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Laos

  • Laotian Missionary Killed

    On December 22, evangelical pastor, Aroun Voraphom, finished leading a Christmas service in the rural Pakading district of the Borikhamsay province and left to return to his home in the village of Heuysiak in the Phaksan district.  He never arrived.  According to a December 30 report from Christian Aid, his family found his badly beaten body in a creek with his throat slashed and stab wounds in his chest.

    Although government officials discount religion as a motivating factor in his murder, claiming it was robbery, the Lao Movement for Human Rights (LMHR) believe that his Christian faith was the reason the attack.  According to AsiaNews, the LMHR is calling for an independent investigation.

    Pray that there will be a full investigation into Aroun's murder and that every person involved in the attack will be arrested. Pray that the believers who were under Aroun's leadership will have opportunities to express Christ's love and forgiveness to the attackers. Ask God to raise up someone in his place who will carry on the work.

    For more information on persecution in Laos,click here.
  • Evangelists Arrested on False Charges

    At least eight Christians in Laos are in custody after refusing to heed warnings to stop evangelistic activities.  According to a March 29 report from Christian Aid, the gospel workers were arrested in Hueyhoy village in the Laotian province of Savannakhet within the past week and have been charged with weapons possession.  One Christian leader in Laos reports that such charges are common in order to divert attention away from the real reasons for the arrests.

    Pray for protection and encouragement for those imprisoned.  Pray that the ongoing ministry of spreading the Gospel will continue in the area, despite this setback.

    For more information on the suffering of Christians in Laos,click here.
  • Pastor Arrested for House Church Service

    For almost two years, Pastor Bouthao has been holding worship services in his home in Saythamoung village, Phin district, Savannakhet province in Laos. As many as three hundred attend the services. According to Christian Aid Mission, Bouthao was taken into custody on October 19 for conducting these services.

    Pray for endurance and encouragement for Bouthao and his family. Pray for continued faithfulness and hope for those in his congregation.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Laos,click here.
  • Four Arrested

    Four believers from the Kasy District of Vientiane Province, Laos were arrested on August 2 and remain in custody. Two of them are Christian leaders from Vieng Samay village, Khamsay and Thong Soun. The others, Khamphaay and Pheang, are from Hua Muang village.

    According to an August 20 report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, authorities in both villages have been intimidating Christians, attempting to force them to renounce their faith in Christ. In Vieng Samay, Christians were blamed by a local witch doctor for six deaths in the village.

    These arrests take place as the government of Laos appears to be easing restrictions on Christians. There has recently been a significant reduction in the number of arrests and the re-opening of a number of churches.

    Pray for the release of these four believers. Pray that Christians throughout Laos will be bold in their witness for Christ, despite any opposition they may face.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Laos,click here.
  • Forced to Flee

    Six women and children arrived in Pakse in southern Laos on January 2 after being forced from their village in Attapue Province for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ. According to a report from Christian Aid Mission, the village chiefs fined them 150,000 kips ($18.00 Cdn - about a month's wage) for believing in Christ. They were ordered to renounce their faith or face the possibility of being shot. Having faced pressure for many months, the families decided to leave the village, saying "the situation is getting very unstable and dangerous."

    Last week the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on arrests in Attapue Province for holding Christmas services (see https://www.vomcanada.com/la-2004-01-07.htm). It is reported that other Christians are in hiding to escape arrest.

    Pray for these believers, as they face danger and prison for their faith in Jesus Christ. Pray that those in hiding will avoid arrest and that those who face arrest will stand firm in their faith as they give account for their trust in God.
  • Eleven Arrested for Holding Christmas Services Eleven Christians were arrested for holding religious services on Christmas Day and authorities are looking for ten others. Quoted in a January 2 report by news.com.au, the Lao Movement for Human Rights (LMHR) said that six Christians were arrested on December 27 in Kang village in the southern province of Attapeu "simply for praying together." Another man was arrested the same day in Somsouk and four others in the same district were arrested the next day. After being arrested, the were imprisoned and their Bibles were confiscated.

    The Laos government maintains that there is freedom of religion and they deny all human rights violations, accusing the LMHR of trying to influence a debate by the U.S. government on normalizing trade relations with Laos.

    Pray for endurance and spiritual strength for these and other Christians in prison for their faith in Laos.

    For more information on Laos, go tohttps://www.vomcanada.com/laos.htm.
  • Christian Prisoners Face Pressure to Renounce Christ

    In May, twenty Christians from the southern province of Savannakhet, Laos, were imprisoned for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ. According to an August 21 by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, nine of the Christians have been released, but the remaining twelve are facing increasing pressure to deny their faith and to cover up the reasons for their imprisonment.

    Authorities have reportedly pressured the believers to confess to charges of moving their families without permission in order to cover the religious charges against them. They have tried to frame them by getting them to hold guns. The Muang Nong district police chief has also told them that they would be released if they would sign sworn statements stating that they no longer follow Jesus. All twelve have refused.

    It is believed that international pressure has been responsible for the release of many imprisoned Christians. Pray that Christians still in prison will stand firm. We also encourage you to write your government representatives, encouraging them to investigate the human rights violations in Laos and to put pressure on the Laotian government to release those in prison for their religious beliefs.
  • Christian Families Forced to Move

    Five Laotian men were ordered to leave their village and move their families to a different province because of their faith in Christ. According to a June 12 report from Christian Aid, the five men from Kang Village in Attapue province were summoned to a meeting on June 9 at the provincial department of religious affairs and accused of causing disorder and disharmony. Those present, including a judge, a member of the National House of Representatives and the police, gave them ten days to move their families to a different province at their own expense. They were also forced, under threat of imprisonment, to sign a document saying they were leaving of their own free will. After moving, they faxed a retraction, saying they had been threatened.

    The five men were:
    Mr. Boukeo
    Mr. Khamsuak (also referred to as Suak)
    Mr. Tongsawat (also referred to as Sawat)
    Mr. Nuang
    Mr. Keopong

    Please pray for these five families as they face the adjustments and struggles of a new home. Pray for Christians throughout Laos facing persecution for their faith in Christ.
  • Churches Closed; Leaders Arrested

    Two Lao Christian leaders, Mr. Ton, 58, and Mr. Serun, 45, were arrested on April 3, according to a report received today from Christian Aid. Authorities came to the Nong-ing church on March 30 to stop a worship service. The leaders persuaded the police to allow them to continue the service. Authorities returned, however, on April 3, arrested the men and destroyed the building.

    It is thought that the church may have been targeted because it was visited by a high-ranking US official earlier this year. Another church in Kdngkok, which was also visited, has been seized and converted to a government office. Other churches in Laos have also been closed recently.

    Pray for those Christians who no longer have a place to worship. Pray for the release of Ton and Serun.

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