寮國

「耶和華的眼目遍察全地，要顯大能幫助向他心存誠實的人。」

（代下 16:9a NKJV）

 

寮國中部甘蒙省 Baw 部落的一位著名基督教領袖逃離了政府特工的追捕，目前生活在恐懼之中。據當地消息人士透露，O 弟兄的一位朋友警告他，當局正計劃綁架他，甚至可能殺死他。據報道，當 O 弟兄和他的妻子 J 姐妹看到一群男子在家門前等候他們時，他們立即轉身離開。

O 兄弟和 J 姊妹目前都很安全，住在村子中間他母親的家裡。許多基督徒見到了這對夫婦並鼓勵他們。

O 弟兄是 See 牧師最好的朋友。 2022年10月，See牧師在同一省份被殺害。牧師失蹤三天后，一名村民在叢林道路旁的一條溝渠裡發現了他嚴重毀容的屍體，並將照片上傳到 Facebook，當地的基督徒才找到了牧師的屍體。他身後留下了妻子和八個孩子。

近幾個月來，寮國境內基督徒，尤其是少數族群所遭受的宗教迫害急劇增加。信徒說，當地官員將他們趕出村莊，拆毀並燒毀他們的房屋和穀倉，導致他們無家可歸。到目前為止，政府允許這種行為繼續下去，並沒有對違法者提出任何指控。

接近警方的消息人士認為，在寮國教會迅速發展時期，施牧師是因為他的信仰而被殺害的。洗禮的數量導致一些社區對被視為外來宗教的宗教信仰不信任，從而引發緊張局勢。同時，基督教是該國公認的宗教之一，佛教為其主要宗教。寮國共產黨政府允許基督徒在全國各地舉行禮拜、傳教，並與其他國家的信徒保持聯繫。

 

家庭小組禱告

親愛的主，

我們知道您無所不能、無所不知，沒有任何事物能逃過您的法眼。我們將寮國這個國家敬仰於您，特別是那些生活在極度恐懼之中並且仍然繼續追隨您的人們。

我們特別為 O 弟兄、J 姊妹以及他們的家人祈禱。願你的天使守護他們出入。我們也為 See 牧師的悲痛家人祈禱，祈求他們得到幫助和保護。

我們也提升了這個國家的當權者、警察以及監督村莊活動的其他人員。願祢的聖靈感動他們，讓他們向你敞開心扉，依法做正確的事。

讓你的王國降臨寮國！
奉耶穌的名，

阿門。

「他從灰塵裡抬舉窮人；他從糞堆中提拔窮人，使他們與王子同坐，承受尊貴的寶座。

（撒母耳記上 2:8 和合本）

(Photo courtesy of a citizen journalist)

寮國的基督徒正面臨新一輪的迫害。據目擊者稱，2 月 5 日，當地官員在 Kaleum Vangke 村的一座家庭教會舉行週日禮拜時闖入該教會並將其建築夷為平地。他們也焚燒了聖經和其他文學作品，並破壞了這個地方。攻擊發生時，幾個來自鄰近地區的基督教家庭正在前往教會舉行聯合禮拜。

拆毀教會顯然是為了製造恐懼並阻止基督徒實踐信仰。襲擊期間沒有造成人員傷亡。當地信徒已開始修繕教會併計畫恢復禮拜。

警方已提起訴訟，但尚未採取任何行動。此事件發生之際，反基督教的攻擊事件正在增加。儘管寮國國家法律保障宗教信仰自由，但這次攻擊事件仍發生在寮國南部。

公共安全部官員警告村裡當局不要騷擾基督徒，但當地官員繼續威脅他們，並誓言拆除教堂。 「我們不再害怕在那棟房子裡聚會了。 「這段經歷讓我們變得更堅強，」一位當地信徒告訴《自由亞洲電台》（RFA）。

在過去的六個月裡，當地官員將信徒趕出村莊，拆毀並燒毀他們的房屋和穀倉，使這些家庭無家可歸。到目前為止，政府允許這種行為繼續下去，並且沒有對肇事者提出任何指控。

據報告，新教徒、天主教徒以及佛教徒曾要求建造禮拜場所的許可，但遭到拒絕。最終，有些人採取未經許可進行建設的行動。但建成的教堂後來被拆毀的情況卻很少見。

卡利姆萬克村 (Kaleum Vangke) 並不是一個新興的宗教衝突村。根據自由亞洲電台報道，2020年3月，一名名叫西通·提帕馮（Sithong Thipphavong）的牧師在該村被捕，並被勒令放棄信仰。當他拒絕時，他被指控並被判犯有引起社會騷亂和破壞村莊團結罪。他被判入獄一年，並被罰款400萬基普（約200美元）。 2021年4月他才被釋放。官員們威脅說，如果他們不遵守規定，他們就會摧毀教堂。

自2022年以來，宗教迫害，尤其是少數族群的宗教迫害急劇增加。政府允許基督教徒在區級和省級範圍內自由禮拜，但村級地方官員反對基督教徒的禮拜和活動。大多數相信鬼神的寮國人認為基督教信仰是西方宗教，違背了他們的傳統和文化。

家庭小組禱告

親愛的主，

我們感謝您給予了寮國這個國家，以及那裡的人民，您深愛他們，甚至為他們獻出了您的兒子。我們支持老撾的兄弟姐妹，特別是那些在 Kaleum Vangke 村莊失去教堂和家園，並在當局手中遭受羞辱和巨大損失的人們。

我們請求您給他們灰燼以美麗，並給予他們您此時存在的深刻保證。 請幫助他們重新定居並找到一個安全的地方，與他們的兄弟姐妹一起見面和崇拜您。請幫助他們克服恐懼，讓他們面對阻礙他們自由的人時依然抬起頭來。

我們也請求您保佑他們的迫害者，以及那些有能力恢復教會的當權者。請向那些受到他們迫害的人釋放寬恕之心，也請向他們展現你自己。

阿門。

欲了解更多詳情，請瀏覽‘寮國牧師遭酷刑折磨並慘遭殺害‘在 Religion Unplugged 上。

我們懷著沉重的心情告訴大家，上週在極端可疑的情況下失踪的牧師 See 的屍體於今天早上（10 月 24 日）在一條叢林道路旁的溝渠中被發現。他留下了妻子和八個孩子。 最小的才一歲。 當局多次警告牧師西不要再傳播有關耶穌的事，並且在最近幾個月一直跟踪他並威脅他將遭受可怕的後果。

寮國的基督教人口約為1.7%，但在某些省份，這一比例更高。教會領袖一直鼓勵信徒祈禱到 2030 年基督教人口增加 10%。

For more details, please go to ‘寮國牧師遭酷刑折磨並慘遭殺害‘ at Religion Unplugged.

禱告：

父親，這場悲劇讓我們心痛不已，我們為此而哭泣。 西牧師在您的懷抱中安息了。我們祈禱，給他的妻子和八個孩子安慰、關懷和幫助，讓他們平安度過難關。我們讚揚老撾的教會和所有牧師，並祈求您的存在對他們來說非常真實。 消除任何恐懼，給予他們勇氣和膽量繼續宣告你的愛。 保證他們的安全並滿足他們的一切需求。 我們祈禱祢的王國降臨寮國，祢的旨意在那裡實現。 我們以你兒子耶穌基督的名請求這些。 阿門。

 「我們四面受敵，卻不被困住；困惑，但不絕望；遭受迫害，但沒有被拋棄；被擊倒，但沒有被摧毀。 

（哥林多後書 4:8-9 NIV）

(Photo courtesy of a citizen journalist)

儘管寮國國家法律保護和保障宗教自由，但寮國南部的一個基督教家庭最近遭到迫害和人身攻擊。

今年 2 月，沙灣拿吉省帕蘭賽縣東沙灣的村民襲擊了哀悼者和抬棺者，當時這些哀悼者和抬棺者正試圖將基督教主教埋葬在自家的稻田裡。死者遺孀森阿隆 (Seng Aloun) 表示，一群憤怒的暴徒出現並毆打了死者家屬和參加者，甚至用棍棒襲擊了棺材。其他村民隨後放火燒了他們的房屋，至少 12 名家庭成員被趕出家門，被迫逃離並投奔親戚。

森阿隆表示，這次襲擊是村民和地方當局對該家庭進行的一系列襲擊中的最新一次。去年 12 月，當她的丈夫去世時，他們拒絕將他埋葬在村莊的公墓裡。他們還用木棍敲打棺材並毆打家人。

