On the evening of 23 July, Pastor Thongkham Philavanh, aged 40, died after an attack at his home in northwestern Laos. Two masked men approached him in his yard and spoke to him before shooting him several times. Thongkham’s wife rushed him to the hospital, but he died on arrival.
Thongkham was a tribal Khmu leader and provincial head of the Lao Evangelical Church. He actively shared the gospel and trained other pastors throughout the province while leading a growing church. According to friends, Thongkham was closely monitored by authorities and had been warned to stop his Christian activities.
The pastor leaves behind his wife, two teenage children and dozens of foster children who found shelter in the family’s home. “Last night, our community was shattered by the tragic loss of our beloved pastor,” one church member wrote on Facebook. “His profound wisdom, unwavering faith and boundless compassion touched the lives of so many.”
Some in Laos, particularly those in government leadership, view Christianity as a foreign religion and a tool used by the West to undermine the communist Laotian regime. There are many house churches and some church buildings, but the vast majority do not have a trained pastor. Laotian authorities sometimes arrest Christians and detain them for up to a week in attempts to control Christian activity. Christians are commonly denied medical treatment as well as educational and other social services.
I stand in faith with you my family in the Lord.That His Hand leads your path. That His wisdom fills your thoughts And that His Pure Love is the joy you give to others. I am humbled by the thoughts that my grievances are shamefully selfish when I witness the sacrifices made by your desire to do Our Fathers will. May the Holy Spirit reveal to all of us His Glory. And may our Persecuted brothers and sister know we stand with you in such a time as this. Amen