{"id":16645,"date":"2024-08-08T16:55:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T15:55:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsuk.org\/?post_type=news&p=16645"},"modified":"2024-08-12T11:27:49","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T10:27:49","slug":"laos-pastor-killed","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/wwl.opendoorsuk.org\/ireland\/blog\/news\/latest-news\/laos-pastor-killed\/","title":{"rendered":"Family and Christian community in Laos devastated after pastor shot dead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Family and friends grieve at the funeral of Pastor Thongkham in Laos<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A pastor in Laos, who had been courageously active in planting churches and discipling believers, has been killed after being shot at by two masked gunmen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thongkham Philavanh (42), a Khmu ethnic pastor in a north western province of Laos, had just returned home from a ministry visit on 23 July when the two men arrived on a motorbike outside their home. When the pastor reached out to greet whom he thought were visitors, he was shot at in front of his wife, Sengdala. He was taken to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastor Thongkham succeeded his father-in-law, Dok*, in leading their church in the province (Dok was imprisoned for 13 years because of his faith). He and his wife have also helped plant house churches, which have grown exponentially in just a matter of few years. The couple is known for their love for young people, many of whom call them mum and dad. They would usually gather young people at church or in their house for discipleship or Bible studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n