Pastors arrested in Laos for building a new church
In the fall of 2023, a church in northwestern Laos began building a new place of worship for their growing congregation. The church has about 100 members, plus several pastors.
In some ethnic groups in Laos, religious beliefs are closely tied to tribal or ethnic identity. Thus, anyone who leaves or diverts from the majority religion of the ethnic group can be regarded with suspicion—and be targeted for persecution and abuse.
This is what happened to the church that was trying to build their new home. Local police were told about the construction in early October, and they arrested and imprisoned three leaders in the church.
Souvannee*, an Open Doors local partner in northern Laos, said the arrested leaders bravely refused to back down. “The police will release the leaders if they sign a document agreeing to stop constructing the church,” Souvannee says. But the three men refused to sign the document, and are determined that the church will be built.
“We will continue building the church because we need a place to worship the Lord,” said one of the arrested leaders.
Authorities pressured the congregation as well. The Christians were told that if they continued building, all those involved would be arrested and put into jail. But that did not dissuade them.
“We will continue building the church because we need a place to worship the Lord."
“The community members continue to build the church despite the threats and orders,” says an Open Doors’ local coordinator in the region. “They want to finish it and have a place to gather for fellowship.”
Praise God, three months after the arrests, the construction has made signficant progress. The roof and walls are built, and the floor has been completed with cement blocks. The congregation is using the space for worship and meetings!
However, the three church leaders remain in detention at the district police station, and the district administrator has said the church will be forcefully repurposed to be used as the village office.
Open Doors local partners are closely monitoring this Christian community to see what actions they will take regarding the situation. Our local coordinator and partners in northern Laos urge us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Laos so that they may receive strength and encouragement from the Lord.
Pray
- Pray that the leaders will be released from their unjust imprisonment.
- Pray that construction on the church will be completed, and that local authorities will stop harassing believers or threatening them.
- Ask that God will thwart the plans to turn the church into the village office, and that the church will be able to continue to be a place of worship.
- Finally, ask that our sisters and brothers in this village will be empowered to continue to be salt and light in a difficult place.
