“We carry around the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body”
[Mar.07.2023] Open Door Mission recently reported on the situation in Laos and Vietnam where members are being persecuted for their faith.
On January 5, 2023, five believers belonging to an ethnic group in southern Laos were imprisoned by local authorities for allegedly refusing to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. The believers were summoned by the village headman for investigation, and as soon as they arrived there, they were immediately imprisoned by the waiting local police without any explanation.
According to several other believers in the village, over the past year, as the number of Christians in the village has increased significantly, the churches have been continually monitored by local authorities. They were also reportedly forced to regularly appear at the village chief’s office for interrogation and denial of their beliefs.
Open Door’s local partner analyzed that the government authorities perceive the rapid growth of Christians in the village as a threat to the unity and peace of the village community. Open Doors continues to work with local partners to provide needed support to the families of imprisoned believers.
Of the ethnic groups the imprisoned believers belonged to, only a few hundred remain in Laos today. They mainly moved through the jungle to find food to survive. Although previously living in isolation from others, they have now begun to settle in various parts of the country and interact with other ethnic groups.
In January 2023, Niha and Hang (pseudonyms), a couple newly converted to Christianity in Vietnam’s northwest region, were evicted from their village days after their wedding when they defied their long-held beliefs.
At the time of the wedding, the couple’s family and relatives forced them to worship their ancestors in a traditional ceremony. When the couple vehemently refused, believing this to be disobedience and a disgrace to God, Niha’s family was outraged and Niha was beaten severely on the back. He and his wife were later driven out of town, given only a few sets of clothes.
However, Niha said, “Even if they beat us and kick us out, we will not give up our faith. I will not go back to my old beliefs.”
According to Open Doors’ local partner Isaac, they are in a persecution-risk area where new converts are being forced to renounce their faith and are threatened with verbal and physical attacks.
Isaac said that Niha and Hang are currently staying at a local church and receiving support for spiritual and physical needs, and the members of the church are planning to build a small house for the newlyweds so that they can start as a new family. (Source: Gospel Prayer Newspaper Comprehensive)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
God, may You give strength and courage to the believers who were imprisoned and driven out from their villages in Laos and Vietnam for their faith in Jesus, so that they will pursue their faith and follow you till the end. May You provide for the needs of those who have been deprived of their livelihood and bless the remaining family members and saints to lift their eyes to You and experience the goodness of You. We pray that the life of Christ will be spread through the witnesses who carry the death of Jesus and that salvation will come fully to this land.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
