Reflection: Honoring Those Who Serve in Silence, Poverty, and Hardship in Myanmar
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...