which is very encouraging. Your broadcasts come in fairly clearly here in Maesai and I know many of the Shan here listen to your program. May God continue to bless you ministry. Press on.”
Asian Report
July/August 2001
Shan Mission (Shan State)
Rev. Ah Yai, one of our footsoldiers in Shan State, has been reaching out to the 56 families in WanSaw Village. Over the last couple of years he has shared the gospel and showed love to the villagers by meeting their needs. He has been educating their children, praying for the sick and helping with the village development. So they now have a clean water supply, hydroelectric power and orchards and gardens to provide adequate food.
Through his testimony and practical demonstration of God’s love, a few have become Christians. Many more want to make that commitment but the headman of the village is opposed to this and has banned Rev. Ah Yai from entering the village. Please pray that God will change the headman’s heart, so that Rev. Ah Yai can continue ministering in this village and the Church can grow. Despite opposition in some villages, the number of believers is increasing in Eastern Shan State. Praise the Lord that three of our footsoldiers have planted Churches that are now large enough to support them and their families.
The Best Decision Ever Made
December 30, 2001, marked a special day for Dr. Sai Htwe Maung as he was ordained in Hong Kong as a minister of the gospel. “This is a confirmation of God’s call on my life,” says Sai Htwe Maung.
His parents became the first-generation Shan Christians in ShweLi valley when they were converted through the witness of an American missionary 75 years ago in Shan State, Burma (now known as Myanmar). Born on April 30, 1947, Dr. Sai grew up knowing a call to serve the Lord. After graduating from medical school in 1973, he started working as a doctor, as well as serving with local Churches. In 1979 he was led to move his family to Hong Kong. He obeyed but struggled with having to abandon “his people” in Shan State. Every day he prayed for an opportunity to bring the gospel to the 5 million Shan people, of whom 99.9% are Buddhists. In Hong Kong he serves in Emmanuel English Church, while working in different hospitals. In 1983 he joined Asian Outreach as a missionary. Under the covering of Asian Outreach and his Church, he started serving the Shan people from Hong Kong. He translated and published a Shan hymnal, the New Testament and Psalms in New Shan modern writing. A quarterly Our Daily Bread in Shan is also being produced. Since 1989, from his homemade studio, he has also been producing daily gospel broadcasts in the Burmese-Shan and Chinese-Shan languages, which are aired via Far East Broadcasting Company facilities.
By networking with local Shan Churches, Asian Outreach is training leaders and Church planters through the Great Commission Institute programs. Today, over 50 Churches have been planted as a result. With his increased workload, Dr. Sai had to make a decision. As he prayed for guidance, he also asked his wife what she thought of him quitting a well-paid doctor’s job for a no-pay full-time ministry. His wife’s response was, “This is the BEST decision you have ever made in your life.” So, in May 2000 Dr. Sai retired from medical practice and now travels to Myanmar, Northern Thailand and China regularly to minister to his beloved Shan people.
Foreign and other nationals who served as Missionaries to the Shan
(in alphabetical order except Bixby and Cushing)
Rev. Moses Homan Bixby from 1860 to1866 when he returned to United States.
Rev. Josiah Nelson Cushing from 1866 to 1892 when he became head of Baptist College in Rangoon.
Rev. & Mrs. Ba Te
Rev. & Mrs. Chim Sein
Rev. & Mrs. E.B. Roach
Rev. & Mrs. E.D Kelley
Rev. & Mrs. E.E. Sowards
Rev. & Mrs. Henry Heptonstall
Rev. & Mrs. J.A. Freiday
Rev. & Mrs. J.E. Case
Rev. & Mrs. John Po
Rev. & Mrs. Mix
Rev. & Mrs. Nathan Brown
Rev. & Mrs. Paul Lewis
Rev. & Mrs. Po Sein
Rev. & Mrs. Raymond Bakes Buker
Rev. & Mrs. Rose
Rev. & Mrs. Thra Aung Din
Rev. & Mrs. Vincent Yong
Rev. & Mrs. W.M. Yong
Rev. & Mrs. W.W. Cochrane
Rev. & Mrs. Willie
Rev. & Mrs. Yaw Su
Mr. Bartholomew
Ms. A.R. Gage
Ms. Antisdel
Ms. C.E. Henderson
Ms. Clark
Ms. Elizabeth Lawrence
Ms. Elva Jenkins
Ms. Fay
Ms. Kingsley
Ms. M. Cromton
Ms. M. E. Rockwood
Ms. Margaret B. Smith
Ms. Marston
Ms. Payne
Ms. Peggy Smith
Ms. Ruth Christopherson
Ms. Slater
Ms. Thompson
Foreign and other national who served as Medical Missionaries to the Shan
(in alphabetical order)
Dr. Ah Pon
Dr. Ai Lun, Albert
Dr. Albert Haley Henderson
Dr. Aung Thaik
Dr. Brown
Dr. Buker
Dr. C. A. Kirkpatrick
Dr. G. T. Leeds
Dr. Gordon Seagrave
Dr. Grace Russell Seagrave
Dr. Hanson
Dr. Howard Clinton Gibbens
Dr. Keith R. Dahlberg
Dr. Lao Htin Po
Dr. M. B. Kirkpatrick
Dr. Mason
Dr. Max. D. Miles
Dr. Naomi Gordon
Dr. Ohn Shwe
Dr. Richard Buker
Dr. Robert Harper
Dr. Robin Krasu
Dr. San Hlaing
Dr. W.C. Griggs
Dr. Walter Rittenhouse
Mission Stations for the Shan
(in alphabetical order)
BhaMo
HsiPaw
KengTung
MuongNai
NamKham
Toungoo
Date of Missionaries going to Heavenly Home
Rev. Moses Homan Bixby
March 20, 1901 in Providence, United States.
Rev. Josiah Nelson Cushing
May 17, 1905 in United States.
Mrs. Laura A. Bixby, wife of Rev. Bixby
March 24, 1901, Providence, United States, only four days after the death of her husband.
Mrs. Roberts
Aug. 16, 1880 in Rangoon, Burma.
Mr. W.C. Lambert
May 23, 1895 murdered by a thief, early morning in HsiPaw.
Mr. Mix
1881, Liverpool, England, on his way to America.
Rev. Dr. M. B. Kirkpatrick, M. D.,
February 10, 1915, HsiPaw, Burma.
Dr. Robert Harper
1926, after serving 22 years, in United States.
Dr. Richard Buker
1994 in United States.
Dr. Grace Russell Seagrave
August 17, 1951, NamKham, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Dr. Ohn Shwe
Killed by a drunken man in 1936 while he was trying to protect the man’s wife from further assault.
Mrs. Huldah Mix
1933 in TaungGyi, Southern Shan State, Burma, after serving 16 years.
Ms. Rockwood
1882 in Toungoo, Burma.
Dr. Gordan Stifler Seagrave
March 28, 1965 after serving 43 years in NamKham, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Rev. Htun Pyu
November 20, 1958 after serving 56 years, NamKham, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Mrs. Roberts
August 16, 1880, Rangoon, Burma.
Dr. L. T. Ah Pon
1943, died during Japanese occupation.
Dr. Ai Lun
January 18, 1978 in LaShio, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Rev. Kham Maung
February 9, 1976, MuSe, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Rev. Ai Pan
October 30, 1980, NamKham, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Saya Sam Pwa
1942, NamKham, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Rev. Tha Dun
November 26, 1926, NamKham, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Rev. Hmoon
August 30, 1980, SeLan, Northern Shan State, Burma.
Rev. Sai Stephen
July 12, 2000, KengTung, Eastern Shan State, Burma.