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Laos

• Christian Targeted for his Faith

  

  Police in southern Laos have allegedly beaten a detained Christian, trying to force him to renounce his faith. The man, Agoon, was cutting timber along with others in a protected forest. According to one source, they were doing so at the request of the village leader.

  When confronted by police, the others were allowed to leave. However, Agoon, the only Christian in the group, was arrested and charged with illegal logging. Authorities insist that the timber worker's arrest was unrelated to his religion. Yet, while in custody, the police tried to force him to renounce his faith, beating the unwavering believer harder when he refused. A source who requested anonymity believes that Agoon's detainment for the cutting of timber was merely an excuse, as any arrest made for his Christian beliefs would raise the ire of the international community.

• Christian Leader's Home Targeted

  

  It has been a challenging year for a group of Khmu believers in northern Laos. Last April, village leaders demanded that they renounce their Christian faith or leave the village. Eventually, the authorities had a change of heart, allowed them to stay, and issued a proclamation protecting the Christians' right to practise their faith. Over Christmas, eight new families decided to become followers of Christ!

  In the middle of the night on January 23rd, however, someone poured gasoline around the home of one of the church leaders and tried to burn it down. Fortunately, the fire had been noticed in time and was extinguished. Those responsible left a note warning Christians in the community that their lives are in danger unless they leave the village. The church leader who was targeted has considered heeding the warning. "If he leaves, many of the Christians will be discouraged," a VOM contact reports.

• New Laws Restricting Religious Freedom

  

  In the constitution of Laos, all citizens are guaranteed "the right and freedom to believe or not to believe in religion." However, in August of 2017, the Prime Minister signed a new Decree on Associations, aimed at restricting participation in non-profit associations, including religious groups.

• Christian Family Remains in Their Village

  

  A young Christian couple with a toddler son have chosen to stay in their village despite facing persecution, which has caused many other villagers to abandon the Christian faith they once professed. Local authorities destroyed the couple's home in an attempt to drive them out. Instead of leaving, however, these steadfast believers gathered what was left of their home and built a small hut. Church leaders from neighbouring villages came to stay with the couple as a sign of support.

• Six Christians Released from Prison!
  
  Photo: VOM Australia

  Six Christians, who had been arrested on December 15th for celebrating Christmas, were released on January 31st. According to contacts in the Vientiane province, the believers were taken into custody because they failed to obtain a permit for a Christmas party. As part of the celebration, they invited the entire village to come and watch the Jesus film.

• Teens Persevere Despite Persecution
  
  The released sisters recognize the importance of prayer.
  Photo: Open Doors USA

  In spite of the pain inflicted on them by the very ones they love the most, two teenage girls from a small village community in Laos are standing firm in their commitment to worship God. The persecution began during the fall of last year, when Nani, 17, and her sister Nha Phong, 16, received Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. They have since faced strong opposition from members of their own family -- especially their father, whose fierce anger over the girls' decision to forsake the village's animistic religion has resulted in their need for safety.

• Release of Prisoners Detained for Faith
  
  These believers also run the risk of arrest
  for worshipping Jesus in their village.
  Photo Credit: VOM USA

  In September, six Christian couples were arrested and interrogated by police for eight hours. During this prolonged session, the believers were pressured to renounce their faith and stop conducting worship services. Although two newly converted Christian couples had initially renounced their faith out of fear, they renewed their commitment to Christ just days later.

• Young Persecuted Christian Now Trains Teachers

  A young Christian woman who was disowned by her parents because of her faith is now visiting churches in Laos this month to train Sunday school teachers. After becoming a Christian at the age of 14, Sonxi was beaten by her parents, denied food, and locked away in her room -- all in an attempt to prevent her from attending church.

  When the abusive parents realized that none of these punishments was able to weaken Sonxi's faith, they threatened to force the young teen into a life of prostitution. As a result, she ran away from home and was eventually disowned by her parents. The Voice of the Martyrs ministry has since come alongside the abandoned girl, making it possible for her to receive practical skills training in sewing and, later on, with the required assistance to attend Bible school.

