Lisu in Myanmar (Burma)

Introduction / History

The Lisu people in Myanmar are spread across a wide area in the north of the country. Most live in Kachin State, with others in Shan State and the Sagaing and Mandalay regions.

According to one source, "The Lisu believe they are the only humans to have survived the great flood, and they claim eastern Tibet as their original homeland."1 Since time immemorial, the Lisu have passed down stories of how the world was once destroyed by a massive flood, but a brother and sister survived by hollowing out "a very large tree trunk which was carried away by the rising water. When the waters receded, the tree trunk was left on a mountain top."

The Lisu, who speak a Tibeto-Burman language, are one of the tribes that eagerly embraced Christianity due to an ancient belief that "a white brother with a book of the true God written in Lisu would come…. The Lisu language lacked even an alphabet, let alone printed material. Yet the Lisu were convinced that one day a white man would come and give them a book of God written in their own language." Today, many Lisu in Myanmar struggle to communicate with Lisu in Thailand due to dialect differences.

The name Lisu means "come-down people," as they believe they originated on the Tibetan Plateau, where they had a kingdom in the tenth century before migrating to their present locations in China and Myanmar. The Lisu have a long history of being oppressed. A Lisu revolt from 1801 to 1803 proved devastating after the Qing government mobilized a huge army of more than 10,000 soldiers to crush them.

Before they embraced Christianity, the Lisu were described as "utter savages." They were so given over to alcohol that when one newly converted village threw out their liquor, all the pigs in the village got drunk. A passion for gambling often degraded the Lisu into an abyss of suffering. Missionary Isobel Kuhn lamented: "When they have gambled away their money, they will often stake their children, their wives, and even themselves as slaves. As a result, in one night a whole family can be gambled away into life-long slavery."

What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Lisu people live in villages located in hilly and mountainous areas, though some families have moved to towns and cities in search of work and education. Farming remains a major part of daily life, with rice, corn, vegetables, and fruit grown for both household use and local markets. Some people are involved in trade, transportation, wage labor, and small businesses. Meals commonly include rice accompanied by vegetables, meat, and locally grown produce.

They highly value family relationships, and extended families often provide support and care across generations. Traditional clothing, weaving, music, and storytelling continue to be expressions of cultural identity. Community celebrations and seasonal festivals bring relatives and neighbors together for fellowship, singing, dancing, and shared meals.

What Are Their Beliefs?

During one interrogation by the communists, a young Lisu man exclaimed, "Christianity has already penetrated into our flesh and blood, and it will not be easy to tear it away from us."11

Many missionaries served among the Lisu on both sides of the border in the first half of the 20th century, including well-known figures like James Fraser, A. B. Cooke, John and Isobel Kuhn, and the Morse family. In 1916 and 1917 alone, Fraser baptized 60,000 Lisu.12 Today, the vast majority of Lisu people in Myanmar are followers of Christ. They have accepted responsibility to evangelize many other groups for Christ, including the Naga and Tangshang tribes in the Sagaing Region, who were first reached by Lisu believers in the early 1960s.

What Are Their Needs?

Remote communities often face limited access to healthcare, quality education, transportation, and economic opportunities. Greater development in these areas would strengthen families and improve daily life. Young people would benefit from opportunities that allow them to receive education while preserving their language and cultural heritage. Churches would be strengthened through continued discipleship, biblical training, and the development of mature local leaders. Believers have opportunities to deepen their understanding of God's word and to participate more fully in sharing the gospel with neighboring peoples who have little access to the message of Jesus Christ. Unity among churches and faithful teaching are important for the continued growth of the Christian community.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord will provide improved healthcare, education, and sustainable livelihoods for Lisu families throughout Myanmar.
Pray that churches among the Lisu will grow in spiritual maturity and that God will raise up faithful pastors and leaders.
Pray that believers will remain grounded in Scripture and demonstrate the love of Christ in their communities.
Pray that Lisu Christians will become an effective force in taking the gospel to ethnic groups that have little or no Christian witness.

Text Source:   Joshua Project