Nunnak Biatak

  Honoring Those Who Serve in Silence, Poverty, and Hardship in Myanmar (A Reflection on Pastor Appreciation Month) Danny Bawibikthawng Every year when Pastor Appreciation Month arrives, my heart turns to those faithful servants of God laboring quietly in the countryside and small villages of Myanmar, those who continue to preach, shepherd, and care for souls with very limited financial support, in the midst of poverty, hardship, and uncertainty. We all face struggles and anxieties in ministry, but the burdens carried by pastors in those rural places are often heavier and lonelier than those of pastors in cities or well-supported congregations abroad. While some churches celebrate this month with gifts, words of encouragement, and appreciation, many humble servants of God in Myanmar do not even have the means to buy proper clothing or food for themselves and their children. Yet they serve the same Lord with the same passion, often with tears, unseen and unthanked by the world. Man...

God’s Man, Your Pastor: Love Him and Be Blessed (  Jer. 3:15; 1 Thess 5:12–13; 2 Kings 4) (Danny Bawibikthawng) 1. God’s Gift of Shepherds Jeremiah 3:15 declares, “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.” Pastors are not chosen by human hands but by God Himself. They are gifts from the Lord to guide, teach, and care for His people.   In many immigrant congregations today, pastors serve far beyond the pulpit. They pray, preach, translate documents, take members to hospitals and immigration offices, enroll children in school, and help families find jobs and housing. They read members’ letters, fill out immigration forms, and attend to emergencies at every hour. Yet many receive very limited financial support from the church, often not enough to provide for their own families, and in many cases the church does not allow them to work outside to supplement their income.   Still, these pastors labor faithfully, carr...

  The Mystery and Work of the Holy Spirit (Danny Bawibikthawng) The work of the Spirit of God is both deep and wide, transcending human wisdom and comprehension. Scripture reminds us that  “The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God”  (1 Cor. 2:10). Such truth humbles us, for no human mind can fully grasp the boundless work of the Spirit. As John Calvin once wrote,  “Without the Spirit, the Word of God is of no avail. Illumination by the Spirit is necessary for understanding.”  If we have not personally experienced His work, it is dangerous to ignore it, and even more dangerous to pretend to understand it fully. It is not sin to confess our limitations in understanding spiritual mysteries. Augustine observed,  “If you understand it, it is not God.”  Humility in the face of mystery is wisdom. Yet when we resist or criticize the work of the Spirit simply because we do not comprehend it, we place ourselves in spiritual danger. The Apostle Paul...

  Freedom Is Not Free: The Assassination of Charles Kirk, Global Voices on Liberty, and the Christian Call to Defend It (Danny Bawibikthawng) Introduction On September 10, 2025, conservative activist  Charlie Kirk  was assassinated in Orem, Utah, during a campus event. [1]  His sudden death shocked the nation and was condemned across political lines as an attack not only on one individual but on the freedoms of speech and conscience that sustain democracy. The tragedy reminds us that freedom is fragile. As Christians, we affirm that liberty is ultimately a gift of God, yet it is never free. It requires vigilance, sacrifice, and faithful stewardship. The Scriptures present freedom as God’s deliverance, history warns that liberty is always in danger, and world leaders and theologians testify that freedom must be defended and rightly used. This essay will examine the biblical foundations of liberty, the insights of the American founders, and global perspectives from fig...