It’s not an official obituary, but it reads as if it could be.

Instead, it’s one of the most recent reports out of Laos documenting extreme persecution — No. 21 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List.

Morning Star News reports:

“Pastor Thongkham Philavanh was feeding his chickens and ducks behind his house in Vanghay village, northwestern Laos, on Monday (July 22) when two men on motorcycles, faces covered, arrived.

“After a brief exchange, one of the gunmen fired seven shots into his head and body.

“The assailant’s gun was fitted with a silencer. They escaped as Pastor Thongkham was rushed to a provincial hospital, where he died on arrival, leaving behind a wife and two teenagers. Pastor Thongkham was 40.”

Christian brothers and sisters in Laos are often closely monitored by Communist authorities. Physical threats and violence, the destruction of homes, and displacement of believers from their communities are just a few of the ways Christians are harassed and targeted for their faith.

But with your help, Liberty Relief International can reach out to families who have experienced violence to give them the comfort and support they need in times of trial and tragedy.

You can shine light and hope into dark situations through your generous giving today.

Not only will you make a tangible difference for persecuted believers who need food, water, safety, and shelter in violent areas ...

You’ll also:

• Send Bibles to those who cannot attend worship gatherings in public.

• Provide spiritual support and discipleship materials to brand-new Christians who are eager to grow in the Word.

• Empower LRI’s Christ-centered partners to minister to individuals, families, and devastated communities through trauma counseling, emotional encouragement, and more.

How ever God leads you to respond today, please know how grateful I am for your generosity and your prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer daily for their faith.

In a world where they are largely ignored, may God bless you for putting their needs in perspective today.

In His service,

Mat Staver