Laos: Christians continue to face threats

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

(2 Chronicles 16:9a NKJV)

 

A prominent Christian leader from the Baw tribe in Khammouane province in Central Laos has escaped death from government agents and is now living in fear. According to local sources, Brother O was warned by a family friend that the authorities were planning to kidnap and probably kill him. Brother O and his wife, Sister J, reportedly turned around and left immediately when they saw a group of men waiting for them in front of their home.

Both Brother O and Sister J are currently safe and staying at his mother’s home in the middle of the village. Several Christians have met the couple to encourage them.

Brother O was Pastor See’s best friend. Pastor See was killed in the same province in October 2022. According to various reports, he was kidnapped by unidentified men, brutally tortured, and murdered. Local Christians located the pastor’s body three days after his disappearance, after a villager had found his severely disfigured body in a ditch off a jungle road and uploaded pictures to Facebook. He was survived by his wife and eight children.

Religious persecution of Christians in Laos, especially among ethnic minority groups, has increased dramatically in recent months. Believers say that local officials have been driving them out of their villages and tearing down and burning their homes and rice silos, which leaves families with no place to go. So far, the government has allowed this to continue and has not brought any charges against the offenders.

Sources close to the police believe Pastor See was killed because of his faith during a time of rapid growth in Laotian churches. The number of baptisms has been causing tension in communities distrustful of a religion they see as foreign. At the same time, Christianity is one of the recognized religions in the country, with Buddhism being the main religion. The communist Lao government allows Christians to conduct services, preach throughout the country, and maintain contact with believers in other nations.

 

Home Group Prayer

Dear Lord,

We know that you are all powerful and all seeing, and that nothing is hidden from your eyes. We lift the country of Laos up to you, especially those who live in great fear and still continue to follow you.

We pray especially for Brother O, Sister J, and their family. May your angels guard their going out and their coming in. May you protect their home and keep them from any harm. We also lift up Pastor See’s bereaved family and pray for provision and protection for them.

We also lift up those in authority in this country, the police, and others who oversee village activities. May your Holy Spirit touch them to open their hearts to you, and to do the right thing by law.

Let your kingdom come in Laos!
In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

New laws in Vietnam further pressure Christian churches

“He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.”

(1 Samuel 2:8a ESV)

The government of Vietnam recently brought Decree 95 into effect, placing local Christian churches under more pressure.

Decree 95 was announced on 29 December and came into effect on 30 March. It effectively allows the government to shut down religious groups for a range of vaguely specified violations by extending some Articles and measures outlined in the 2016 Law on Religion and Folk Belief (LRB).

Vu Chien Thang, deputy minister of Home Affairs and head of the Government Committee of Religious Affairs, had insisted that this prior legislation needed strong enforcement measures.

Essentially, the new law requires all religious groups to register with the government, as well as adding measures relating to the dissolution of religious organizations and religious education institutions, and detailed procedures for receiving and reporting foreign aid. Anyone found in violation of the laws may be sent to compulsory education or rehabilitation centres or subject to temporary detention and even prison sentences.

While the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of belief and religion, the government requires churches to exist for five years before they can apply for registration. Even when they do register, many house churches are denied, while others have to wait years without any progress.

As a result of these regulatory burdens, many local Protestant house churches simply choose not to register at all, placing them in an even more precarious situation. Lacking legal status, local churches are unable to open bank accounts and must use cash for all their transactions.

Furthermore, for the past 30 years, house churches in Vietnam have been highly dependent on financial aid from international organizations. The new decree will make it significantly more difficult to raise and receive foreign donations, creating more challenges for these churches to continue operating.

Currently Vietnam has 11 legally registered evangelical denominations and many unregistered house churches. While Christians living in larger cities and those with closer relationships with local government officials tend to be able to worship freely, life is more difficult for believers among ethnic minority groups and in rural areas who still face social exclusion, discrimination, and attacks.

Despite the challenges of the new decree, Hien Vu, program manager of the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) in Vietnam, says pastors and church leaders are determined to continue with their ministries.

“They are used to these restrictions,” Vu commented, describing their attitude as “We’ll deal with it when it comes, but we’ll do whatever God calls us to do.”

Previously, many of the laws relating to religious activities were not strictly enforced. However, with the introduction of Decree 95, the ability for Christians in Vietnam to practise their faith freely and worship together is likely to become much more challenging.

Christians in Vietnam make up 9.7 percent of the population and the communist state is currently ranked 35 in the Open Doors World Watch List of the most difficult countries to be a Christian.

 

Home Group Prayer

Dear Lord,

We pray for the faithful Christians in Vietnam, particularly those who are members of house churches. We pray that despite the restrictions and challenges they face, they may be able to continue to operate and grow, and spread your Word among the people there.

Give wisdom to the church leaders in their dealings with authorities and provide them with the resources they need to minister to their congregations. Protect all those who trust in you from persecution and discrimination.

In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.