By Gigi Kotze
In Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps, thousands of people, including some forcibly recruited, are being drawn into Myanmar’s ongoing civil war. Groups like the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) are recruiting fighters to combat the Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Myanmar’s junta is offering incentives like money and promises of citizenship to recruit Rohingya fighters, even aligning with them despite a history of persecution. Many Rohingya, disillusioned by poverty and violence in the camps, feel forced to join. The camps are rife with violence, and humanitarian aid is disrupted by growing militant activity.
According to Reuters, the Rohingya refugees feel trapped between desperation and fear. In Myanmar, they fight alongside those who once persecuted them, while back in the camps, shootings and abductions are common. With limited food, lack of safety, and no long-term solutions. Many say they feel abandoned and live in constant fear. The deteriorating situation has raised concerns about a worsening humanitarian and security crisis in the region.
Joshua Project reports that the Rohingya population totals 2,247,500 across nine countries, and in all they are classified as unreached with the Gospel of Jesus. The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim group and is considered the world’s largest stateless population due to Myanmar’s longstanding refusal to grant them citizenship and considers them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite the fact that many have lived in Myanmar for generations. While preparing this article, we reached out to a Christian Rohingya friend who shared some encouraging insights. He mentioned that the Rohingya Christian community now numbers over 2,000 believers. Additionally, to his knowledge, there are more than six Rohingya Churches globally: three in India, two in Bangladesh, and at least one in Myanmar. These statistics are not currently listed on the Joshua Project database.
The Rohingya has a history of facing heavy opposition and persecution by the government, military and different faction groups. The most severe violence began in 2012, with reports of communal violence between the Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, but the situation worsened in 2017 when a brutal military crackdown, described by the United Nations as “genocide,” led to widespread killings, sexual violence, and the displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh. This violence was part of a broader conflict in Myanmar, where ethnic and religious tensions have been exacerbated by the military’s 2021 coup. The coup destabilised the region further, strengthening various armed factions, including Rohingya fighters, who are now drawn into the complex battles involving Myanmar’s junta, the Arakan Army, and other insurgent groups. Our friend also went on to share that, “As Christians, we face double persecutions, first for being a Rohingya and secondly for being a Christians among the Rohingya. We are the oppressed of the oppressed. But we live our life, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
In the midst of global conflicts like the Israel-Gaza war and the war in Ukraine, the plight of the Rohingya is often overlooked, forgotten or not even reported on. Our friend also shared “The greater need is that we can return to our country or get a durable solution. Our people have been living their lives as refugees for a long time, and we can see what it means to be without a state, and citizenship.”
Psalm 82:3–4 calls believers to “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
- How can we ‘DEFEND’ the Rohingya?
At INcontext, our heart has always been to shine a light on these overlooked narratives, approaching them with a Kingdom perspective and reflecting the heart of Christ amidst the darkness and pain. As Children of the light, we are called to defend the weak and the fatherless, a mandate that compels us to speak out against persecution, amplify the stories of those whose voices are often silenced, and partner with organisations working tirelessly on their behalf.
2. How can we ‘UPHOLD THE CAUSE’ of the Rohingya?
As the global Church, we are called to remember and persevere in prayer for the Rohingya, raising awareness in our congregations and communities about their plight and encouraging believers to engage in informed prayer and meaningful action. Most importantly, we must intercede for their spiritual transformation, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to them and draw them into His Kingdom, where true hope and restoration are found.
3. How can we ‘RESCUE’ the Rohingya?
As believers, we are called to support the Rohingya by partnering with organisations offering aid, investing in vocational training and education, and serving among them to build relationships and share the Gospel. We can also mobilise Churches in nearby regions to extend hospitality and resources, demonstrating compassion, empowering communities, and advancing the Kingdom with love and authenticity.
4. How can we ‘DELIVER’ the Rohingya?
In Christ, we hold the ultimate message of reconciliation and deliverance—freedom from sin and the hope of eternal life. Deliverance involves more than offering humanitarian aid or protecting the vulnerable from harm; it also means bringing emotional and spiritual hope. As the Body of Christ, we are called to reflect His love through acts of mercy and compassion, such as trauma care, counselling, and creating safe spaces for healing. To deliver is to be vessels of God’s justice and mercy, interceding in prayer for the Rohingya and seeking God’s intervention in their circumstances. While physical rescue is vital, our greatest mission is to point them to the eternal deliverance found in Jesus Christ, where true hope and restoration are found.
Christians are uniquely called to respond to the plight of the Rohingya reflecting Christ’s love and truth in practical and spiritual ways. As Children of God, we are called to be light in darkness and to point to the Saviour who brings peace that surpasses understanding. By responding to the Rohingya crisis with Gospel-centred action, we not only reflect Christ’s heart but also provide opportunities for them to encounter the transformative love of Jesus. Through this, they may come to know the One who defends, upholds, rescues, and delivers their souls eternally.
When I asked our Rohingya friend how we could pray specifically for Christian Rohingyas, he shared several heartfelt requests. He asked for prayer for unity among Rohingya Christians and for the ongoing work of Bible translation. The New Testament is now complete and is expected to be published very soon—a project to which our friend contributed significantly. He also asked us to remember the unique challenges faced by Rohingya Christians in India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh knowing that they suffer doubly. He urged us to pray that their faith would remain steadfast and unshaken in the face of these trials. Finally, he asked for prayer for their basic needs and education, as they face severe barriers to accessing jobs and educational opportunities. When I assured him of our prayers, his simple yet profound reply was: “We live by prayers.”
Please join us in prayer:
- Pray for the safety and well-being of Rohingya refugees, particularly those at risk of violence, exploitation, and forced recruitment, and ask God to provide for their daily needs, including food, shelter, and medical care, amid the escalating humanitarian crisis.
- Pray for the Rohingya to encounter the love and truth of Jesus Christ, and that the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts, revealing the hope and peace found in Him, even amidst their suffering.
- Pray for Rohingya Christians, asking for unity among believers, the successful publication of the newly translated New Testament, steadfast faith amidst the unique challenges of persecution and discrimination, and provision for their basic needs and education in the face of significant barriers.
- Pray that Christians worldwide would rise to defend, uphold, rescue, and deliver the Rohingya by supporting practical aid efforts, raising awareness, and sharing the Gospel with love and compassion.
References:
