Pastor Thongkham Philavanh was killed on July 23.
Pastor Thongkham Philavanh was killed on July 23.
Aug. 01, 2024 | Laos

Unknown Assailants Kill Beloved Pastor

[208] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Pastor Philavanh's family.

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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Write your own prayer for Pastor Philavanh's family

  • Father, I lift up the wife & children of my brother Pastor Philavanh. Please comfort them during this very dark time. Give them strength & sustain them through each day. Be near them. Remind them of the hope found only in You. Please bring the men who murdered him into repentance & salvation in You. Thank You for Pastor Philavanh's faithful service.
    April D - USA
  • Father, please continue to comfort and provide for the pastor's family, church, and others who he was connected with. Provide for their needs. May they trust Jesus fully and know your love for each one of them. Thank you. Amen.
    Vicki Y - USA
  • Jesus, comfort this family who lost your precious son Pastor Philavanh. Especially comfort his wife and children and foster children. May they receive Your Holy Spirit to comfort them in this horrible loss. Comfort all the Christians who are grieving and fearful. May the men who killed this pastor repent and turn to You, Jesus. Jesus, help.
    Patrecia J - USA
  • Dear Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ I come to You on behalf of Your people who are being persecuted and abused and traumatized, please give them comfort!
    christine s - USA
  • In the holy name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Yahweh, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of Pastor Philavanh;s family. We ask for hedge of protection, and angels direct from heaven encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • In the peaceful name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Jehovah Shalom, God of peace, as brothers and sisters in Christ we pray for peace for Pastor Philavanh;s family. We ask for provision, a hedge of protection, heavenly angels to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow. - Proverbs 15:25 YLT
    Rob N - USA
  • Doing judgment for the oppressed, Giving bread to the hungry.Jehovah is loosing the prisoners, Jehovah is opening (the eyes of) the blind, Jehovah is raising the bowed down, Jehovah is loving the righteous,Jehovah is preserving the strangers, The fatherless and widow He causeth to stand, And the way of the wicked He turneth upside down.Psalm 146:7-9YLT
    Rob N - USA
  • Father, please send "comfort laborers" to these people. For you said that you are "the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Corinthians 1:4). Help them to grieve not like the world, but as one with hope.
    Rob N - USA
  • Almighty God, I lift up to you these your dear grieving children with the tragic loss of Pastor Thongkham. As only you can, comfort deep within their hearts this loss. Somehow through this tragedy may souls be drawn to Jesus and a closer walk with Him. Holy Spirit bring conviction and repentance to masked men. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Pat US
    Patricia S - USA
  • Dear HeEavenly Father, we thank you for welcoming Pastor Philavanh into your Heavenly Kingdom. We ask that You protect his family and his congregation during this time of mourning. Please help the church to come back even stronger and help his family with provision and strength. We thank You for his time here with us and pray for more salvations! Ame
    Donna H - USA
  • Lord God, I do pray for this precious family and that they would know Your comfort as they grieve. Please provide for Pastor Philavanh's wife and children, and may the foster children find loving, godly homes that will care for them as well. I pray that a new man would rise up to lead this church and boldly proclaim Your truth.
    Danielle H - USA
  • Precious Lord, hear my prayer for these my brothers and sisters...give them resilience, energy, understanding and patience. Give them Your peace that passes all understanding, Your wisdom and make them brave. May all that see them want what they have and please bless them openly.

