News
Rev. Dr Yam Kho Pau, a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and immediate past general secretary of the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC), passed away on 25 November in Yangon.
WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit received the news of Pau’s death with great sadness. “Dr Pau was strongly rooted in Myanmar and brought a presence to the WCC that held the wisdom and fortitude of his people,” Tveit said. “We will miss this dynamic ecumenical leader.”
WCC deputy general secretary Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri also expressed appreciation for the spirit and contributions Pau brought to the WCC Central Committee.
“He brought to the ecumenical family stories of both hope and concern from Christians and other communities in Myanmar,” said Phiri. “We will truly miss his contribution to the WCC fellowship, especially now as we plan Pilgrim team visits to Asia.”
Pau served the MBC as its general secretary for six consecutive years, from 2011 to 2017.
Before being elected as the general secretary of the MBC, he served the Myanmar Council of Churches as its associate general secretary and as executive secretary for Human Resources Development.
He also participated in committees and councils of various church and ecumenical organizations in Myanmar including the Association for Theological Education of Myanmar, Myanmar Institute of Theology, National Leprosy Mission of Myanmar, and the Kuki Chin Baptist Association.
Pau began his church ministry as a youth worker of the Kuki-Chin Baptist Association. He completed his theological studies at the Myanmar Institute of Theology, and subsequently pursued his masters degree in Pastoral Sociology at the Asian Social Institute in the Philippines, and doctoral studies in Rural Development and Organizational Management at the Central Luzon State University, Philippines.
He is survived by four children – Nem Nei Them, Let Gou Min, Than Pi Mang and Nem Nei Sing. His wife, Hat Kho Neng, passed away in 2017.
