Laos

Partner with Local Missionaries in Laos

Located in the 10/40 Window

One of the few remaining one-party communist states, the landlocked country of Laos is bordered by Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. About twice the size of Pennsylvania, Laos has one of the lowest population densities in Southeast Asia but one of the fasted-growing economies in Asia. Though the infrastructure is underdeveloped throughout the country, which is mainly covered in mountains and forests, private enterprise is allowed. Laos is a source country for trafficking and a producer of opium.

The Lao majority comprises more than half of the population. The second-largest ethnic group in Laos is the Khmu people, among whom the Christian population is rapidly growing. Around 60% of the population is Buddhist with another 32% practicing ethnic religions.

Christians face much persecution from their Buddhist families and communities and from communist authorities, as Christianity is viewed as a threat to be exterminated. Believers worship in underground house churches, which are considered illegal. It is not uncommon for these house churches to be destroyed or for Christians to be kicked out of their own villages, attacked, or arrested.

In a country where rice is already in short supply due to drought in some areas and flooding in others, those who follow Christ are even more threatened as officials withhold rations from those who have left the ancestral gods for Christ. At the same time, villagers refuse to sell staple items to Christians.

“The authorities’ tactics and strategy are to block and oppress Christians in every way to make them discouraged with no way to go,” reported the leader of an indigenous ministry. Not only are Christians denied crucial aid in times of hardship, they are also refused simple dignities like burying their dead in their own village. The leader provided the example of a Christian family whom authorities are pressuring to exhume the body of one of their relatives buried in the village cemetery.

Christians in Laos began facing heightened persecution after the implementation of Decree 315 in 2016, which added numerous restrictions on Christian activity. Laotian Christians are prohibited from meeting together unless they do so inside of a registered church with a registered minister. To curtail the spread of the gospel, the decree also bans Christians from visiting another province without permission from both their provincial leader and the leader of the other province—a feat that is nearly impossible in an area where Christians are considered a problem to be eradicated.

An indigenous ministry that helps to oversee, disciple, and train the over 70,000 Khmu believers in Laos requests assistance for their training programs, Facebook live program that draws hundreds of thousands of viewers, support for persecuted believers, and financial assistance for their ministry workers.

7.1 million

Population

2.47%

Evangelical Population:

128

People Groups:

109

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Laos

Pray for the many unreached ethnic groups in Laos, that God would send workers to tell them about the Lord Jesus, and that many would accept the gospel.
Pray for the growing number of Christians in Laos, that God would strengthen them to stand firm despite rejection and persecution from friends, family, and neighbors.
Pray for provision for believers who are denied crucial aid in times of hardship and for ministry workers laboring daily to share the gospel in difficult conditions.

More stories from Laos

Sisters Refuse to Give Up Their Faith in Laos

When Mala* and Noy*, sisters from Laos, gave their testimonies during a local ministry’s youth conference, the ministry leader was deeply saddened by the trials they had suffered. But he was also in awe of their perseverance. Despite constant pressure from their family to renounce their faith, the sisters always refused. And when their mother insisted they prostitute themselves to help support the family, they chose to go to church instead.

Provide Assistance to Persecuted Believers in Laos

In a village of 150 families, only five families totaling 17 people are Christians, and local missionaries were invited to start a church plant in the home of one of the young believers. But when the young man's cousin learned of the plan, he cut the electricity to the man's house because he did not want him to continue in the Christian faith. Upon hearing of the problem, the ministry quickly stepped in and covered the costs to install electricity in the man's home so the believers could worship together. Your donations provide aid to persecuted Christians.

Help Bring People to Salvation in Laos

Within four days of local missionaries broadcasting the gospel on Facebook live, between 4,000 and 5,000 people responded to the messages. One listener who was equipped to plant three house churches met with local missionaries for spiritual support and supplies, including Bibles, hymnbooks and radios for listening to the ministry’s gospel broadcasts. During the last six months, the ministry shared the gospel with 3,000 people as they established 14 new churches. They need donations of $50 or $100 in order to share the gospel and deepen the faith of new Christians. Pray the truth of God’s Word would overcome opposition from relatives and local officials.

Help Plant and Grow Gospel Seeds in Laos

After three years of COVID-19 pausing a native ministry from holding seminars, local Christian workers were overjoyed to resume the meetings with 60 pastors and other leaders to advise and encourage them. At another seminar where 106 attended, 46 had been persecuted, including one who was imprisoned for traveling to unreached people. He survived harsh prison conditions by recalling messages he’d heard from the ministry leader and was released after being declared innocent at trial. Workers need donations to disciple pastors, the persecuted and other Christians and proclaim the Lord’s salvation. Pray God’s protection over new Christians.

Send the Salvation Message in Laos

A stagnant house church increased from seven families to 22 families after native Christian workers gave members 10 radios for sharing electronically loaded gospel messages. “They love it very much and listen to it every day, even when going to rice fields to work,” the ministry leader said. “They let other people listen too.” The electronic messages helped three Christian families who had strayed into native rituals to return to faith and drew six other families to put their trust in Christ for the first time. Workers need donations of $25 or $50 for these and other outreaches of evangelism and discipleship. They request prayer for wisdom, spiritual strength and guidance by the Holy Spirit.

Help the Unreached Find God in Laos

A 28-year-old woman wondered if she had offended local spirits or failed to sacrifice enough to them, as neither they nor doctors had healed her of an illness. A native Christian worker visiting her village told her that Christ had the power to heal her, and she invited Him into her life. She obtained relief after workers prayed for her, her health much improved over time and she stopped fearing spirits. When she shared her testimony with others in her neighborhood, five people accepted Christ. In another village, a worker held a Bible seminar where nearly 20 people put their faith in Christ. Workers need donations of $25 or $50 to share the gospel and disciple new believers. Pray for God’s protection over them.