    In Jesus name I pray, amen. MARANATHA!
    Della H - USA
  • Father I thank you that Thongkahm is with you and his family is in your hands I am sad for the loss his family n church has to endure and your decision to take him so soon, may your spirit n living word give them all strength n encouragement going forward as they grieve please bring healing n justice to this tragedy and your good out of others evil
    Dean B - USA
  • In the powerful name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Jehovah Jireh, God Who provides, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of Pastor Philavanh's family. We ask for Your provision, see Your glory, hedge of protection, angels direct from heaven to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Lord Jesus I commit this person who killed you Man servant into your hands, have mercy on such a one Lord, comfort the grieving family Lord, help them to not give up hope, because you are God, & like bro. Job, Your are always with them, so they should keep holding onto You, the Author & Finisher of our faith, this I prat in Jesus name.
    Jacqueline B - USA
  • Father God, you have not left or forsaken these Christian brothers and sisters who loved Pastor Philavanh so deeply. Please comfort them and especially his family as they grieve his loss. I pray that you will raise up godly men and women to continue the work this Pastor was doing in his community. I pray that this will spread the gospel even more.Amen.
    Julia F - USA
  • Heavenly Father, I pray for the family of Pastor Philavanh's wife, teenage and foster children. He was faithful unto death, and I ask that you will protect his church, and immediate family from more harm and danger. Please bring comfort in their great loss, and provide for any need they may have. May the body of Christ be drawn closer together.
    Rosalind T - USA
  • Father, one of Your children was called home and his family is left behind. We can wonder why would this happen, but we know You are for us and not against us. His family is left to press on. May the God of all hope reach into their lives and provide strength where there is no strength and peace where there is despair. In Jesus name, Amen.
    Bruce B - USA
  • Lord, we lift up the wife and daughters of Thongkham Philavanh to you for grace and peace and comfort in his murder. They are grieved and suffering and please rally the body of Jesus to come and minister to them. Lord, please bring this assailants to justice and through this tragic death, bring forth a bold witness from the believers in this area.
    Forrest B - USA
  • Father, we are deeply grieved to hear of the loss of our dear brother Philavanh. May you bring comfort to his family and church and raise up more leaders like him throughout the country. We know that he is rejoicing now in your presence and that his sacrifice has not been in vain. Thank you for all you did through his ministry in Christ's name, amen.
    Matthew E - USA
  • Father God, I lift up the family of Thongkham Philavanh in the aftermath of his violent death. Please fill his wife and children with Your peace that passes all human understanding. Let them feel Your Presence as they have never felt it before. Please comfort the church and may the church continue strong and bold for You. Please grant forgiveness.
    Sarah H - USA
  • Lord You are the God of all comfort. We ask for Your perfect shalom to envelop this family, congregation and tribe. Help them to move past their grief in Your timing and live to honor Your name. Remind them Lord of the great reward that awaits in heaven which pastor Philavanh now rejoices in
    Lisa H - USA
  • Father in Jesus Name we pray for Pastor Philavanh's family and their foster children , may both physical and spiritual strength be granted , and may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. We pray that no weapon formed against them prosper in Christ Jesus Name amen
    barry p - USA
  • Dear famiky in Christ- I pray that our God will touch hearts before it's too late. Jesus is coming back and great is your reward in heaven. My heart breaks for my persecuted brothers and sisters but I know you're fighting a battle Christ has already won. Stay strong. Keep the faith.
    Susan R - USA
  • Dear Father and Jesus Christ I pray for this woman and her sons and their Foster children! Please provide comfort and earthly provisions as well for this woman and her sons and Foster children! Please don't let anybody else in her family be killed! Help her through this horrible mourning process!
    christine s - USA
  • Father, release an angel to guard this man's home and let Your mighty provision pour into his family so they can carry on without him. Bless his wife & Daughters with strength to go forward in the work. Cause the fear of God to fall on the killers and draw the out of darkness into service for You Oh Mighty God. Cause all government workers to fear You!
    William N - USA
  • Our Father we give thanks for Pastor Phiavanh, his family and their supporting Christians. Surround the family with your heavenly host for protection and also surround them with their Christian community to provide for their needs in this difficult time. We lift them up in prayer before your throne knowing you will bath them in your love.
    Paul M - USA
  • In the name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Yahweh, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You that Pastor Phiavanh's family know that there is none like You. We ask for comfort, for provision, a hedge of protection and angels directly from heaven to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Abba, Father thank You for our beloved Pastor Thongkham Philavanh dedication and service in ministry and discipleship. I pray You would grant his family and friends divine peace and comfort that pass all our understanding during this difficult time of loss. Give them divine strength to continue to stand in the faith I pray in Yahusha's Name.
    Yahleah M - USA
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