ICC Note:

It is very difficult for Christians to practice their faith in Laos which is a communist country with its majority religion being Buddhism. The Laos government likes to have control over its people, they pass laws and restrictions limiting individuals’ personal freedoms, including the freedom of religion. To that end, Christians are facing large-scale persecution in Laos. Usually when China tightens the reins on the practice of Christianity, so does Laos and Vietnam. It’s important that Christians be praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters to be strong and bold in their faith despite the great opposition.

09/15/2016 Laos (The Christian Post) – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom urged Obama to discuss religious persecution in Laos at the ASEAN Summit this past weekend, Christian Telegraph reports according to Mission Network News.

The USCIRF says while some religious groups feel things are getting better for them, others continue to face harassment or legal punishment for their faith. They must also look to the government to approve big decisions or activities done as a religious group. The government’s activity against religious groups is described as systematic.

Patrick Klein of Vision Beyond Borders has been visiting Laos for 20 years. He says ministry to this area of the world is no cake walk.

“It’s very difficult because it is a communist country. The majority religion is Buddhism, but it is a communist country. We’re seeing them crack down more and more.”

Klein says, often, Laos and Vietnam take their cues from China. When China tightens the reins on the practice of Christianity, so do Laos and Vietnam.

The summit took place in Laos. Klein says, nearby, a man still waits imprisoned for his faith. Authorities are trying to find out who his contacts are who are bringing in Bibles.

No matter where you live, Christianity will cost you something. There will be resistance to a life lived out like Jesus. In Laos, the resistance is in the form of government and religious majorities.

“Christians have to be very careful what they say,” Klein explains, “When they come to Christ, you’ve got two different elements that you’re dealing with – you’ve got communism, but also you have got Buddhism.

“Since Buddhism is kind of the accepted religion, when you become a Christian, you’re kind of a threat right there. They don’t want you to leave Buddhism, but then also you’ve got this communism element that’s trying to control your life as well.”

The truth is, no government can control the spread of the Gospel. No force on earth can inhibit God’s work. Instead, the Gospel seems to flourish under the heavy hand of persecution. And when governments like that of Laos feel the lack of control, they take it out on Christians even more.

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