Geographical Distribution
Population:
If you draw a line on the map of Laos from the capital city of Vientiane over to the Vietnam border you will get 7 provinces in the southern half and 10 provinces in the northern half. The peoples in the northern provinces are a patchwork of ethnic groups and languages.

According to Lao government statistics, 75 ethnic groups live in the north with a population of approximately 2 million people. 10% – 15% of these people groups are Buddhist. The other groups worship the spirits of the land or their deceased ancestors.

Most of their languages are not written and few can read Lao (the national language). Many of the villages are beyond the reach of a telephone, TV, electricity or a road. Most have not heard about Jesus.

The people in the southern provinces are predominately ethnic Lowland Lao Buddhist
(click here for the Lao profile).

Peoples
Few people in the north of Laos have heard the good news of Jesus. Pray for the people groups who live there: Akeu, Akha, Giay, Hani, Iu Mien, Khmu, Lantan, Laoseng, Lu, Phai, Phunoi, Poumong, Poussang, Sida, Tai Dam, Tai Deng, Tai Kao, Tai Nua, Tchaho, Vietnamese.

Located right in the center of Northern Laos, Udomsai province is a crossroads for goods and people. Truckloads of goods from China roll through the province center every day. The clothing, dry goods and produce (such as Chinese apples) will be sold in nearly every province of Laos and into Cambodia. Apples sold in Phnom Phen (Cambodia) probably were on a truck that went through Udomsai. Although the province is made up primarily of Khmu, Black Tai and Hmong villages, in the province town a sizeable Chinese community has been resident for several generations; their restaurants, guest houses and places of prostitution fill the town. Udomsai province is home to 234,000 people who live in 776 villages numbering 36,000 households.

As unimpressive as this town may seem at first to the traveler passing through, this town is a significant crossroads of northern Laos. Any impact for the gospel made in this province will surely be felt throughout the North and beyond.

Livelihood
The vast majority of Laos’ people are rural and agrarian. Farming and related industry occupies most families. In more urban settings, mercantile trade is well established. Very recently small, light industry has come into existence. This is the growing sector of the economy as more of the population urbanizes.

Religion and Beliefs
The people of Laos are animist with a veneer of syncretistic, folk Buddhism. Daily life is ruled by spirits, luck, charms and karma. The believe system is the basis for community stability with conformity to the status quo being the greatest good.

Mission
100 years ago, in 1897 Presbyterian Daniel McGilvary rode his elephant through the mountainous province of Udomsai. After talking with various local villagers he saw many were open to the gospel. The local government officials refused McGilvary's request to open a mission station in Udomsai, but a few Khmu men followed him back to North Thailand, became believers, received some Biblical training and went back to Udomsai. The church they planted remains to this day, but the majority of the province remains apart from any gospel witness. The turning of many Khmu to Christ in 1998 brought persecution for local believers.

See Laos prayer booklet and video at 'Resource'

Vision
A biblical and indigenous church-multiply movement among the people of Laos. A church that is a light and model to the nations around it.

Mission:
To intercede in prayer for the peoples of Laos on location and from around the world. To coach the men and women of Laos to be whole-hearted in Christ.