Seng Aloun 在社交媒體上發布了視頻，展示了墓地發生的事情並呼籲幫助。負責調查兩次埋葬企圖中發生的襲擊事件的警察要求她撤掉這些貼文。 3 月 15 日，地區當局邀請她和當地基督教會的一些其他成員到 Phalanxay 市問題解決委員會辦公室，討論該家庭與 Dong Savanh 村官員之間的衝突。

然而，當地一名基督教領袖報道稱，“會議上，地區當局再次要求死者家屬撤下帖子以及房屋被燒毀和棺材被襲擊的視頻，或對帖子做出修改。”其中一個提議是暗示燒毀家園的是其他人，而不是村長。然而，當局既沒有就火災和徵用該戶農田一事對村長進行訊問，也沒有進行調查。

沙灣拿吉省寮國福音派教會的一名成員表示，他很擔心Seng Aloun 的家人，因為據他所說，當局不尊重寮國政府對基督徒的法律保護：「在沙灣拿吉省，從村莊到該省的人們參加了研討會，並了解了《福音派教會法》，該法詳細列出了有關基督徒的所有權利、規則和條例。但問題是許多村委會不願意遵守。就好像他們知道規則，但卻不遵守規則。

該家人拒絕刪除或更改社交媒體帖子，並表示將向省和中央政府提出投訴。由於 Seng Aloun 獨自一人在村外的森林裡撫養孩子，她希望地區官員能夠幫助找到縱火犯，並儘快解決衝突。

保護宗教自由的法律於 2019 年 12 月生效，賦予老撾基督徒舉行禮拜、在全國範圍內傳教以及與其他國家的信徒保持聯繫的權利。

家庭小組禱告：

親愛的天父，

我們為寮國面臨身體傷害和各方面迫害威脅的信徒祈禱。我們請求您的神聖保護，使他們免受身體、法律、言語或精神方面的攻擊。

我們要求當局維護和尊重旨在實施宗教自由的法律，並讓寮國基督徒能夠自由地生活和禮拜，而不受恐懼或壓迫。

我們特別為 Seng Aloun、她的孩子和被迫流離失所的家人祈禱，願他們在悲痛中迅速得到解決，並能為他們的丈夫和父親舉行適當的葬禮不再進行攻擊。

我們祈求您在這一悲慘事件中給予神聖的干預，並祝愿 Seng Aloun 和她的家人能夠早日安全返回家園。

奉耶穌的名，阿門！

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”  (Exodus 5:1 ESV)

Seven Christians in southern Laos are now living in the forest after refusing to recant their faith. Local authorities evicted members of two families from the village of Pasing-Kang in the Ta-Oesy district in southern Salavan province on 10 October. The village authorities have banned relatives and others from helping them as they struggle to survive. Even family members say they are too scared to help and fear they too will be forced out from the village if they do so.

A Lao Front for the National Construction (LFNC) official from the province said he was waiting for information about the case. “Things have been quiet,” he said. “Their religious leader just came here and spoke with the Office of Religious Affairs.” The Lao Evangelical Church (LEC) is closely monitoring the situation and trying to find a solution to the unfair treatment.

Meanwhile, four Christian men have been languishing in jail for months for wanting to hold a Christian funeral, which officials said would have violated local customs and traditions. The four were detained in early July in Khammouane province after they travelled to a village to participate in the last rites for a deceased fellow believer.

Last year, the government approved the Constitution of the LEC, which allows Christians the right to conduct services and preach throughout the country and to maintain contact with other believers. Last month, the LEC together with the Interior Ministry and the LFNC held seminars in Bolikhamxay, Bokeo and Savannakhet provinces to inform rural authorities on the new law, with similar meetings planned in other areas.

Although the number of people arrested in Laos for following Jesus has decreased in recent years, cases of abuse are still reported in remote rural areas. Most Laotians view Christianity as a Western religion. Many also believe Christians anger the spirits when they refuse to participate in village rituals. House churches and church buildings exist, but the vast majority do not have a trained pastor. In most villages, no church buildings are allowed. If village leaders notice that a house church is growing, they will try to stop it. Christians often are unable to get jobs, most of which are through the government, and they commonly are denied medical treatment, education and other social services. There are no open Bible schools in the country.

