(AUTOBIOGRAPHY)
( 1957 – Present 15th October 2021)
Thang Lian Khai, M.A. Ed. , is the director of Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Department of Upper Myanmar Mission (2011- ) and former Director of Publishing/Spirit of Prophecy Department of Myanmar Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Church (2002 – 2010).
Early Life
Thang Lian Khai was born on September 23, 1957, in Sezang Villege, Tedim Township, North Chin State, Burma (now Myanmar).1 His parents were U Cin Suang and Daw Niang Khaw Man, belonging to the Zomi Chin tribe. His parents were Non-Christians. They lived in Sezang Village, Tedim Township, North Chin State. His father was a carpenter. He had 10 siblings, Ngul KhanMang, Dim Don Cing, Kham Khen Do, Lang Za Dim, Thang Lian Khai, Cing Za Khawl, Man Hau Niang and Nang Khen Thang. Ngul khan mang is working now as an estate keeper in the campus of Upper Myanmar Mission Headquarters. Dim Don Cing is the wife of Tun Kap Thang (Baptist) Kham Khen Do (Baptist) and family are living now in New York, USA. Lang Za Dim and Man Hau Niang with her son Kam khan Cin are faithful Seventh-day Adventist Church members in Sezang Yatkwit, Tedim Township. Cing Za Khawl is the wife of Rev. Thang Cin Mang, the world wide General Secretary of Evangelical Baptist Church. Nang Khen Thang is the Treasurer of Upper Myanmar Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. His only begotten son Suang Sian Muang and dauther in law Cing Deih San are working in Malaysia. His elder daughter Man Sian Nuam is working in UMM Headquarter as office Secretary. His son in law Pau Go Khai is working in AWR office of UMM as Zomi Chin AWR Producer. He has one granddaughter Cing Hoih Vung, the daughter of his daughter Man Sian Nuam.
Education and Marriage
Thang Lian Khai, went to State Primary School in Leilum Village, two and half miles away from his village on foot from KG through standard 4 from 1966 to 1971. Then he went to the State Middle School in Lawibual Ward, Tedim township, three miles away from his village on foot from standard 5 through 8 from 1971 to 1975. And then he went to another state high School in Sakollaam Ward, Tedim township, five miles away from his village on foot from standard 9 to10 from 1975 to 1977. He passed government standard 10 examination in one year in 1977. Though his aim was to become a medical doctor, because of the malaria infected his brain while he was studying and whatsoever, he passed the 10 standard final examination with “A” list.
He was spiritually strong and wished to serve God, but then as he was grown up from the non-Christian family, he looked for a job in the Immigration Department in Tedim township, North Chin State. In May, 1978 his cousin brother Saya Pau Za Khan motivate him to study at Spicer Memorial College in India and Saya Pau Za Khan lead him to it. And he began to study with 4th plan, and then with 3rd plan, and then, with 2nd plan from June, 1978 to October, 1983. His major was Graphic Arts and minor was Religious Philosophy. And graduated with BAA (Bachelor of Applied Arts) in 1983.
He joined the Baptism class for one semester in Spicer Memorial College and then he was baptized by Pr. Lange, who was the missionary Chaplain of Spicer Memorial College from the country of America on March 19, 1979.
He canvassed as Student Literature Evangelist in the summer of 1982 at Bhubaneshwar city, Orisa State, India and he earned half scholarship though other students LE were in debt. And he also canvassed in the summer of 1983 at Surat city and earned half scholarship again. He continued his education for Master of Arts in Education with the program of Distance Learning Centre at Myanmar Union Mission Headquarters and Upper Myanmar Mission headquarters from the summer of 1995 to the summer of 1999 and graduated for MA. Ed. in 1999.
After he graduated from Spicer Memorial College in 1983, he had his own business and he married with Khawl Lam Vung on May 19, 1986, in Tiddim town, North Chin State. Their children, son Suang Sian Muang was born in October 24, 1991, elder daughter Man Sian Nuam was born on June 21, 1993 and younger daughter Man Dim Sian Thang was born in June 01, 2000. They have one granddaughter Cing Hoih Vung living in the Headquarters of Upper Myanmar Mission of SDAs, Pyinoolwin, Mandalay Region, Myanmar.
Ministry
Thang Lian Khai was a very spiritual person with a keen desire to serve the church. When he graduated form Spicer Memorial College, he returned to Myanmar and served as a teacher –evangelist at Pyidawtha Adventist School from June, 1987 to June, 1988 in UMM. In June, 1988, he was transferred to Anderson Adventist Seminary to teach religious subjects and English Subjects for three years. He served there as teacher evangelist for one year and Principal for 2 years. In 1991, he was appointed as the Principal and the Church Pastor of Teinkaya Adventist Seminary (up to Grade 10; self-support program) for three years. In 1993, he was transferred to Kalay Adventist Seminary as principal and Church Pastor.
