detained in Laos
The family members of three men detained for “believing in Jesus and worshipping God” in the village of Boukham, Savannakhet province on August 3 (click here for more information) were pressured by police to renounce their faith, according to an August 28 report from Compass Direct. On August 24, the three detained men — Pastor Sompong, Boot and Khamsavan — received a visit from their families. When they arrived, officers tightened the handcuffs and wooden stocks restraining the detained believers, causing them severe pain. They told the visitors, “This is the consequence of not signing documents to renounce your faith. We have already given you three opportunities to do this, but you have refused.” A few days later, the village chief ordered the families of the men to sign documents renouncing their faith. The believers refused to do so.
In other regions of the country, authorities are cracking down on churches. In mid-August, twenty-two families were reprimanded by authorities for holding worship services in a private home after their church building was torn down by officials in January. At last report, however, they were continuing to meet together in a church member’s home and their requests to rebuild have been denied. On August 25, the chief of Donphai village, Attapue province fined local Christians for holding a worship service during local animistic ceremonies. The Christians refused to pay the fine and are continuing their weekly worship services.
Pray for the release of Pastor Sompong, Boot, and Khamsavan. Pray that Christians in Laos will be emboldened to obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29).
