Day 11
Laos
One pastor recently visited a village in a region governed strongly by military soldiers. He shared the Gospel extensively and distributed MP3 players loaded with the Gospel stories. Twenty people chose to follow Jesus as a result of his ministry. The military officials expelled him and told him never to return. Still, the pastor remains convinced that God wants him to return with Bibles for the new Believers and more MP3 players for them to share with others. Pray for his safety and for the new Believers to grow strong in the Lord and the Word of God. As they celebrate Christmas for the first time, may the Holy Spirit fill them with joy and wonder (The Bible, Acts 2:4).
Laos is a Southeast Asian communist country with strong ties to neighboring China and Vietnam. Despite liberalization during the early 1980s and inviting foreign investments, Laos remains very restrictive of religious freedoms. Christianity faces severe persecution from the community, local administrations, and the Laotian government. Facing imminent unemployment due to persecution, Christian youth often lean towards narcotic addictions. Churches have to register with the government. Not all church registrations are approved. Those without approval meet secretly. Christian girls are illegally trafficked across the border to China as brides.
