Photo: Morning Star News
On October 23rd, an evangelical pastor in Laos was found murdered after he had been kidnapped and badly beaten. His body was discovered near his motorbike in a forested area outside Donkeo village in Khammouane province.
According to an eyewitness, three men in a black truck had seized Sy Seng Manee a few days earlier. At the time, the bystander thought the men were capturing a criminal, and so he did not intervene – only to realize later that he had instead witnessed the pastor's kidnapping.
Local residents believe that Sy, also known as Pastor Seetoud, was murdered because of his religious beliefs and evangelistic work. According to church leaders, his activities were being monitored. In fact, prior to the abduction, he had received warnings from local authorities, as well as relatives and neighbours, that he could face harm if he continued to share his faith.
While Christians are officially free to practise their faith and preach the Gospel in Laos, they often encounter opposition from local authorities and residents. Previously, back in 2018, Pastor Seetoud had been arrested and briefly detained for his evangelistic ministry. For more reports addressing the persecution of Christians in Laos, go to our country report.
Remember the family and friends of the late Pastor Seetoud in your prayers. May God's grace and comfort fill their hearts, bringing them an unexplainable peace and joy in the midst of sorrow – knowing that this faithful minister of the Gospel has gone on to receive his eternal reward. Pray that those responsible for this attack will be brought to justice, in hopes they will turn from their wicked ways and seek God's forgiveness and salvation. Please also pray for the continuance of evangelism in this community, asking that Pastor Seetoud's death would not be in vain, but that the Lord would use his life's witness to draw many more people to Jesus Christ.
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