On the evening of 23 July 2024, Pastor Thongkham Philavanh, a 42-year-old father of two, was shot to death by unknown assailants at his home in north-western Laos. Two masked men arrived on motorcycles, approached him in his yard and spoke to him briefly before shooting him several times. Thongkham’s wife, Sengdala, rushed him to hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. The gunmen escaped.
Thongkham was a Khmu tribal 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. Just a week before his murder, his church had opened a new extension to accommodate their growing ministry.
According to friends, Thongkham was closely monitored by authorities and had been warned to stop his Christian activities. Government leaders in Laos view Christianity as a foreign religion and a tool to undermine the country’s communist regime. Authorities sometimes arrest and detain Christians in attempts to control Christian activity, and Christians are commonly denied medical treatment as well as educational and social services. When churches or private property belonging to Christians are damaged or destroyed, authorities often refuse to investigate.
Despite the risk, Thongkham and Sengdala helped tribal Christians who were driven from their homes because of their faith in Jesus Christ. They provided temporary housing and helped them learn trades to support their families. They also cared for dozens of children, who found shelter in their home.
Submit a Prayer