Baptist Pastor Killed in Myanmar’s Chin State

The Rev. Dal Thawn Tuang, an assistant pastor at Lamzang Baptist Church, was shot and killed on September 14 in Myanmar’s Chin state. According to International Christian Concern, the 49-year-old pastor was returning from religious duties when he was struck by gunfire in the chest, abdomen, and thigh near the Kapte bridge. He had served his congregation for 22 years and is survived by his wife and two children.

While the Burma Research Institute characterized the incident as a deliberate killing by the military, a report from The Irrawaddy suggests a different account, stating that escaped prisoners of war were responsible for the shooting amid clashes in the Tiddim area. This event follows the deaths of two other Christian leaders, Rev. William and Nam Ceu, earlier this year.

Advocacy groups have described these incidents as part of an escalating pattern of violence against Christians in Myanmar. Since the 2021 military coup, hundreds of churches and Christian-owned buildings have been damaged or destroyed, leading organizations to call for increased international attention and prayer for the affected communities.