Our friends at Compass Direct are sharing news about four Christians in Laos who were recently arrested for spreading the Christian faith without official approval.
What is interesting to me about this story, as a Christian in America, is that here in America we have the opportunity every day, as Christians, to spread our Christian faith, but the question I have is how many of us do? In Laos, they need "official approval" to spread the gospel, and we see Christians being arrested for spreading the gospel, without getting that approval. To me, that's interesting and also telling since the scriptures tell us that we must obey God, rather than man. I hope you'll take some time to share the gospel today and also keep believers in Laos in your prayers. Laos is a restricted nation.
Here's part of the Compass Direct story:
A resident of Phone Sampan village in Long district who witnessed Thai brothers Jonasa and Phanthakorn Wiwatdamrong explaining Bible passages to enquirers in a private home reported their presence to police. Police then raided the home, confiscating the brothers’ passports along with biblical literature and Christian CDs, according to HRWLRF.
The brothers, along with two local residents, one identified by the single name Chalar and the other as yet unidentified, were then arrested and taken directly to Luang Namtha provincial prison. Under normal procedure, detainees would be held in a village or district prison for 36 hours during a preliminary investigation before transferring to provincial facilities, according to HRWLRF.
Officials seem determined to eliminate Christianity from the province, local sources told HRWLRF. In one case, police on June 6 arrested a pastor identified by the single name Asa following reports that he had encouraged many people in Sing district to accept Christ. (See “Lao Police Arrest Pastor for Spreading Faith,” June 11.)
Please read the full story here.
