The Bombing of a Church and the Faith of a People
- Jul 27
- 5 min read
The village of Tha Dah Der has been attacked, homes burned, and the church destroyed three times. The war has been ongoing for 76 years, the longest-running war in the world, and the dictators of Burma are only increasing the attacks against their own people. The village of Tha Dah Der in Karen State is in a beautiful valley with cultivated rice fields nestled in the mountains. It would seem like a small village in a quiet valley would be safe from most of the fighting. However, the Burma military pushed a road in from the city of Kyaukkyi west in the plains, all the way across the northern Karen mountains, just above the village of Tha Dah Der, and to the Salween River, which marks the Burma-Thai border. They positioned camps up and down this road, and from these camps, they launch brutal and deadly attacks, trying to destroy the people here.
The first time I went to Tha Dah Der was in 1998, right after the village had been attacked and burned by the Burma military for the first time. We walked into the village and the ruins of the homes and church. However, the next Sunday, there we were, with the villagers worshiping under the trees, joyfully singing, and trusting in God. They said, "The Burma military has been killing our people for many years, but this is the first time they finally made it to our village and destroyed our homes and church. But we will build again. Thank you for coming to be with us.” They did rebuild and, as missions continued in Burma, we eventually brought our children here.
They grew up going to this church whenever we were in the area. I remember the last stretch coming into the village. The kids would be riding their horses, leading the mule trains, and then break into a gallop across the rice fields that were the signature of this high mountain village. Laughing and whooping, the kids would race their horses as fast as they could, leaping over the rice dykes, and galloping at full speed. Behind them, the loaded mules also broke into a full-out charge, their loads bouncing and jangling as they raced the horses. It was a joyous, wild sight. Then on Sunday, we would all walk up the hill to where the church was, which had been rebuilt since it was burned in 1998.
The kids would sing, and we would share with the village families that we loved so much there. Then came 2010, and during the rainy season the Burma Army launched a surprise attack from the camps along the road north of the village. They killed villagers who were carrying rice just outside the village, including a young girl. They then advanced into the village, burning homes and burning the church. The men of the village and a few Karen soldiers gathered together to push the Burma out and save the school and remaining homes. But the church and most of the village was gone.
However, they immediately started to rebuild, again. Right after they started, my missionary father, who was 82 years old, trekked in and helped to dedicate the beginning of the building. We worshiped with the people again. Then, when the new building was complete, we were there to celebrate as well. After the coup, in 2021, the Karen pro-democracy resistance, joined now by Burmans, managed to push the Burma Army out of all the camps on the nearby road. This made the area safer than it had ever been. However, the military then began to launch airstrikes. They systematically targeted churches, monasteries, schools and clinics.
It was during a mission in March this year when we heard that the village of Tha Dah Der and two other villages nearby had been bombed by jet fighters. It wasn't until May that we made it back. This time, two of our children were with us, Suzanne and Peter. The villagers came out to meet us as we approached the village, saying, "We're so glad you came back. Thank you for not forgetting us."
We said, "We could never forget you. We were so sorry we weren't here when this happened. "
They replied: "Yes. The Burma military is very evil. We heard the jets come and we ran as fast as we could. They actually bombed the village next to us, Tha Oh Der, first. The bombs killed the pastor's wife, his granddaughter, and another mother. They also wounded six others. Then they flew to our village and dropped four 500-pound bombs on the church and around the church, destroying the homes nearby. They completely destroyed the church, Sunday school, and children’s center. We thank God none of us were hurt. After they got through bombing us, they went to the village behind us, Hti Mu Der, and also bombed the church, damaging it. They really hate us. We don't know why they do these things. But we will not give up. We can't rebuild right now, because they'll probably come and bomb again. But please join us tomorrow, Sunday, because we've already made a little bamboo church hidden under the trees.”
The next morning we walked up the hill and into the thick trees to a new church made of a thatch roof and bamboo. We all felt very solemn and sad. But as we worshiped there, our spirits began to lift. We looked around at each other with love, realizing we're still here. And love is still here, and God is still with us. We finished the service with love, joy, and hope.
Dear reader, thank you for praying for and standing with these people. Please pray that the dictators' hearts would change, that this war would end, and that there would be justice, freedom, and reconciliation throughout Burma. Thank you for praying for the people of Tha Dah Der, that they can rebuild their church again one day. Thank you for being in this with us; may God bless you in Jesus' name.
Love,
Dave, family, and FBR
