Shan Ministries
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?
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
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
