Lao Family Accepts Christ After Son Is Miraculously Healed

Keo wasn’t surprised by the village leaders’ decision. In some ways, he expected it.

Keo, his wife and their five children became Christians in communist Laos in 2011, and they have been denied basic needs ever since. Village leaders even prevented them from accessing the public water system.

Laos is a volatile area for Christians, as the gospel offends the country’s traditional, animist spiritual practices. Conversion to Christianity is seen as a rejection of family and tradition; it is believed to anger the spirits tied to ancestor and idol worship. Christians are often harassed and evicted from their homes and villages. They are denied education and work opportunities, and they are sometimes arrested and forced to deny their faith.

Despite the hardships, Keo and his family refuse to abandon Christ. “I knew becoming a Christian would be difficult and I would have persecution,” Keo said.

Convinced of God’s Power

Keo and his family became believers after witnessing the power of prayer. Keo’s son, Khamphuy, 12 at the time, had struggled with his breathing for months. Keo spent all his money on spirit doctors, who told him to kill certain animals to atone for wrongdoings that may have caused the boy’s illness. As Khamphuy’s condition worsened, Keo took him to a hospital. Still, doctors couldn’t help him.

Keo’s sister-in-law, a Christian who knew about Khamphuy’s illness, introduced Keo to a Christian leader in her village. Desperate to help their son, Keo and his wife took Khamphuy to visit the leader. The Christian leader and other local believers placed their hands on Khamphuy and prayed. During the next few days, Khamphuy’s condition improved. Watching God work in his son’s life, Keo became interested in Christianity and soon accepted Christ.

“We stayed there [for a week] and wanted to learn about God more,” Keo said. “We wanted to learn how to worship God, sing songs and read the Bible.”

After being healed, Khamphuy also became a Christian. “I know exactly that God helped me,” he said.

After his entire family came to Christ, Keo knew they would face persecution. Leaders in his village had just recently announced that anyone who converted to Christianity would be banished.

“We will have persecution, but we have to trust God,” Keo told his wife. “We don’t fear the man who can kill our body, but we have to fear the One who can kill our soul.”

News of the family’s conversion spread throughout their village. Nearly 20 village officials with ties to the Communist Party and Patriotic Front visited their home, demanding the family leave Christianity. They even prepared a document for Keo to sign, stating that he had renounced his faith.

“You know this religion is the foreigner’s religion,” they told Keo. “It is not your Lao religion.”

Keo and his wife refused to sign the document. After witnessing God’s power in the healing of their son, how could they deny Him?

Keo said his relatives are slowly accepting the truth of Christianity but are fearful of the persecution they could face if they accept Christ. He assures them that the God of the Bible will be with them.

“Before, I do many things to sacrifice to evil spirits, but the spirits don’t help us,” Keo told them. “The evil spirits just destroy us. They destroy our pigs, our chickens and our money. If we believe in God, we will have a strong help. When we grow rice or grow corn, God will bless us. God will protect us and our crops.”

Serving amid Danger

Keo and his wife are seeing God work in people’s lives as they actively share the gospel. Their home is now a house church for Khmu, Lahu and Akha people groups. Some believers walk miles each Sunday to attend services. Interest in Christianity is quietly growing. In 2015, Keo led more than 24 people from various backgrounds to Christ.

Keo said there are 60 “larger” Khmu villages in his district, with an estimated combined population of about 50,000. He distributes shortwave radios, provided by VOM, so people can listen to Christian programs in the Khmu language. VOM also helps provide vocational and ministry training for area church leaders.

VOM workers are concerned for Keo’s safety, so they are careful to provide help without drawing too much attention. A Laotian man with a similar passion for Christ disappeared recently.

Keo continues to place his trust in the Lord and knows his future is in God’s hands.

“Please pray for me to have strong faith and follow God and know how to lead my family to walk with God,” he said. “Pray for the people around me to know God through my life.”