Laos

Laos

Click to enlarge Laos was taken over by the communist Pathet Lao in 1975. Although Laos is rich with natural resources and has great potential for foreign investment, growth is hampered by the government’s slow reforms. Religion: Buddhist 61.05%, Traditional ethnic 31.20%, non-Religious/other 4.20%, Christian 1.85%, Muslim 1.10%, Chinese 0.50%, and Baha’i 0.10% Ideological Influence: Communism Head of State: President Gen. Khamtai Siphadon Persecution: The three or four Christian churches in the capital city of Vientiane are considered potentially subversive and are closely monitored by the government. House-church meetings are raided, and Lao Christians are arrested, while foreign Christians are expelled. Communist leaders in some districts have implemented a program called “New Mechanism,” in which anyone who does not convert to Buddhism or animism is forcibly removed from their district. Christian villagers also have been forced to sign a document renouncing their faith. If they refuse, they are forced to leave their homes, and their property is either seized or destroyed. Missionary Opportunity: The church has grown despite persecution and restrictions. There have been reports of entire villages turning to Christ. Significant numbers are turning to Christ among the Hmong and Khmu people.

Laos

Click to enlarge The Voice of the Martyrs Until 2004, Laos’ Huaphan province was completely closed to the gospel. Even today, it is extremely difficult for Christians to evangelize in this region where they suffer much persecution at the hands of the government. Six Khmu believers from this province came to a VOM Bible training seminar beginning on January 4th. The six, including four new believers, were fearful to share the gospel prior to partaking in the training. However, after their involvement in the seminar, they returned home on fire for the Lord, eager to boldly witness their faith in Christ to anyone. A couple months later, VOM received a report from some of these believers who have a house church in a northeastern Lao village. A few years back, this village had only two believing families, but now the church there has grown. After embarking on a five-hour walk at 5:00 a.m. from their village to a neighboring city to learn more about Jesus, 18 Khmu Christians were stopped by police, who seized their Bibles, song books and other study materials. They were given the verbal ultimatum to either renounce their “Jesus religion” or leave their village. One Khmu man declared that believers also received a signed document from Huaphan province stating that they must reject Christianity or they would not be allowed in their village. Following these threats, the Khmu Christians were harassed further and urged to give up their faith. One believer responded to his persecutor, “Sir, even if you kill me, I won’t stop believing, for now I am set free from the evil spirits.” Despite the intense opposition, the believers remained in their village and saw many come to Christ as a result of their witness. After reaching out to another village, the persecuted believers led its entire population to follow Jesus, including the village chief and the witch doctor. VOM workers plan to send key Khmu Christian leaders to visit provinces in Laos where Khmu Christians live to teach and encourage them in leading their house churches. Every four months, VOM workers plan to bring these leaders to the Bible training seminars.

Laos Click to enlarge A May round-up of 11 Christians brought the current number of Christians in jail to 33 in this Southeast Asian country where the Protestant church numbers barely 70,000. The total number of Christians in Laos has doubled since 1997 and an insecure communist government recently replaced Marxism with a narrow, Buddhist-style nationalism. These two factors have caused government officials to suspect Protestant Christians of harboring “unwanted foreign influences.” One pastor in Luang Prabang in north-central Laos said, “Christians are now regarded as unpatriotic and likely to be out of step with the new nationalism.” Pray that Christians in jail will witness boldly and lead many into the one true Kingdom.