Five Families Pressured to Recant Faith in Laos
Mon*, a local church leader in northern Laos, and his family opened their home for church gatherings and services – and experienced the resulting persecution.
Mon (60s) is the head of his family of seven. He is also the leader of five Christian families (including his own) — totaling 58 people— in his village who gather in his home for Sunday services and other church events.
For this reason, the village chief and the community have expressed displeasure and repeatedly forbade them from following Jesus. This has been the situation for years.
Sadly, at the beginning of December 2023, the village chief ordered his official to cut off the electricity and water supply in Mon’s house. The chief also commanded him to stop leading the church and demanded all the believers in the village to stop their fellowship in the community.
The chief also announced that they must abandon their faith and return to animism; those who recant would receive some money and a sack of rice and those who won’t will meet more trouble until all Christians, like Mon, leave the village.
Due to fear, heavy pressure, and the tempting offer of the village chief, two families among the five did eventually give up their faith and returned to traditional religion.
However, Mon’s family and two others continue to be steadfast in their faith in the Lord.
They were given a choice. Either pay a heavy fine or be expelled from the village. Mon could not afford the fine, and so his family, so they were forced to leave. His family currently is staying with relatives.
The two other families remain in the village, continually facing threats by the community because of their Christian faith.
Pray
Pray for Mon’s old village to open their hearts to believers, especially to the two families who remained there. For the village chief to see the love of God and allow believers to live in peace with other villagers.
For all Christian families in this village to stand strong in their faith, even if the community tries many ways to force them and harass them to deny Jesus.
For Mon and his family to continue to believe in God’s ways and power, and in Him they will have peace despite persecution. Pray that God, in His time, will allow them to return home or lead them to a community where they can continue to profess their faith with boldness and confidence.
*Names changed for security reasons.
Mon (60s) is the head of his family of seven. He is also the leader of five Christian families (including his own) — totaling 58 people— in his village who gather in his home for Sunday services and other church events.
For this reason, the village chief and the community have expressed displeasure and repeatedly forbade them from following Jesus. This has been the situation for years.
Sadly, at the beginning of December 2023, the village chief ordered his official to cut off the electricity and water supply in Mon’s house. The chief also commanded him to stop leading the church and demanded all the believers in the village to stop their fellowship in the community.
The chief also announced that they must abandon their faith and return to animism; those who recant would receive some money and a sack of rice and those who won’t will meet more trouble until all Christians, like Mon, leave the village.
Due to fear, heavy pressure, and the tempting offer of the village chief, two families among the five did eventually give up their faith and returned to traditional religion.
However, Mon’s family and two others continue to be steadfast in their faith in the Lord.
They were given a choice. Either pay a heavy fine or be expelled from the village. Mon could not afford the fine, and so his family, so they were forced to leave. His family currently is staying with relatives.
The two other families remain in the village, continually facing threats by the community because of their Christian faith.
Pray
Pray for Mon’s old village to open their hearts to believers, especially to the two families who remained there. For the village chief to see the love of God and allow believers to live in peace with other villagers.
For all Christian families in this village to stand strong in their faith, even if the community tries many ways to force them and harass them to deny Jesus.
For Mon and his family to continue to believe in God’s ways and power, and in Him they will have peace despite persecution. Pray that God, in His time, will allow them to return home or lead them to a community where they can continue to profess their faith with boldness and confidence.
*Names changed for security reasons.
