Missionaries in Laos press on to their commission to see people come to saving faith

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In 2016, the Laos communist government passed Decree 315 that requires prior permission to carry out religious activity beyond a religious group's building.

The law enabled the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) to prohibit religious activities or beliefs that differ from policies, traditional customs, laws or regulations, and may stop any religious activity threatening national stability, peace, and social order or affecting national solidarity or unity between tribes and religions.

Due to the decree, native missionaries trying to teach the message of the gospel in neighbouring villages were either delayed or denied.

According to native missionaries, the law restricted the rights of Christian activities. They could not visit another village freely as they did before. They had to get a paper of approval from the local authorities and state the purpose of their visit and the names of those visiting.

According to the U.S. State Department's 2018 International Religious Freedom Report, some religious officials were detained even if they carried a proper travel authorization. But in most cases, the problem was resolved within a few hours.

The report adds that "Religious groups must submit annual plans of all activities, including routine events, in advance for local authorities to review and approve. The decree states nearly all aspects of religious practice – such as congregating, holding religious services, travel for religious officials, building houses of worship, modifying existing structures, and establishing new congregations in villages where none existed – require permission from a provincial, district-level, and/or central MOHA office."

Apart from law, the native missionaries also face natural obstacles like heavy rain and flood. They are poor and sometimes cannot afford their food. They even do not have enough funding to support travel costs for evangelism and follow up.

In the midst of so many obstacles, the missionaries press on to their commission to see people come to saving faith in Christ.