History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 36
influential man was found guilty of polygamy as he had taken the second wife. After receiving
instruction on the subject but he refused to put her away he was excluded from the Church. He reported
on August 10, 1864 that Maung Wyne was also excluded because of bigamy. Another believer was
found of gambling and excluded from the Church. However the Church grew. Two more Churches
were planted. Seven people from five tribes were baptized and there were about one hundred members
in three Churches in 1864.
Opposition
Bixby reported in his letter dated October 25, 1862 that public sentiment, which was powerful
for good or evil everywhere acted strongly against Christianity. The fear of ridicule kept back many for
a time. The abusive language seized people and dragged them upon the ground. If it was known that a
man was an inquirer to Christianity he became at once an object of persecution and scorn. A Burman
was a hero who came out boldly to despise Jesus. The cross was an offence everywhere but to some it
was the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. An effort had been made directly by the
Buddhist priests and others to separate wives from their husbands whom Bixby had baptized with the
hope of leading them to abandon their faith.
School
Bixby reported on October 25, 1862 that school was one of the most important and successful
ministries in mission. Mrs. Bixby received boys and girls, young men and young women at school.
When Miss. Marston came the girls were recommended to go to her and she had about twenty scholars
all girls and women. Mrs. Bixby’s school increased until it was found necessary to have an assistant
teacher but there was no fund.
The first Shan convert
Bixby reported on October 25, 1862 that the SaoPha of NanTok placed his eldest son, a young
man of about twenty-one years, to be educated by Bixby but requested not to make him a Christian.
Bixby told him that he had no power to make Christian, God alone could do, but it was their duty to
teach him about Jesus. If he could not allow them to teach him about Jesus then it was of no use to
make him his pupil. He would not force him to worship Jesus contrary to his convictions and he would
not baptize him if he did not ask for it. Then the SaoPha said, “Very well. Take him and be to him as a
father.” When he was first instructed in the scriptures he soon became so fond of the Bible as to prefer
it to other studies. After a few weeks, one Monday morning, he came to Bixby to talk about the sermon
he heard at the chapel. He said, “Teacher, idols are not God. The eternal God, He alone is God. What
must I do to worship Him?” Then Bixby told him if he would worship God, he must believe in His Son.
Within a week he appeared to have received the Lord Jesus as his Savior. He talked freely about the
true God and the only Savior to the Shan who came. The next Sunday his father came to see Bixby and
Bixby persuaded him to attend worship service. SaoPha consented reluctantly but listened attentively.
His son told him that he had received the doctrine of the true God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then
SaoPha said, “If you believe in Him, continue to worship Him. I shall not yet change my religion.”
SaoPha’s son Oung Myat was baptized on October 1, 1862. 7
He was the first Shan convert in Toungoo, one year four months and twenty two days after
Bixby’s mission among the Shan. His wife was also baptized on February 1, 1863. On January 18,
1863, five Shan and two Burman were also baptized. On November 30, 1863, three more Shan
baptized.
Shan Buddhist teacher
Bixby reported on January 6, 1863 that Leing Ta Ka, a Shan man, was one of the most stubborn
Buddhists teachers he had ever met. He possessed great influence over the people of the village. Bixby
offered him as high as fifteen rupees per month to teach at his school but he declined. But one day he
7 Letter from Bixby, December 1, 1863, Toungoo.