Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: May 29, 2021
‘He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.’ (Psalm 46:9)
Psalm 46 reminds us that God is both powerful and personal. It’s amazing that the same God who makes wars cease is also an ever-present help in times of trouble – for us and for all those suffering across the world.
As innocent, unarmed civilians continue to suffer horrific violations at the hands of the military, pray this verse over the people of Myanmar/Burma this week.
‘Fear, gunshots, blood, threats, tears, death are the citizens’ daily lives in Burma/Myanmar’ – Kachin Baptist Convention
Christian communities in Myanmar are providing essential resources and refuge to thousands of citizens who were forced from their homes by ever-increasing violence. Churches should be places of safety – now they are being targeted too.
On 24 May, military forces fired heavy artillery at a Catholic church where elderly people and children had fled after earlier attacks on their village. Four people were killed and eight more injured in this brutal assault on vulnerable citizens.
This incident is the latest in a string of violations against churches and church leaders which have taken place amid a wider crackdown on civilians in the aftermath of the 1 February military coup.
On 13 May, Father Columban Labang Lar Di was travelling between towns when he was stopped, searched, and arrested by security forces in Kachin state. He was thankfully released after four days and repeated appeals from church leaders, but it is outrageous that he was ever detained while peacefully going about his pastoral duties.
International leaders must do more to end the war and prevent this humanitarian crisis escalating further.
Heroes of Faith
Thank you to everyone who helped us create a global prayer wave on 14 May! Alongside thousands of Christians worldwide, we marked the 18th birthday of abducted Nigerian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu and raised our voices for heroes of faith like her.
In summary, please pray:
- Asking God to provide safe places of refuge for the more than 40,000 people who have been displaced in the aftermath of the coup in Myanmar/Burma.
- Comfort over the families of the four civilians who died in the military attack on the Catholic church, as well as full recovery for the injured survivors.
- That international sanctions and our campaign for a global arms embargo will be successful in causing further attacks to fail, and will swiftly lead to a ceasefire.