Laos is a communist country where Christianity is viewed with suspicion. The population is mostly Buddhist but Christians face persecution, as church buildings are banned and Christians can be denied jobs or services. Two Christians who are currently imprisoned are Sithong Theppavong, a pastor arrested in 2020, and Nang Tookta Phetsomphone, a girl detained after killing a man who tried to rape her and is being pressured to renounce her faith. The document calls for prayers for persecuted Christians in Laos, that they would remain strong in their faith despite persecution, and for revival, protection, and changes of heart among leaders.

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LAOS

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Demographics:
 Population: approx 7 million
 Religion: 64.7% Buddhism, 1.7%
Christianity, 31.4% no religion,
2.1% unspecified
 Buddhism religion is most often
mixed with tribal animism
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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Demographics:
 Leader: President Bounnyang
Vorachit
 Government type: Communist
State
 Communist Party has ruled since
1975, Laos is one of the five
remaining Marxist-Leninist
countries in the world.
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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Persecution:
 “Christianity is viewed as a North
American religion or a tool of missions
to undermine the Laotian regime. Many
in Laos also believe Christians anger
the spirits.” (Voice of the Martyrs
Canada)
 Church buildings are not allowed, and if
it is noticed that a house church exists,
the village leaders will try to put a stop
to it
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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Persecution:
 Most jobs are made available
through the government, which
makes jobs for Christians difficult
to get
 Christians are often refused
medical treatment and education
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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Please pray:
 Sithong Theppavong: started a small
church in a farm area in the Savannakhet
Province. After many warnings, on March
15, 2020 he was arrested. He is not
allowed any visitors and the authorities are
not releasing any information of his case or
his well being. Voice of the Martyrs states
there is concern that he could become a
victim of “enforced disappearance”.
 Please also pray for his family during this
time
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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Please pray:
 Nang Tookta Phetsomphone: A Christian
girl who worked for an employer who did
not pay her. A month later he asked her to
come back with the promise to pay her.
When she arrived she was forced into a
restroom and was threatened with a knife
and told she would be killed if she did not
submit to him. At some point in the struggle
her attacker was stabbed and killed. This
Christian girl reported the incident and has
been detained since.
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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 The authorities are using this incident to try
to force her family to leave their Christian
faith. They have told the family they will
“consider” releasing her if they renounce
their faith and pay a large amount of money
to the family of her attacker. Tookta has not
been allowed any legal representation or
been allowed to talk to her family.
 Tookta’s father is a pastor in the area that
has been detained in 2012, and 2015. He
has faced many legal issues over the years
because of his Christian faith
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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Please Pray:
 Pray for those in prison or being
attacked for their faith, that they
may stay strong and bold in the
Word of the Lord and that they
may feel the Lords strength and
protection through this time
 Pray that the churches will grow
greatly through the persecution
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada

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Please Pray:
 Pray that the Lord would provide jobs,
education and even medical care for the
Christians in Laos
 Pray for revival in the different tribes in
Laos
 Pray for the leaders in Laos, as well as
those who commit the acts of persecution,
that their lives may be truly changed and
they may come in repentance and instead
live a life of service to the Lord as the
apostle Paul did
AllinformationandquotestakenfromOpenDoorsCanadaandVoiceoftheMartysCanada