Nunnak Biatak

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...

  “If We Do Not Unite, We Will Perish as Fools”:  A Theological and Moral Plea for Chin Unity in a Time of Crisis (Danny Bawibikthawng)   Abstract The Chin people of Burma, long known for their courage and Christian identity, now face an internal threat as grave as any external oppression. In the aftermath of the 2021 military coup, tribal rivalries, power struggles, and fragmented leadership have hindered the very cause of liberation. This article, grounded in biblical theology and supported by global moral voices, examines the spiritual and social consequences of disunity. Drawing on Scripture, historical wisdom, and the experience of oppressed peoples, it argues that the future of the Chin depends not on tribal dominance but on humble, Christ-centered unity. Introduction: The Crisis Within Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once warned, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools  ( Martin Luther King Jr., “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revol...

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...

Hard Truths About True Change in Burma (Why Inner Transformation Among Revolutionists Is Just as Crucial as Defeating the Regime) (Danny Bawibikthawng) The revolution in Burma has now entered its fifth year. Since the military coup in February 2021, millions of people across the country have resisted the regime with courage and determination. Civil servants left their posts, young people took up arms, and ethnic groups joined together with the common goal of ending dictatorship. But after more than four years of sacrifice, it is time for a bold and honest reevaluation of where we stand. The fight for Burma’s freedom is not only a struggle against a brutal military regime. It is also a confrontation with ourselves. While the military bears full responsibility for decades of oppression, a painful truth must be faced. Some within the revolutionary movement are repeating the same harmful behaviors they claim to oppose. True and lasting change cannot come from toppling the regime alone. It ...