10/1/2020  Laos  (VOM) Villagers in Laos blatantly told the four Christian families living among them that the only way to get rid of Christians is to kill them. In an effort to get the Christians to leave, villagers have illegally cut down and sold all the trees on the property of one of the Christians. When the village experienced a drought and famine, village leaders purposely did not include the names of the Christian families on the list of those who would receive government food aid. When one of the Christians complained, village leaders told him the Christians were being stubborn by not leaving the village even though most of the village doesn’t believe their “foreign religion.” They added, “Right now, the only way to get all of you to leave is to threaten to kill you. Letting you Christians in this village is a waste of land here.” The Christians do not want to leave their homes.     Please pray… Pray that the Lord will encourage and strengthen these faithful Laotian Christians as they face these threats. Pray that they will have a loving testimony to the other villagers and that the Holy Spirit will use their testimony to soften people’s hearts. Pray that the Lord will […]

9/3/2020  Laos  (VOM) Khamla was devastated when his wife left him. One day, as he walked past the Buddhist temple in extreme sorrow, something that looked like a small bird hit him in the chest. He became a strange person, violently strong and unable to communicate. His parents and the community were so desperate that they locked him in a cage. His parents made many animal sacrifices to the spirits and invited multiple witch doctors to help him, but nothing worked. Finally, they turned to the Christians, who sent believers to pray every day. After a month of prayers, Khamla calmly told his father he was ready to leave the cage. He, his parents and siblings all gave their lives to Christ after witnessing Khamla’s transformation, and many others in the village began to show interest in Christianity. This worried village authorities, and they declared that Khamla and his family could remain Christians, but no one else in the village could. They also said that Khamla and his family could not lead others to Christ.     Please pray… Pray Khamla and his family will know what to do about this situation. Pray that the Lord will break down the village authorities’ opposition. Pray that the Lord’s deliverance of Khamla from demonic powers […]

8/13/2020  Laos  (VOM) When Jai placed his faith in Christ in December 2019, his Hmong family was very unhappy with him. They told him he could have no share in their father’s inheritance, and they divided the property among themselves. They accused him of taking a foreign religion and of disrespecting their tradition of ancestor worship. “I do not care for lands or houses,” Jai told them, “as long as I can keep my faith.” In February 2020, when Jai built a new house, his family and a village leader began to threaten him. Hoping to reconcile with his family, Jai invited his pastor to the village to explain the Christian faith to them. Jai’s family and other villagers listened to the pastor, but they told Jai that as long as he remains a Christian there will always be problems. The pastor told Jai’s family that he would return to talk with them again.     Please pray… Praise God for the faith of this new Christian, and pray that Jai and his family will remain strong in their newfound faith. Pray that Jai will be able to have a humble and forgiving attitude toward his family and be a positive witness to them by his life. Pray […]

7/23/2020  Laos  (VOM) Seven families from two tribal groups are nearing starvation after village authorities confiscated their farmland because of their faith in Christ. About 50 people from the Khmu and Hmong tribes form the seven families. Their faith is strong and everyone is actively serving one another and the Lord in the midst of this severe persecution. Authorities have taken their land and have not allowed them to farm. When the village experienced a drought earlier this year, the government distributed rice to everyone except Christians. Authorities told them that if they want help, they must renounce their faith. The Christian families are in a dire situation with no food to eat. They have tried to dig up yams and to hunt jungle animals to sell in order to buy rice.     Please pray… Pray that some of the villagers will show mercy to them and give them something to eat, or that they will be able to get food in another way. Pray that they will have a place to gather for worship and continue to encourage one another in their faith. Pray for their witness to their persecutors.

7/9/2020  Laos  (VOM) A church leader, who has not yet been charged with a crime, remains in prison while officials wait for an end to the “Covid situation.” Phong was arrested in early March after refusing police orders to renounce his faith. About 130 Christians live in Phong’s village, and police thought that arresting him would cure their Christian “problem.” Phong’s wife said police are demanding that Christians turn in all Bibles, hymnbooks, and other Christian materials and renounce their faith. Although she was able to visit Phong in prison at first and take him food, no one is allowed to visit the prison now because of the coronavirus. The authorities told Phong’s wife that they are waiting for the “Covid situation to be over before they charge her husband with a crime.”     Please pray… Pray for Phong and his family as they endure separation and uncertainty. Pray that Phong will remain in good spirits in prison and have opportunities to share the Gospel with other prisoners. Pray that the Lord will encourage the Christians in Phong’s village and supply the needs of his family.

