Peace Sunday 2025 – Testimony
A story of the church in Myanmar
What does it mean to be a Historic Peace Church – or, rather, a church dedicated to the ways of Christ’s peace?
This is the question that the Mennonite church in Myanmar wrestles with as the ongoing conflict there continues to affect many within their country.
Several years ago, the military overthrew the democratically elected government and installed a military-appointed president and administration. Human rights violations increased, especially as the new military backed government (junta) cracked down on any dissent, trying to eliminate all opposition. This has led to significant attacks and killings, arbitrary detentions, the displacement of people from their homes, curtailed freedom of expression and/or assembly. This has led to anxiety around gathering for worship services and more. The junta also introduced mandatory military service.
What is the role of the church in such a context? What does it mean to be dedicated to Christ’s way of peace amid these realities?
A peace church in the middle of war
These are the questions that the members of Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite (BMC) in Myanmar have been asking.
The BMC contacted Mennonite World Conference (MWC) – of which it is a member – asking for help. They wondered whether it might be possible for MWC to send a delegation for a solidarity visit to explore these questions together.
On 25–29 November 2024, an MWC delegation came to Thailand to spend time with our siblings from Myanmar. It was decided that it would be best to meet in Thailand because meeting in Myanmar could pose a risk for the leaders from Myanmar. (The junta pays close attention as to who assembles with whom.)
The delegation consisted of César García (Colombia), general secretary of MWC; Tigist Tesfaye (Ethiopia), secretary of the Deacons Commission; Andres Pacheco Lozano (Colombia/Netherlands), the chair of the Peace Commission; Andrew Suderman (Canada/USA), secretary of the Peace Commission; and Agus Mayanto (Indonesia), MWC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia. Norm Dyck (MC Canada) was also part of this delegation because of the long relationship MC Canada has had with the Mennonite church in Myanmar.
Origins and history of the Anabaptist movement
BMC leaders requested some time to learn more about the origins and history of the Anabaptist movement. César García led these sessions every morning.
The pastors also wanted to explore what the Bible teaches regarding peace. Andres Pacheco Lozano and Andrew Suderman facilitated times in the morning and afternoon that explored the biblical story and how it connects to peace and justice. Part of that time was then spent exploring what observations our Myanmar siblings had regarding peace from a biblical perspective and what that might mean for the context in Myanmar.
Andres Pacheco Lozano and Andrew Suderman also shared stories of other churches and their struggles for peace and justice, such as the Mennonite church in Colombia and South Korea as well as other struggles (e.g., apartheid in South Africa).
Tigist Tesfaye facilitated a time of prayer for each of the leaders present and the congregations in which they minister.
It was a difficult, yet wonderful, time spent together.
Visions of shalom
It was difficult as the whole group processed the trauma that many of the pastors from Myanmar have and continue to experience.
One pastor, for example, shared how two days before he came to this gathering the church building of a pastor friend of his was obliterated.
Likewise, when exploring visions of shalom, and after spending some time thinking and talking about the power of imagination, one pastor asked, “But what happens if we can’t or don’t know what to imagine?” This was heartbreaking!
And yet, by the end of our time together, after much prayer, learning, exploration, reading the Bible and reflecting on it, that same pastor began to highlight action steps, including a prayer that they are crafting to help our global communion pray for them as they continue to witness to Christ’s peace in their context.
The journey, however, is long from over. La luta continua.
May God continue to be with them. And may we learn how we can be in solidarity with them and their struggle for peace.
—Andrew G. Suderman is the secretary of the Peace Commission. He lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA.
