(June 29, 2025 has been designated “Day of The Martyrs” by Voice of the Martyrs. Please check out their website, persecution.com, for a variety of materials to help your church pray.) “Pastor Thongkham Philavanh, 40, 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, he was closely monitored by Laotian authorities and had been warned to stop his Christian activities.
“On July 23, 2024, two masked men approached the pastor in his yard and spoke to him before shooting him several times. His wife rushed him to the hospital, but he died on arrival.
“One church member wrote on social media: “Last night, our community was shattered by the tragic loss of our beloved pastor. His profound wisdom, unwavering faith and boundless compassion touched the lives of so many.”
“Thongkham’s wife, their two teenaged children and dozens of foster children were home during the shooting.
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