Myanmar’s military destroyed two churches within days of each other this month, bombing a Presbyterian church and burning a Baptist church alongside nearby homes in the latest attacks on Christian communities, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
Two military fighter jets dropped four bombs on two locations in Mindat, Chin state, on Oct. 9, devastating the town’s Presbyterian church compound. No civilian casualties were reported.
Three days later, soldiers from the military’s 33rd and 88th Light Infantry Divisions set fire to the Htingnan Kachin Baptist Church and surrounding homes in Banmaw, Kachin state, CSW reported.
“The destruction of the Presbyterian church in Mindat and the Htingnan Kachin Baptist Church in Banmaw are clear violations of international humanitarian law and freedom of religion or belief,” CSW founder president Mervyn Thomas said.
The destruction reaches beyond sanctuary walls. Churches in these conflict-ravaged communities also serve as emergency shelters, schools and humanitarian aid distribution centers.
“Targeting and destroying places of worship that serve as spiritual and community lifelines for vulnerable populations is a grave crime,” Thomas said.
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The Baptist church burning occurred as military forces sought to recapture Banmaw, also known as Bhamo. Col. Naw Bu, a spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army, confirmed the burning to The Irrawaddy, describing recurring clashes nearby.
CSW described the attacks as part of a systematic campaign against religious infrastructure in ethnic minority regions, with church destruction used to retaliate against armed resistance movements and punish civilian populations.
Myanmar ranks No. 14 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, with a score of 81 out of 100, placing it in the organization’s extreme persecution category. Open Doors estimates approximately 4.6 million Christians live in the country.
The organization reports that Christians face church registration restrictions, opposition to evangelism and discrimination rooted in religious nationalism. Christians in Chin and Kachin are among those particularly vulnerable to violence and displacement.
Thomas urged international action against the military’s ability to carry out further attacks.
“The international community must move beyond statements of concern and take concrete steps to cut off the junta’s access to aviation fuel and military hardware.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
