Southern Laos
We arrived in S and met all the Christians at a funeral that extended unusually over five days. There were meetings at the house every day, and at the meals afterwards we had many good conversations.

 

The widow and her family suffer much from one brother who is far away from the Lord and always causing problems for them. We also met Mrs. T whose husband had died two years previously. She was recovering from a spell of illness (typhoid?) and looked very weak, though strong in her faith. She had been staying with a non-Christian daughter, but came back home in order to attend church.

Pray

• There are about 300 believers in one of the southern provinces. Pray that they will not be afraid to meet to worship Jesus.
• Pray God’s protection for the tribal Christians who have been harassed and imprisoned.
• Ask God to bless Mr. P and his family, that his children will find Christian mates and live for God.  May Mr. P and his wife continue to have good health and be able to evangelize the lost?

Government Sponsored Persecution
When countrywide government sponsored persecution began in 1993, many Christians were fearful and denied Christ under pressure.  Since Christians worldwide have been praying, few Christians have denied Christ and many have a new sense of freedom from fear.

Pray

• In some areas people want to turn to Jesus Christ because of the good lives they have seen Christians live.  The gov­ernment is afraid that everyone will soon be follow­ing Jesus. Pray that officials will see Christians as the good citizens that they are. Pray that God will give the Christians favor with their neighbors and with the officials.
• In some areas, national church pastors will cooperate with the government and report on Christians who are evangelizing without the government’s permission. Father God, help them learn to protect other believers.

God’s Judgment
Sometimes God judges those who persecute Christians.  A policeman from a southern province put 11 Christians in prison in 2003.  He was in a motor­cycle accident shortly thereafter and died.   In 2002 a policeman who ordered the beating of a Christian was also in a motorcycle accident.  He suffered seri­ous head injuries in the exact same place as the Christian who was beaten.