Unknown Assailants Kill Beloved Pastor

On the evening of July 23, 2024, Pastor Thongkham Philavanh, 40, died after an attack at his home in northwestern Laos. Two masked men approached him in his yard and spoke to him before shooting him several times. Thongkham’s wife rushed him to the hospital, but he died on arrival. Thongkham 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, Thongkham was closely monitored by authorities and had been warned to stop his Christian activities. The pastor leaves behind his wife, two teenaged children and dozens of foster children who found shelter in the family’s home. “Last night, our community was shattered by the tragic loss of our beloved pastor,” one church member wrote on Facebook. “His profound wisdom, unwavering faith and boundless compassion touched the lives of so many.”

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