Burma Massacre on Christmas Eve; CFI Students Aid Refugees
Sounds of gunfire on Burma’s border, near CFI’s school
On Christmas Eve, Burma’s Army massacred at least 35 people, including elders, women and children.
Villagers say the people were fleeing to a refugee camp. One told Reuters, “I went to see this morning. I saw dead bodies that had been burned, and also the clothes of children and women spread around.”
Photos posted by human rights groups show charred bodies in the back of a truck.
U.S. and UN officials condemned Burma’s atrocities. The U.S. said it is appalled by the “barbaric attack in Kayah state that killed at least 35 civilians, including women and children” In a joint statement, countries called on “the regime to immediately cease its indiscriminate attacks in Karen state and throughout the country,”
About 200 miles south of the massacre, the sound of armed fighting at Burma’s border was caught on video. Stray bullets and a flood of refugees are landing across the river in Thailand near Christian Freedom International’s school for persecuted Christians.
The Thai governor of Tak province ordered border districts to prepare supplies and shelters for more refugees.
Victory Bible Academy, Christian Freedom International’s school, is assisting with emergency aid.
Many of Victory’s students and staff had previously escaped from Burma. For decades, the Buddhist nationalist military has destroyed churches, homes and crops, raped and kidnapped villagers to be used for forced labor, and killed civilians.
Please pray for Victory’s staff and students who are strategically placed and trained to help in this crisis.
Pray for Christian Freedom International’s graduate students who are missionaries in Burmese villages.
Pray for righteousness and justice to prevail.
Thank you for your support for Christian Freedom International at this critical time.
Burma Attacks
Before Christmas;
CFI Students Aid Refugees
(December 23)
Days before Christmas, thousands of villagers are fleeing military attacks in Burma.
Airstrikes and small-arms fire are shaking houses on the Burma and Thai border.
Karen refugees, a Christian-majority ethnic group, are sheltering right now in a compound near Christian Freedom
CFI’s Victory Bible Academy staff and students are delivery emergency meals, water, blankets, and supplies to the fleeing villagers.
Please pray for the refugees. CFI’s Victory is playing a big part in helping – please pray for the staff and students.
Victory Bible Academy trains persecuted Christians to be leaders in serving others.
Each December, students organize mission trips into Burma and surrounding villages. This year their plans were cut back due to violence in Burma and Covid restrictions.
Now, a flood of villagers are coming to them. Their escape from Burma landed them in Mae Sot, Thailand, where Victory Bible Academy is located.
Victory Bible Academy immediately began delivering supplies and are cooking hot meals for the refugees.
Since a coup on February 1, Burma’s junta has beaten, tortured, and killed civilians. The military has cut off aid and supply lines to thousands of families.
This latest surge of attacks – with artillery shells igniting fires on the border – comes days before Christmas.
Thank you for equipping Victory to respond to this crisis with your gifts to Christian Freedom