家庭小組禱告

天父，

We thank you for all the times you have rescued and comforted your people when they have been cast into the wilderness. We pray for these seven Laotians who because of their faith have been cast into the forest and need to rely on you to survive. We pray that notwithstanding people not being able to help them, you will provide them with the sustenance they need to survive and thrive in the forest. We give thanks for the strong faith these people have in you in order to be willing to suffer in your name. We pray that their example will be an encouragement to others. We pray also for their families and friends who live in terror and are afraid for these seven Christians. Please provide them the strength they need in facing persecution.

We pray as well for the four men still in jail as a result of wanting to hold a Christian funeral and the many other victims of religious persecution in Laos. We pray for the Lao Evangelical Church which is doing its best to assist these Christians. May their efforts at spreading your word be successful. We pray for all the pastors and believers who in spite of the trials they face are willing to stand up and proclaim your name. We pray that the Lao Evangelical Church will be successful in its efforts at making the governmental authorities in Laos stop hostile actions against Christian believers in Laos and permit true religious freedom to take place.

We pray that particularly in this difficult economic environment owing to COVID-19 that Christians will be able to get jobs and will receive the necessary medical treatment, education and other social services they require. We know that while we may need to live in the wilderness for a while, you will eventually bring us to glory. We give thanks for your Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who sustain these seven Christians and all the others suffering persecution in Laos and elsewhere in Asia and the world. May we pray for them and pray for the church in Laos and pray that your justice will prevail.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. … if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
(1 Peter 4:14, 16)

The Lao government has approved the constitution of the Lao Evangelical Church (LEC), in effect giving its churches the freedom to share the gospel freely in the country.

The Minister of Home Affairs signed the document, which includes a statement that church workers have the right to travel, meet together for worship, and evangelise non-Christians. According to Stand Asia’s sources, since the document includes the statement that evangelisation is part of the churches’ mandate, the authorities should not stop Christian meetings or arrest believers for sharing the gospel. The impact of this document is likely to be freedom to believers and transformation of the lives of many Christians.

The LEC president has started meeting provincial officials and local Christian leaders in each of the provinces to explain the LEC constitution and its significance.

Nevertheless, Lao authorities continue to persecute and arrest believers on flimsy charges. According to reports, officials are twisting a number of issues to make Christians look bad. The police have also apparently threatened to arrest all Christians.

In early August, police arrested Grandfather Ter in May district, Phongsaly province and prohibited him from sharing the gospel. Grandfather Ter is the first Akha to be arrested by the police for his Christian faith. The oldest of three brothers who returned to their village after detox and rehab, he was the first among them to turn to the Lord. This is the first arrest of a believer among the Akha people, so it’s a potentially critical time for God’s people in their area.

There have been other such incidents. On 17 August, police arrested Achan Bounkeo when he went to the market to buy lunch. On 3 July, police arrested four Christian leaders in central Laos, because they conducted a Christian funeral in a mainly spirit-worshipping village. The authorities took them to the district prison and later transferred them to the provincial town prison. Local Christians cannot visit them but can take food to them. On 15 March, a detained Christian pastor was sentenced to six months in prison. This prison term is likely to end in mid-September.

Laos has imposed tight border controls to restrict the spread of the coronavirus. Many Christian expatriate workers have not been able to return to Laos because of travel restrictions.

Christians make up just three percent of the population and are a small minority. Christianity, in particular, is considered a Western influence and especially dangerous. Conversion to Christianity can be seen as a betrayal to the family and Lao culture. Despite setbacks and ongoing persecution, the Lao church continues to grow at a purported six percent every year.

PRAYER POINTS

• Pray for the LEC president, as he meets local officials and Christian leaders to explain the government-approved LEC constitution and its significance. Pray that the meetings will have a deep impact throughout the country.
• Pray for arrested Christians and their families, including Grandfather Ter, Achan Bounkeo, the four Christian leaders arrested in central Laos, and the Christian pastor sentenced to six months in jail. Pray for strength and wisdom for them to face and respond to their situations.
• Pray for believers among the Akha in the May district of Phongsaly province. May God strengthen the believers in this time of trial and the authorities come to know God through the testimonies of these believers as they stand firm.
• Pray for Christian expatriate workers who have not been able to return to Laos because of travel restrictions due to COVID-19.

 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:35–39)

Life for Christians under the communist regime in Laos is very tough. The Open Doors estimate of 227,000 Christians in a country of over 7 million face frequent persecution, including forced conversion and imprisonment. According to accounts from believers in Laos, the threats come in the form of community pressure, including from family members, and institutional forms of discrimination from the state and other authorities.

