In Laos, following Jesus can come at a great personal cost. For many believers, becoming a Christian means facing rejection from family, pressure from their community, and close monitoring from local authorities. Yet even in these difficult circumstances, God is moving powerfully. Through partnership with local pastors and churches, Harvesters is seeing lives transformed, disciples raised up, and new churches planted across the nation. We are so grateful for what God is doing in Laos, and we know this work is powered by faithful prayer. Please read the updates below and join us in praying through the prayer points at the end of this article.
Growth in the Face of Opposition
Laos is a small Southeast Asian nation of around 8 million people, where the majority follow Buddhism, often mixed with traditional animist beliefs focused on spirits and ancestors. Christianity remains a very small minority, with only around 200,000-300,000 believers across the country.
Because religion is deeply connected to family and tradition, choosing to follow Jesus can bring painful consequences. Many believers face their greatest persecution not from strangers, but from those closest to them. Some are rejected by their families, pressured by their villages, or even lose their place in their community because of their faith.
Religious activity is also closely monitored under the country’s communist system. Churches cannot always operate openly, and many believers gather quietly in homes rather than public church buildings.
Yet despite these challenges, the church is growing. Over the past three and a half years, through partnership with local pastors and leaders, more than 60 new churches have been planted across Laos. These are often simple gatherings in homes, but they are vibrant communities where people are coming to faith, being discipled and learning to follow Jesus.
Training Leaders to Reach Their Communities
Harvesters has been equipping local leaders with practical training to help them share the Gospel in ways that fit their culture and communities. In Laos, relationships are everything. Evangelism often begins through friendship and trust. As believers build genuine relationships, opportunities open for conversations about Jesus.
Pastor Sengphet* shared how the training helped him understand the importance of vision and purpose in ministry. He explained that although he had served in church before, he had not clearly understood the goal God was calling him toward. Through the teaching, he was reminded to reflect on his own life, understand God’s vision more clearly, and lead others with greater clarity.
Pastor Kham spoke about learning to “deal with pride” and fully depend on the Holy Spirit. He shared that walking God’s will bring “many challenges”, but if we reject pride and allow God to lead us, we can become faithful “messengers of life” to others.
These pastors are not only growing personally; they are taking this teaching back to their churches, helping believers understand their calling, strengthening discipleship, and raising up new leaders for future church planting.
Slow but Faithful Gospel Work
In many villages, sharing the Gospel is a slow and difficult process. Traditional beliefs in ancestor spirits remain strong, and many people are taught from childhood to reject Christianity. Pastor Noy explained that some local authorities even spread false ideas about Jesus and tell people that following Christ means dishonouring their family.
Pastor Noy explained that while church planting may be slow, when people do come to faith, they often remain strong and steadfast in their commitment to Christ even in the face of rejection. Their transformed lives also become a witness to their families, and in many cases, entire households begin asking questions and eventually follow Jesus too.
This quiet, faithful work is producing lasting fruit. Small groups are forming, regular baptisms are taking place, and house churches are forming in homes across Laos.
Prayer Points
- Pray for believers in Laos who face rejection, persecution and pressure from their families and communities because of their faith in Jesus.
- Pray for local pastors and leaders as they continue to evangelise, disciple new believers and plant churches in difficult and restricted environments.
- Pray for wisdom and boldness as believers build relationships and share the Gospel in villages where Christianity is often misunderstood or opposed.
- Pray for the more than 60 new churches planted across Laos – that these home fellowships would grow stronger, remain faithful and become places of lasting discipleship.
- Pray for more leaders to be raised up through training, with clear vision, humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit to serve their communities well.
*All names changed for security reasons.
