A PREEMINENT EVANGELIST IN MYANMAR DIES
(Reported by Ken Suanzanang)
Yangon, Myanmar – 5 November 2009
His Last Days:
Yesterday at 9:40 a.m., Pastor Ngul Khaw Pau passed away peacefully at his Pinlon House in Kalay, Sagaing Division in Myanmar. He had celebrated his 80th birthday anniversary last February 14. “Papa made no complaints of pains. He spent most of his time in sleeping. Within a few weeks, it needs to wake him up for breakfasts. The previous night before his death, he could not take dinner and needed oxygen because he had a hard time in breathing. He breathed his last at 9:40 local time,” told Cing, his eldest daughter to the reporter on a telephone interview. She is a ward sister at the Kalay District Hospital.
The family doctor and Cing tried what they could to save Pau’s life. When the doctor announced his death; his beloved wife, two of his daughters, his youngest son and wife were around him. A few months ago, he was in a serious condition depending on oxygen but he came back to normal.
In October, the reporter visited him twice and chatted with him about God’s goodness to His church and Pau’s family. He was being comforted despite one of his sons, one of his daughter-in-laws and one of his son-in-laws passed away within less than two years. He was convinced to count God’s blessings – the fortunes are much more than the misfortunes. “God is good. He was always with me in my ministry and comforted me when I faced inflictions,” said Pau.
He is Survived by a Large Family Members:
He was survived by his darling wife, five daughters, four sons, eighteen grandchildren and a great-grandchild. The eldest daughter Nian Man Cing is a ward sister-nurse and the second daughter Vial Khan Lun is a medical cadet captain in the Myanmar army. The third daughter Cing Khan Nem is a gazette officer at Agricultural Bank in Kalay. Gin Lamh Niang and Cing Suan Dim are teachers. The later got her master’s degree from Spicer Memorial College (SMC). The first son, Sian Suan Pau is an engineer, a gazette officer at Yangon Electricity Supply Board (YESB), one of the government departments. Kham Za Thawn who earned a business degree from SMC and Pau Suan Mung are working in USA. Suan Lian Thang, a graduate from a state college is looking after his parents.
Background – How the Adventist Convert Becomes a Soul-Winner:
He was born on February 14, 1929 at Tonzang, the hometown of the Sukte chiefs. He became an office-bearer of the Christian Endeavor (CE) Society when it was established in 1940. During the WWII he evacuated to Calcutta in India where he worked as a driver. He met Vanlalrawna, a former Baptist who convinced Pau with the present truth of Adventism. After WWII, Pau came back to the Chin Hills and Vanlalrawna to Lushai Hills. (Later it is learnt that Vanlalrawna also was ordained to the gospel ministry in Lushai Hills.) Pau married Ciin Ngaih Man on July 12, 1952.
Pau came home a believer but he could not penetrate the strong Baptist community. He wrote a letter to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lushai Hills now known as Mizoram State requested to send a missionary to help him. Pastor W.G. Lowry and his wife Helen were working there as missionaries. Helen Lowry replied the letter that reached Pau on December 14, 1952. Meanwhile, Pau’s letter was translated into English and forwarded to the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Southern Asia (SUD). The church’s year-end meetings in Rangoon led by Pastor Robert H Pierson, the president of SUD then; who later became the president of Worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church voted to send Arthur E. Anderson as missionary to the Chin Hills. Anderson was the principal of the only Seventh-day Adventist High School in Burma. It was located in Myaungmya where now the only Adventist College (MUAS) situated.
During his survey trip, on April 14 in 1953, Anderson met Pau at Tiddim Civil Hospital in the Chin Hills who was hospitalized because of an explosion of a bomb. Anderson appealed Pau to work with him. “I will, replied Pau, if God spares my life from this casualty.” In October of the same year, the Andersons arrived in Tiddim, Chin Hills.
Pau Becomes a Worker in God’s Vineyard:
As a result of an evangelistic meeting of the Andersons, twenty-six precious souls were baptized in 1954. The first batch of fourteen souls was baptized on May 8 and the next twelve on October 16. Pau was among the first batch and his wife Ciin Ngaih Man among the second batch. Pau was sponsored to study at Myaungmya High School during the academic year of 1954-1955.
The Government Orders the Andersons to Leave the Chin Hills:
In April 1955, the Andersons were forced to return to Myaungmya, their original post of duty. Therefore the vacancy in Tiddim was filled up by the nationals. Pau entered work as assistant to the Chin Hills director during 1955-1957 until he transferred to the Siyin Valley on July 21, 1957. He was stationed at Khuasak until he left for study at Myaungmya Seminary during 1960-1961. He was ordained to the gospel ministry on December 31, 1964. He became the Chin Hills director in 1968. In 1971, he was elected as the director of Stewardship Department for MYUM. After serving a year, upon his request, the church sent him back to the Chin Hills posted in Kalemyo for evangelistic, pastoral and translation services until his retirement in March 1977.
The Retiree Who Does not Retire:
Since March, 1977, he retired from active work under medical ground but he continued translating the Quarterly Bible Study Guides and other materials from English to Tiddim Chin. “I am satisfied. My translation work crowned with translating the Great Controversy which was printed in 2002,” said Pau.
Pau, One of the Three Mighty Evangelists in Myanmar:
In April, 1998 at the memorial service of Pastor Victor Kipzanang, the then executive secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Myanmar (MYUM), Pastor Daniel Nangno, the ministerial secretary of MYUM said, “The death of V. Kipzanang is a great loss to the church because he was one of the three mighty evangelists in Myanmar.” The writer inquired who they were. “Are you one of them?” “No, I am not. They are Ngul Khaw Pau, V. Kipzanang and E. Dwe Tha,” answered Nangno.
The Bereaved Wife Says, “I am satisfied”:
“When I loss my beloved husband, I feel that Jesus stands by me and whispers, ‘he still speaks, even though he is dead.’ It keeps ringing in my ears. I can hear thousands who will enter the pearly gates will say, ‘Saya (teacher) Pau, It was you who invited me here.’ I am satisfied that he had lived a full life, more than 80 years. I confide in God’s word that says, ‘he still speaks,’ Yes, his DVD ministry will continue to speak,” testified his wife to the reporter this morning.
Memorial Service:
On Friday, at 2 p.m., on November 6, the funeral service solemnized by Pastor Kai Khan Khual, the executive secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Upper Myanmar region (UMM) assisted by the departmental directors of UMM who were there to conduct Annual Week of Sacrifice in the area and the district leaders of Kalay. ‘They took part as pallbearers in uniforms to pay their last honor,’ said an observer.
