AN EXILED Burmese priest has been made a Canon of the church in his home country of Myanmar after 25 years in ministry.
Revd Canon David Haokip, Vicar of St George's parish church in East Ham, learned of the honour in a letter from his home country in late April.
The translated letter from Rt Revd Barnabas Thaung Hawi, Bishop of Sittwe, reads: "I really wanted to meet you but, as you know, I could not get air ticket from Yangon (Rangoon).
"I made you a Canon of the Diocese of Sittwe on April 5. I announced it like this during the Diocesan Council Eucharist service:
‘I, Barnabas Thaung Hawi, Bishop of Sittwe, make Revd David T. Haokip a Canon in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.'
"This is to recognise your commitment and faithfulness to God as the first Burmese clergyman to have become a vicar in the UK.
"I am proud of you as a fellow Chin, and your love to your own people is also great. I honour you as a Canon to glorify the Holy name of God wherever you serve Him.
"I am sending you a scarf with the arms of Sittwe."
David's Christian journey began in 1978 when he was working as a government teacher and leading a Taing group. The local evangelical group organised a revival conference crusade where David experienced a strong conversion. In 1979 David felt the calling to become an Anglican priest. He approached the Bishop when he visited his village. Rt Revd Peter Ba Maw listened to his story and, instead of filling in an application form for Bible college, wrote a letter explaining the changes that had happened in David's life.
David finished four years of theological training in March 1983 at Holy Cross Theological College, Rangoon, having received sponsorship from Romsey Abbey Sunday school in Winchester Diocese.
David was appointed a full-time curate and diocesan youth officer in Burma in July 1983 and ordained as a deacon in October 1984 and as a priest in November 1985 at Mandalay cathedral.
In 1986, David was posted to Namtu- Lashio Parish in northern Shan State, Burma. In 1989, he co-founded the Chindwin Christian Bible Seminary and served as first president of the Seminary, until 1993.
Married to Tinnu with three children, Monica, Joshua and Regina, the family escaped to India in 1993 and then moved to South Korea where David served as minister to the migrant Burmese community in Seoul.
The family came to England in September 1997, with the Archbishop of Burma and the Bishop of Winchester supporting David's application to get a Minister of Religion visa. In 2000, he was appointed as Team Vicar of St Matthew's Church, Newtown, Southampton, where he served until 2005.
David was appointed Vicar of St George and Ethelbert, East Ham, and licensed by Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford.
David's faithful service has extended over more than 20 years.. Now he has been honoured in his native Myanmar.
Print this page
Bookmark this pageFeedback on this page: contact Webmaster