Po, Moses (1931–2014)

Moses Po was an evangelist, teacher, and administrator from Myanmar.

Early Life, Education, and Marriage

Moses Po was born on December 16, 1931,¹ to Htay Po and Ngwe Htar. Moses Po had five siblings: Thae Say, Elijah, Jesse, Samuel, and Priscilla. He grew up in Shwenyaungbin, Mogok Township, while taking elementary and primary education. He was baptized in 1948.²

Moses Po passed the government matriculation exam in Taungoo, Bago Region, in 1948. He studied at Spicer Memorial College in Poona, India, for three years but did not finish his bachelor’s degree. On February 16, 1959, he married Kathryn Chit.³

Ministry

Moses Po started denominational work as an evangelist in Upper Myanmar (then Burma) Mission on May 1, 1958.⁴ On April 1, 1960, he was transferred to Taungoo, Central Myanmar Mission, to be a teacher at Kyauktaing High School and served for four years. Then, he was called to serve as union publishing secretary in Yangon (then Rangoon) in 1964.⁵ He served in this capacity until 1969. Though he was serving in Yangon in the office, he liked to keep in touch with people in the mission field and, so, accepted speaking engagements from Tanintharyi (or Tenasserim). He served as an evangelist and church pastor of Hpa-an, Karen State, for two years, from 1970-1971.⁶ He was ordained to the gospel ministry on December 22, 1970.⁷ He served as president of Central Myanmar Mission for five years (1972-1976).⁸ Then, he served as president of South East Mission for four years (1977-1980).⁹

Pastor Moses Po did not refuse the callings he received, happily serving the ministries wherever he and his wife were sent. When the need was presented, Myanmar Union Seminary Board’s committee members voted to request that Pastor Po serve as principal of Central Myanmar Adventist Seminary in Taungoo. His experience as a teacher and good relations with the local people gave him great success. He directed the seminary and its academic program efficiently. He served for four years from January 1, 1981, until December 31, 1984.¹⁰

As Pastor Moses Po was a good organizer who got along well with others, he was called in 1985 to serve as union youth and lay ministry department director.¹¹ He held this position until 1993. He worked as a S’gaw Karen interpreter for three years until retiring at age 65.¹² During his ministry, Pastor Moses Po was strongly supported by his beloved wife, Kathryn Chit.

Later Life

Although the couple had no biological children, Moses Po and his wife lived happily and, later in life, adopted a boy and girl. The couple also helped raise a number of children, assisting them with their education. Some of the children they supported became faithful church members, pastors, denomination workers, and church leaders as a result of the couple’s care and generosity. Pastor Moses Po survived his wife by 13 years after she passed away in April 2000. He became ill in 2013 and suddenly died in 2014.

Sources

Burma Union Committee minutes, 1958. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.

Burma Union Committee minutes, 1963. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.

Burma Union Committee minutes, 1970. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.

Burma Union Committee minutes, 1976. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.

Burma Union Committee minutes, 1984. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.

“Moses Po.” Personal Workers Service Record. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.

Notes

1. Personal Workers Service Record, Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

2. Samuel Po, interview by author, Myaungmya, February 2017.↩

3. Personal Workers Service Record, Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

4. Burma Union Committee, 1958, action no. 58 – 43. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

5. Burma Union Committee, 1963, action no. 63 – 6. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

6. Personal Workers Service Record, Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

7. Burma Union Committee, 1970, action no. 70 – 169. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

8. Burma Union Committee, 1970, action no. 70 – 278. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

9. Burma Union Committee, 1976, action no. 76 – 235. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

10. Personal Workers Service Record, Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

11. Burma Union Committee, 1984, action no. 84 – 203. Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩

12. “Moses Po,” Personal Workers Service Record, Myanmar Union Mission Archives.↩