  We are thanking God that today Sonxi vibrantly shares her faith and is involved with the training of new Christian teachers. May He wonderfully bless her life and ministry, granting her more opportunities to reach out to others and -- in His perfect timing -- even her unsaved family.

• Youth Disowned by Family for Conversion

  
  Two young Lao girls reading God’s Word.

  A teenage girl from Laos, who recently converted to Christianity, went home to visit her family while on holiday during a high school break. After sharing her newfound Christian faith with them, she was immediately rejected and disowned for becoming a believer. "Dee," who is 16 years old, had once heard many negative things about Christianity. However, after personally inviting Jesus to be the Saviour and Lord of her life, she thought it would be good to tell her parents about the resulting peace and joy she had experienced.

  To her surprise, Dee's parents were not happy over the news of her conversion, and they even tried to force their daughter to renounce her faith. When the teen refused, remaining firm in her resolve to follow Jesus regardless of the outcome, her parents kicked her out of the family home and announced that she is no longer their daughter.

  Church leaders are now assisting Dee who is presently staying at a VOM safehouse. They request prayer for the teen, further explaining that even though she is saddened over her parents' rejection, God's abiding peace and an unexplainable joy remains within her heart. Dee is longing for her parents to personally experience the Lord's wonderful presence in their lives too and, therefore, asks that we please intercede on behalf of their salvation.

  To learn more about the challenges facing believers in Laos, please visit our country report.

  We can join Dee in offering thanksgiving to the Lord for His provision of a safe place in which to live where she will receive further ministry, teaching and counselling within a caring and nurturing environment. May she be further strengthened in her resolve to follow Christ all the days of her life, trusting Him to also work in the lives of her loved ones during this difficult time of estrangement. We echo Dee's prayers for her family, that they may personally come to know the Lord's mercy and plan of salvation as well.

• Pastor Murdered for Evangelizing

  Families in Laos face persecution if they practise the Christian faith.

  Pastor Singkeaw Wongkongpheng, who received warnings from the Laos government to not evangelize locals, was stabbed to death in his home on September 8th. The attacker is identified as "Mr. Wansai," who claimed he was a secret police officer and prison guard for Pha-Oh Prison. Along with four other men, Mr. Wansai had initially planned to kidnap Pastor Singkeaw and his wife, and then dispose of them secretly, as had been done to another Christian leader and his wife in a separate incident several years ago.

  While attempting to rescue his wife, Pastor Singkeaw was suddenly stabbed in the back three times. His wife is now left widowed, and their six children are grieving the loss of their father. VOM's in-country contacts know this village well, and are already reaching out to this hurting family and the members of their church.

  Pastor Singkeaw, the founder of the Na-ang Church in Luang Prabang province, had established the church in 2000, just three years after Luang officials began prohibiting Christians in his district and many others in the province from proselytizing. Despite objections from officials, the dedicated pastor continued sharing his faith in five different villages and ministering to those in need.

  Four decades have passed since the Communists seized power and expelled foreign missionaries. While the Laos constitution now upholds the right for citizens to adopt and practise a religion, it criminalizes those the officials deem "divisive." AsiaNews reports that "Protestant communities have suffered the most from religious persecution; cases include peasants deprived of food for their faith and clergymen arrested by the authorities." Restrictions on Christian worship have increased since the government issued a new set of guidelines in 2003 for acceptable religious belief and worship. Previous reports can be found at the Laos Country Report.

  As Pastor Singkeaw's family now tries to cope with this tragic loss, we pray that God will satisfy their longing souls with His abiding presence and wonderfully provide for all of their needs. May the Lord also encourage the members of the Na-ang Church by blessing them with a new spiritual leader who will serve them and their community with integrity and love. We pray the Laotian believers be granted the grace to wholeheartedly live for Christ and in accordance to His leading, and that the government will recognize the need to heed God's promptings to permit these believers freedom to worship and share their faith. In fact, may the enemy's attempts to stifle the growth of Christianity in Laos backfire, serving instead as a means for many more to hear the Gospel message and respond to the saving grace of Jesus.