LAOS: Believers Blamed for Deaths in Village

 

 Date of Bulletin: 27 November 2013

Laos

A group of new Christians in a Laotian village have been blamed for the unrelated deaths of three men. In March 2013, two evangelists brought the gospel message to three remote Hmong and Khmu villages. As a result, 178 people received Christ and 18 were baptized. Less than a month later, three villagers died in a series of unrelated deaths. One was given the wrong medicine, one died in his sleep, and the third was accidentally electrocuted while trying to run a cable line.

The shaken community consulted a witch doctor, who concluded that the strange new religion brought by the evangelists had angered their ancestors. "Those Christians have to renounce their faith or they have to leave the village!" he warned. "Otherwise, more people will die." The community leader told the believers to renounce their faith. So far, all of them remain committed, but they may soon be forced out of the village.

Voice Of the Martyrs Sources

Please Pray!

• Please pray that God will strengthen the new believers and fill them with his peace.

• Pray that the community leaders turn from their false gods to the true, living God.

• Pray that the believers will be allowed to stay in the village and that they will continue to be a light to the community.

"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." 1 Pet. 4:16

VOM provides various means of assistance to Christians in Laos, including Bibles, Christian radio broadcasts, skills training and support for pastors.

VIETNAM: New Hmong Believers Need Prayer

Bulletin Date: 20 November 2013

In recent months, an evangelist visited a remote village in Vietnam and shared the gospel with about 30 Hmong families. About 20 people gave their lives to Christ and soon began meeting in a believer's home, forming the first house church in the area.

Photo: House church gathering of new Hmong Christians

In October, police raided the home where the believers gathered for worship, confiscating Bibles, hymnals and a cellphone. A policeman was stationed to watch the house, and the believers were not allowed to contact anyone. Police warned them that if they continue meeting they will kick them out of their home and tear it down. In addition, the Christians were told that their leader would be arrested.

These believers are asking us to pray that they will stand strong in their new faith.They are the first Christians in this area. The nearest Christian  outside their village lives more than 6 miles away.

VOM Sources

Please Pray!

• Pray that these new believers will not become discouraged.
• Pray that they will have a hunger for the Word and that they will grow in their knowledge and faith.
• Also pray that the authorities will come to faith in Christ.

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward." Heb. 11:24-26

Voice Of the Martyrs assists believers in Vietnam by providing Bibles, shortwave radios, Christian literature and support for families of prisoners, among other means of assistance.