 The
Shan are one of the largest unreached people groups in Southeast
Asia, spanning the golden triangle region of Northern Thailand,
Burma, Southwest China, and Laos. They are a race related to the
Thai and Lao, as part of the larger Tai peoples. The majority
of the Shan people live in Shan State in Burma (Myanmar), where
they are the largest minority group, making up 10% of the population.
The Burmese military government tries to control and crush dissension
among ethnic minorities, and the Shan have been a primary target.
They have experienced massive destruction of property and life,
causing an exodus of Shan refugees into Thailand, where they are
not given refugee status by the Thai government. As a result,
they have few if any rights, and are left with limited opportunities.
Many work as hired day laborers or in dangerous jobs such as construction,
agriculture, and factories. Many young Shan girls are trafficked
across the border into prostitution and end up with AIDS. The
Shan are truly a nation (people group) without a country.
 The
Shan are traditionally strong Buddhists and animists. The Shan
(Thai-Yai) of Thailand and of Burma are among the least-reached
people groups, along with the Thai according to Joshua Project.
YWAM is currently pioneering a ministry targeting the Shan in
northern Chiang Mai province, in the districts of Mai Ai and Fang.
In 1998 and 1999, DTS teams came to work with the Shan for the
first time, laying the foundation for the work that is going on
today. In the beginning of 2005, the first three YWAM Thailand
staff members moved to Fang and Mae Ai districts. These are the
first long term YWAM Thailand staff who are targeting a specific
unreached minority people group. Since then, about 35 Shan have
come to Christ through the witness of Shan co-workers. A house
group has been formed as a result. Because of the volatile situation,
it is very hard to have any kind of stable or sustainable work
here, and many new believers tend to disappear or backslide. But
we truly believe that God’s desire is to see the Shan to
know and love Him.
 The
goal of our new team is to see the kingdom of God established
among the Shan people, through forming multiplying house churches
who demonstrate God’s love in all areas of life.
The focus is on evangelism and training with the goal that they
will reach out to their own people group, planting reproducing
house fellowships in Thailand and Shan State. We are looking for
more team members, so consider doing a Shan Internship and joining
an exciting pioneering ministry!
Interested
in doing a Shan Internship?
Financial
Support
If
you would like to financially support YWAM Shan Ministries,
please send checks payable to “YWAM” (Please do not write
anything else on the check but include a separate note designating
your donation to “YWAM Shan Ministries”):
YWAM Montana
501 Blacktail Road
Lakeside, Montana
59922 U.S.A.
or
NEW
- For Canadians
If you would like to financially support YWAM Shan Ministries,
please send checks payable to “YWAM” (Please do not write
anything else on the check but include a separate note designating
your donation to “YWAM Shan Ministries”):
YWAM Vancouver
Donor Services
PO Box 57100
2480 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
V5K 5G6 Canada
For
more information about Shan Ministries
or to find out how you can get involved, please contact us:
YWAM Shan Ministries
P.O. Box 12
Mae Ping
Chiang Mai
50301
Thailand
Email: shan@ywamthai.org
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Check
out our
Shan Photogallery
Interested
in doing a Shan Internship?
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