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Thang, Do Za (1952–2007)

By Timothy Muna Paul

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Timothy Muna Paul, M.A. in religion (Spicer Memorial College, India), has served as a pastor and administrator since 1983. Currently he is president of Myanmar Union Mission. He is married to Daw Cho Cho David and has a daughter and twin sons.

First Published: January 29, 2020

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Do Za Thang was a pastor and church administrator from Myanmar.

Early Life

Do Za Thang was born June 3, 1952, in Anlangh, Tiddim Township, Chin State, Myanmar. His parents were Thual Khaw Tuan and Cing Luan. He was the youngest of nine siblings (two sisters and seven brothers): Dam Khaw Cing (sister), Tun Khaw Nang, Am Za Thang, Dim Za Cing (sister), Pum Suan Thang, Thang Za Tuan, Lian Khaw Hau, Tuan Khaw Lian, and Do Za Thang. He went to elementary school in Anlangh village and finished high school in Tedim township, Chin State. He was baptized April 18, 1974.1

Education and Marriage

Do Za Thang enrolled at Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary from 1974 to 1978. He took grade 9 plus three years of Seminary study known as the “Ministerial Training Course.” He completed his Bachelor of Religion degree in the summer of 1996. He began serving as an evangelist at Ngente, Cikha, Kalaymyo, and Pyidawtha, in Upper Myanmar Mission, in 1978 and continued until December 1989, serving there 11 years and seven months. During those years he married Pau Za Cing (who was ten years younger than him) on January 7, 1984. While serving as a minister, he enrolled in the Distance Learning Center and received his Master of Ministry Degree from the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Philippines, in 2004.2

Ministry

As Do Za Thang was a very good speaker and preacher in the Zomi language, he was appointed as a part-time speaker for the Zomi Adventist World Radio Tedim (Lawibual) Town, in Upper Myanmar Mission from January 1990 to December 1990.3 He was then promoted to a full-time AWR speaker and was called to serve in Myanmar Union Mission from January 1991 to December 1991.4 Due to lack of program management for different language speakers and the instability of the speakers’ room in Myanmar Union Mission, and upon the decision made by the board, he decided to go back to Tedim. There he served in the same position for the AWR Zomi program from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1996. He was ordained as a minister on December 21, 1992.5 He was a district pastor in Tedim from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1998.

Then Do Za Thang was appointed to serve as field and district pastor at Tatkone in Myintkyina, Kachin State, from January 1999 to December 2001. He was promoted again to Upper Myanmar Mission as director the Ministerial and Global Ministries department in Pyinoolwin from January 2002 to December 2005.6 Next he became president of Central Myanmar Mission from January to December 2006.7

Later Life

While serving as president, Do Za Thang became ill in October 2006, and he went to the Adventist Hospital in Bangkok for surgery to remove a tumor. Myanmar Union Mission gave him medical leave from January to June 2007. In March and April he took chemotherapy in Yangon, but his condition got worse and he retired July 1, 2007. His health continued to worsen, and he died on September 25, 2007. He had served the church for 29 years and one month. Do Za Thang is survived by his wife, a daughter Luan Khan Huai (born November 27, 1986), and two sons: Tuan Len Tuang (December 8, 1984), and Thang Kap Kim (September 4, 1989).8

Contribution and Legacy

As Do Za Thang was an expert in explaining Bible prophecy, he made charts explaining the timelines in the Burmese and the Zomi languages. They were then duplicated and used by workers and members as their handbook to explain the Bible. He personally baptized several hundred individuals for the glory of God. He was passionate in singing, composing, and playing music, and he trained many young people for the church.

Sources

Seventh-Day Adventist Yearbook. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2006.

“Do Za Thang,” Employee Service Record. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.

Minutes of Upper Myanmar Mission, vote no. 1990-024. Upper Myanmar Mission Archives.

Notes

  1. Thang Kap Kim, a son of Do Za Thang, interview by author, January 4, 2017.↩

  2. “Do Za Thang,” Employee Service Record, Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

  3. Minutes of Upper Myanmar Mission, vote no. 1990-024, Upper Myanmar Mission Archives.↩

  4. “Do Za Thang,” Employee Service Record, Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

  5. Ibid.↩

  6. Ibid.↩

  7. “Central Myanmar Mission,” Seventh-Day Adventist Yearbook (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2006), 364.↩

  8. Thang Kap Kim, a son of Do Za Thang, interview by author, January 4, 2017.↩

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Paul, Timothy Muna. "Thang, Do Za (1952–2007)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Accessed September 20, 2024. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=GHXG.

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Paul, Timothy Muna. "Thang, Do Za (1952–2007)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Date of access September 20, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=GHXG.

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Paul, Timothy Muna (2020, January 29). Thang, Do Za (1952–2007). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved September 20, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=GHXG.

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