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They came with hammers, knives and accusations. The angry mob was bent on destroying the home of a Christian family—one of the last Christian families in their village in Laos. They wasted no time ripping off the metal roofing, tearing down the door and smashing the concrete walls to the ground.
For years, this village was the Houang* family's home—the house where their four children, two teenagers and two younger ones, were growing up. The villagers were their neighbors they spoke to at the market and community gatherings.
"We are requesting blankets, solar lights and food to support the persecuted believers."
Ms. Lamphan*, Open Doors local partner
But everything changed in August 2025 when one of the Houangs' neighbors shared the gospel with the family. Soon after, the Houang family trusted Jesus and began attending a Sunday fellowship in a nearby village.
It didn't take long for word to spread throughout the small village that the Houang family had become Christians. Outraged at their decision, village elders and local officers confronted the Houangs and demanded they renounce their faith. In Laos (No. 28 on Open Doors' newly released 2026 World Watch List) converts to Christianity are sometimes believed to upset the tribal spirits.
Despite repeated threats, the family refused and continued to attend church. That's when villagers who had once been their friends became their persecutors, hurling curses and insults each time they saw the Houang family—even at the children and teens.
To ease tensions, the family made the temporary yet still difficult decision to stop attending church. At the beginning of this year, they resumed, hoping the villagers would have forgotten. But the threats quickly resurfaced.
On January 6, the villagers issued a final warning: "Leave our village now, or we will destroy your house."
A day later, on January 7, an angry mob showed up at the Houang's home and carried out their threats, tearing the house apart piece by piece.
"Mr. Houang stood nearby with tears in his eyes," says Ms. Lamphan*, one of Open Doors' local partners. "Unable to protect his house, he stayed close to his family, fearing that the villagers might harm him and his family."
After destroying the house, the mob scattered the family's belongings outside the village, along the road. Watch the footage:
That night, the family set up a temporary tent outside the village they once called home to shield themselves from the cold.
Three days later, the Church showed up. Local Christians immediately mobilized to support the family. In the surrounding forest, believers worked with the Houangs to build a temporary house, reusing materials from an old house to construct a small hut.
"We are requesting blankets, solar lights and food to support the persecuted believers," Ms. Lamphan said. "Local leaders and Christians around the area are also searching for a permanent place where the family can live safely."
Because of your prayers and support, our local partners and church leaders can address the family's immediate needs while working on a long-term solution for the Houang family. Please pray for the Houangs—for strength, encouragement and steadfast faith as they continue to endure severe persecution.
*Names changed for security reasons.
