Trent Martin, 21Wilberforce Advocacy and Training Coordinator
Mae Sot, Thailand — November 21–23, 2025
In late November, Kawthoolei Hope Theological Seminary (KHTS) of the Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Convention hosted its inaugural Peace and Unity Festival in Mae Sot, Thailand. For three days, Karen students, pastors, civil society advocates, and international partners gathered to pray, learn, and envision a more peaceful and unified future for the Karen people. 21Wilberforce was honored to participate, sharing encouragement, advocacy experience, and a call to unity rooted in faith.
Who Are the Karen People?
The Karen are one of the largest Indigenous ethnic groups of Burma/Myanmar. Many American Christians may be surprised to learn that the Karen have a long Christian—especially Baptist—heritage dating back to 19th-century missionary work. Over the past several decades, however, they have endured:
- Severe persecution and targeted violence under Burma’s military junta
- Widespread displacement, with large numbers living as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs) along the Thai-Burma border
- Destruction of villages, churches, and livelihoods
- Deep internal divisions among political, military, and religious factions—divisions the junta has repeatedly exploited to weaken resistance
Today, many Karen families live in or near Mae Sot, a border community shaped by decades of conflict, displacement, and the resilience of those seeking safety and education.
A Festival Rooted in Hope
The Peace and Unity Festival—envisioned by Dr. Peacefully Thomas, General Secretary of the Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Churches, and Dr. Wado, Principal of KHTS—was created to nurture reconciliation and healing among Karen communities.
The festival opened with a vibrant cultural showcase: traditional Karen dances, student-led dramas, poetry, and powerful choral performances. Several songs were original compositions written specifically for the festival’s theme of unity and peace. Their beauty and sincerity set the tone for the entire gathering.
Throughout the three days, participants engaged in activities designed to:
- Promote peacebuilding, dialogue, and trust
- Address root causes of conflict and help break cycles of grievance and violence
- Strengthen cooperation among Christian, Buddhist, and Animist Karen communities
- Encourage young people to imagine a peaceful and flourishing future for their homeland
In addition to lectures and workshops, the festival included a lively unity football match—another opportunity for divided communities to bond and build relationships.
The Karen festival participants brought energy, creativity, and a deep longing for a future beyond war. Their presence gave the entire event a sense of hopefulness that stood in contrast to the suffering their people continue to endure.
What 21Wilberforce Shared
During the festival, representatives from 21Wilberforce offered reflections drawn from global advocacy and Christian peacemaking efforts. Their remarks included:
- Honoring the long struggle and deep suffering of the Karen people
- Emphasizing that unity is essential for the Karen to secure a free and peaceful future
- Explaining the difference between negative peace (the absence of violence) and positive peace (the presence of justice)
- Encouraging peacebuilding even during conflict by addressing underlying injustices
- Highlighting the role religion can play as a force for justice, compassion, and unity, rather than division
- Warning that long-standing fractures within the Karen community leave them vulnerable to manipulation and oppression
- Calling the Karen to strengthen unity in partnership with other ethnic groups in Burma, the global Church, and international friends
- Affirming the hope found in Karen youth, education, and the extraordinary beauty of Karen choirs, whose songs give voice to resilience and faith
For 21Wilberforce, participating in the festival was an opportunity to stand alongside the Karen and to listen, learn, and support their pursuit of freedom and reconciliation.
A Christian Call to Peacebuilding
In the midst of turmoil in Myanmar—and the suffering of all who endure violence—Christians have a vital role to play. As followers of Jesus, we are called to model reconciliation, compassion, and moral courage. We remember His words that “blessed are the peacemakers,” and we live out His command to “love your neighbor.”
The Peace and Unity Festival was a powerful reminder that even in places of conflict, God is raising up faithful men and women committed to healing their divided communities. Their witness in Mae Sot points toward a future where justice and peace may yet take root among the Karen people.
December 5, 2025