5/27/2020  Laos  (ICC) The Laotian government has targeted Nang Tookta Phetsomphone, the daughter of an influential pastor who has been arrested twice for his faith. Nang Tookta is awaiting trial for the killing of her Chinese employer, who attempted to rape her. The authorities are refusing to even consider releasing her unless the family renounces their faith in Jesus Christ and pays a fine of US$11,000. Their treatment is punishment for the pastor’s beliefs and ministry. Her case is being publicized by various Christian organizations so people will pray for her and to put pressure on the district to release her or reduce the fine.     Please pray… Pray for Nang Tookta, that she will not lose heart while awaiting trial, and that the Lord will protect her in jail. Pray that Pastor Phetsomphone and his family will be encouraged and strengthened by the Lord as they face this difficult situation. Pray that the government will give Nang Tookta a fair trial, and that she will be proven innocent.

5/7/2020  Laos  (VOM) Three Christian families were expelled from their village recently after refusing to renounce their faith in Christ. At the beginning of 2020, village authorities called the Christians to a meeting that included members of the Lao Patriotic Front. After accusing the believers of abandoning tribal customs and failing to follow the rules and traditions of the village, authorities told them that if they would not renounce their “Jesus religion” they would have to leave the village. The Christians told them they would not renounce their faith in Christ, pointing out they had not broken any laws, but wanted to stay in the village. At that point, village leaders loaded the Christians and their belongings onto a truck, drove them to some empty farmland outside the village and left them. The authorities then destroyed the Christians’ homes.     Please pray… Pray that these faithful Laotian Christians will all find new places to live. Pray that the Lord will encourage and comfort them, and give them His peace. Pray that they will be able to provide for their families’ needs.

2/13/ 2020  Laos  (VOM) The communist government in Laos has been trying to stop the spread of the Gospel in Laos, making laws against evangelism and against the formation of churches. However, the communists cannot stop what God is doing. When police destroyed a building in February 2019 that was being used as a church in Boke province, they may have thought they were eliminating their “Christian problem.” But they were wrong. In the year since the building’s destruction, so many people have trusted in Christ in that area that the rebuilt church building does not have room for them all. The church is currently making their building larger to accommodate all the new believers.     Please pray… Praise God that He is not limited by human actions. Pray that the Gospel will continue to spread in Laos, and that Christians will boldly share their faith with their friends and neighbors. Pray that the government will change its position regarding Christianity

12/10/2019  Laos  (ICC)  In 2016, the communist government in Laos passed a religion bill that aimed to cripple efforts to spread the Gospel, as it requires prior permission to carry out religious activity beyond a religious group’s building. As a result, native missionaries doing evangelism outreach to neighboring villages are delayed or denied. One church leader reported that Laotian officials required him to submit travel plans in advance for permission that could take as long as 20 days to process. In addition, Christian groups cited problems constructing churches and obtaining permission to travel within the country. According to U.S. State Department, nearly all aspects of religious practice – such as holding religious services, building places of worship, modifying existing structures, and establishing new congregations in villages where none existed require permission from a the Laotian government. Despite these challenges, native missionaries continue to set foot in places where the gospel has not been heard.     Please pray… Pray that the Gospel will continue to spread in Laos and that the native evangelists will have both wisdom and boldness as they seek to share the Gospel with those who have never heard. Pray that existing churches will not be closed or forbidden to gather for worship. Pray that the government will soften its position and even rescind […]

1/10/ 2019   Laos  (VOM) Three families who were kicked out of their village last April after becoming Christians have continued to share the love of Christ with their new neighbors. After being expelled from their homes, the families moved into huts used by farmers during the busy planting season. They soon began engaging with those living near them, even praying for sick neighbors. When several of their neighbors were healed, they and others who witnessed God’s work placed their faith in Christ. There are now seven Christian families in the area.     Please pray… Praise God for the faithful witness of these believers who have faced persecution because of their faith.  Pray that these Laotian Christians will continue to share the love of Jesus with their neighbors and that many more will trust in Jesus. Pray that the Lord will provide for the material needs of these faithful believers.