It is with a heavy heart that we share the death of Koun, a Lao Christian who went missing earlier in October this year under suspicious circumstances in Khammouane province.

After a four-day search, local Christians found Koun’s body and motorcycle in a ditch off a jungle road.

Police have dismissed the case as a motorcycle accident, but Christians say Koun’s death is part of the crackdown against the rapidly growing Christian Church.

Koun, 26, had recently decided to follow Jesus and was baptized in April. He is the third Christian to be killed in the past three years.

In October 2022, Pastor See was found dead near a forest in the same province after two men visited his house.

Village authorities had previously warned him to stop his religious activities. In July 2024, Thongkham Philavanh, a Khmu pastor, was shot dead by two masked men in Oudomxay province. Thongkham’s wife, Sengdala, believes her husband was silenced for his faith and ministry.

Local Church Leaders in Laos had asked for prayers for Koun after he went missing.

According to his father, two strangers had escorted the young man from his home.

The late Pastor See had discipled and trained KK, Koun’s elder brother, and started a Church in his house.

Church Leaders said KK is a faithful house Church Leader who led his entire family and others to Christ in a mainly animistic village.

The family now believe that the killers had wanted to target KK, and instead kidnapped and killed his brother.

Christians in rural areas of Laos are viewed with suspicion and are often arbitrarily detained and harassed.

Some are expelled from their villages and have their property confiscated for refusing to renounce their faith.

Many Christians have indeed recanted their faith and denied Jesus under pressure from the government.

Local officials often turn a blind eye to abuse of Christians, with government officials denying that Christians suffer any discrimination or violence.

Many local leaders say they are being watched and are living in fear for their lives.

Koun’s death has shaken the Christian community. The senseless death of the young man is a reminder of the deep pain and risk that our brothers and sisters in Laos face every day.

KK and his wife are asking for prayer as they consider moving to the capital, Vientiane, for the safety of their family and that of other believers in their rural village.

Prayer

Father, we pray for Your Comfort, Peace, and Strength for Koun’s family as they grieve their tragic loss.

We pray against the evil schemes of the enemy and bind them in the name of Jesus.

Please protect Your People and let Your Angels guard and keep them from all danger.

We pray for the Christian community in Laos, especially pastors and Church workers who are anxious and living in fear.

We also pray for the safety of KK and his family and all the believers in the area.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Materials used by kind permission of the original author.

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