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...
Mother’s Day: Honoring Our Mothers as a Sacred Pathway to God’s Blessing By Danny Bawibikthawng Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, though the date may vary depending on country and tradition. In the United States, Canada, Australia, and even Myanmar, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May. While many see it as a modern holiday, the practice of honoring mothers goes back much further—rooted not in social custom alone, but in God’s Word. The Origin of Mother’s Day The modern celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States began through the efforts of a Christian woman named Anna Jarvis. In 1908, she organized a service in memory of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her mother had served faithfully as a caregiver during the Civil War, offering support and compassion to many. Although the U.S. Congress initially rejected the idea of a national holiday, Anna persisted in her campaign until Preside...
Comments
Post a Comment