In 1995, he was elected and transferred to Mandalay as the Publishing/Spirit of Prophecy Department director of Upper Myanmar Mission. He entered new territories such as Putao, Tanaing, Pansai ..etc.. with LEs. After serving for 7 years as the Director of Publishing/Spirit of Prophecy Department in upper Myanmar Mission, he was elected and transferred to Myanmar Union Mission as Director of Publishing/ Spirit of Prophecy Department in from 2002 to 2005. He was re-elected and served as Director of Publishing/ Spirit of Prophecy Department from 2006 to 2010.
He was elected and served as Director of the Sabbath school/Personal Ministries Department of Upper Myanmar Mission from 2011 to 2015. Then he was re-elected and served as Director of the Sabbath school/Personal Ministries Department of Upper Myanmar Mission from 2016 to 2021.
He is the coordinator of ASi/NDR/IEL Department of UMM and 687 souls were baptized by Care Group harvest celebration in 2018 and 963 souls were baptized by Care group Harvest Celebration in 2019.
Abroad Session, Conventions and Seminars
He attended the Division Wide LE Convention at Bandung, Indonesia in 2000. Then he attended the Publishing/SOP Advisory Meeting at Bangkok, Thailand in 2003. And then he attended the Publishing/SOP Advisory Meeting at Chennai (Madras), India in 2006. He attended also the Division Wide LE Convention at Bangkok, Thailand in 2007 with 8 Credential LEs. He attended the Publishing/SOP Advisory meeting at Bali, Indonesia in 2008. And also he attended the union wide LE Convention at Cebu, Philippines in 2009. Again, he attended the Abram La Rue trip at Hong Kong in 2010.
He conducted the effort meeting at Kualalampur, Malaysia in 2012. With his wife, he attended the Pastoral Seminar at Bangkok, Thailand in 2014. He dedicated the two wedding ceremonies at Kuala Lampur, Malaysia in 2015. He attended the GC session at Taxas, USA on July 6-11, 2015 and visited more than 10 states. He visited the General Conference Headquarter and held the Holy Bible for 2 minutes only with his right hand which Mrs. Ellen G White held for about 2 hours during her vision. And also he visited the Ellen G White’s estate and the cementery of Ellen G White and family at Battle Creek, USA. He visited also the White House of America, the UNO building, the Liberty of America, Twin tower, Hollywood, etc…
He attended the ASi meeting at Bali, Indonesia in April, 2016. Then he attended the European Myanmar Adventist Revival Meeting in Sweden. And also the wedding ceremony of his cousin brother in Norway Then he visited Demark and Germany. In 2017, he attended the NDR/IEL Seminar AIIAS, Philippines. In 2018, he attended the ASi meeting at Bangkok, Thailand. In 2019, he attended the Sabbath School Congress at Mountain View College, Philippines. And he attended his son’s wedding ceremony at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the same month in 2019.
Ordination
He was ordained to the gospel ministry on April 6, 2002 at Thantaung Union Wide Convention.
Legacy
Thang Lian Khai made many contributions to the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Myanmar. He planned and wrote the first VOP lesson of Revelation in Zomi Chin. He printed out by the help of General Conference and Southern Asia Pacific Division and many Adventists and Non- Adventists were enrolled and graduated and many souls were baptized. He led evangelistic crusades, visited many churches throughout the whole Myanmar Union Mission. He entered the towns of Kauhtaung and Beik by canvassing in Southeast Mission with Pr. James Shew the PDD of SEM and LE Saya Kan Myint in 2007 and 2008. With Pr. Mya Chit, PDD of CMM, he entered Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State and also in Maungdaw and Buudeetaung by canvassing work in 2005. With LE Saya Teu Za Ngo, he entered the town of Putao by canvassing work in 1996. With LE Saya Kyaw Kyaw, he entered the town of Pansai, Shan State by canvassing work. With LE Saya Mg Mg Gyi and Saya Hniang Luai, he entered the town of Tanaing, Kachin State by canvassing work in 1997 and 1998. With Pr. Kham Suan Mung, he entered by canvassing work in Theinnyi and Muse, Shan State in 2009. He baptized a faithful Baptist in the river of Shweeli, Shan State.
He conducted the Publishing/Spirit of Prophecy seminar in all the missions and the Sabbath School/Personal Ministries and the NDR/IEL seminar in all districts and churches of UMM
He had a presentation about the publishing work at Ngwesaung beach in 2003 and with his family and workers in MYUM Headquarter had retreat at Chaungtha beach in 2004. With Pr. Calab Tah Ta, the AYM Publishing Director conducted seminar at Padaukone and Kyaukphya in 2006. He baptized 3 precious souls in Padaukkone beach. And with Pr. Calab Tah, they had excursion in the Chaukphya beach.