On 15 March, Pastor Sithon Thipavong was arrested for holding a worship service in his village home and was subsequently imprisoned for this offence. It is said that he has led over 400 people to faith in the last year.

On 24 May, a case of family conflict occurred at a church near the capital city, Vientiane. Two brothers, Chan and Huang, were attending a church service when their father burst in, swearing at and threatening them. He demanded that they renounce their faith and sent them away, after which they ended up at their pastor’s home. However, the boys are now back home with their father because of the rice-planting season.

It has also been recently alleged that authorities have arrested four individuals for their faith, including a pastor in Bolikhamsai province in central Laos. This is not the first time that the pastor has been arrested for this reason. This time, it appears that the pastor was conducting a Christian funeral when the authorities arrived and tried to force the congregation to sign documents recanting their faith in Jesus. After refusing to do so, the pastor and three other leaders were taken to the district jail, where they remain.

Home group prayer

Lord Jesus, we give you thanks for your faithful servants in Laos. We give you thanks for their steadfast commitment to you through all circumstances.

We pray today for each and every individual in Laos who has accepted you as Lord and Saviour. Might they know that you are with them in the valley, that you go before them, and that you will never leave them nor forsake them.

Lord, we pray especially for the leaders of your church in Laos. Be with them today. By the power of your Holy Spirit, remind them that their life gives you glory and their labour is not in vain. In particular for Pastor Sithon and other church leaders arrested across Laos, may they know today the comfort and peace that can come only from you. We think of their families who anxiously await their return and pray for justice in this situation.  We lift up to you the police, politicians and all those involved in the justice system — we pray that the faith of our brothers and sisters will shine as a light and change hearts and minds for you.

Lord, we gave you thanks that you know the names of every man and woman suffering for your name’s sake in Laos — you know them and you love them. Lord, we pray that this truth will be written on their hearts today and will give them joy amidst the pain.

In the name of your Son, we pray.

阿門。

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1–3)

Authorities in Laos have arrested a pastor for holding a church service without official permission. The arrest took place on 15 March, a few days before the government issued an advisory against religious gatherings to stop the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.

Police arrested Pastor Sithon Thiphavong in Kaleum Vangkae village in Chonnaburi district, Savannakhet province. Pastor Sithon has not been formally charged with any offence, and the provincial police department and the Lao Front for Construction, which oversees religious affairs in the country, have not responded to calls to confirm the arrest.

Pastor Sithon’s family members have not been allowed to visit him, though they can send him food via the authorities every day. They have been told that his case will be dealt with after the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted in the country.

Lao church leaders say that most believers don’t have the technical capacity to livestream services.

On 29 March, the Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith instructed everyone to stay at home from 1 to 19 April in order to contain the spread of the potentially deadly virus. The government has since extended the lockdown until 3 May and closed its borders with neighbouring countries. However, China, its neighbour to the north, has sent medical experts, medical equipment and medicines, and Vietnam, its neighbour to the east, has also offered to help fight the virus.

Laos announced its first COVID-19 cases on 24 March and, as of 10 May, officials claim that the number of confirmed cases has remained at 19 for 27 consecutive days.

According to a 2019 report by the US Commission for International Religious Freedom, the Lao constitution “ostensibly protects its people’s inherent right to religious freedom,” but members of the Christian minority are often targeted and arrested. Christians make up about 1.5 percent of the Lao population, while 67 percent of the people practise Buddhism.

As recently as 25 February, in Long district, Luang Namtha province, three Christian families totalling 14 people were evicted from their village and their houses demolished for refusing to recant their faith in Jesus. According to Open Doors, the country’s overall persecution score increased by one point over 2019 mostly as a result of increasing reports of violence against Christians.

Dear Heavenly Father,

In this time of great hardship and suffering throughout the world, let us take a moment to remember your sons and daughters in Laos who are suffering even more for their faith. Let us lift them up to pray for an extra dose of strength, hope and peace that only you can bestow to sustain them. May you convict those who persecute them to see the error of their ways and help them to see you through the actions and attitudes of your faithful servants there. As we are all on our knees now, Lord, because of the coronavirus, we see how weak and futile are efforts made on our own, and we see even more clearly how we are powerless without you, Lord. On our knees is the perfect place to pray to you for your help to unite this divided country in your holy name.

In the name of your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.