When Neutrality Is Not an Option: Why the Church Must Use Its Resources to Defend Christian and Ethnic Minorities in Myanmar (Danny Bawibikthawng) Photo From Christiannity Today: Smoke and fire in Thantlang in Chin State caused by shelling from Junta military troops Introduction: A Moral Crisis for the Church The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has intensified a longstanding campaign of brutal oppression against the country’s ethnic and religious minorities. Christians, especially from the Chin, Kachin, and Karen ethnic groups, are being targeted through systematic violence, forced displacement, imprisonment, and the destruction of churches and entire villages. According to Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2023 , more than 2.5 million people have been displaced, and hundreds of churches have been deliberately destroyed by the regime. What makes this crisis even more urgent is that many of the Christian immigrant congregations in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe, par...
The Strength to Forgive: Building Unity in a Divided Myanmar By Danny Bawibikthawng “The author of this paper is not a politician or a revolutionary, but a former citizen of Myanmar and an immigrant pastor in the United States. This reflection is written from the perspective of one who has closely observed the suffering, resilience, and hopes of his people—both in the homeland and in the diaspora. It is offered with the sincere hope that unity will emerge through forgiveness, and that Burma may one day flourish in peace, justice, and shared dignity among all its people.” Introduction Myanmar is a country rich in ethnic diversity, cultural heritage, and spiritual resilience. Yet, its history has been scarred by conflict, colonialism, military dictatorship, and deep internal divisions. The collapse of national unity cannot be attributed merely to external threats or oppressive regimes, but also to the fractures within. Today, as the nation suffers under renewed violence following the 202...
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...
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