Voice of the Martyrs USA

After Thongkham was assassinated, local Christians and ministry coworkers rallied to support his family, unaware that they too were being surveilled by Laotian authorities as they responded. Those who gathered at the hospital were photographed and questioned. Apart from this intimidation of Thongkham’s Christian brothers and sisters, the police never conducted any investigation into the beloved pastor’s death. But the ministry that the killers tried to stop has not ceased. Sengdara, Thongkham’s wife, is committed to carrying on the work the Lord gave him even as she works through the pain of loss. “I will try to go and reap wherever Thongkham has been sowing,” she said. “Why would I retreat from our brothers and sisters who are bearing such fruit in their life?”

📍 Location: Laos

22 hours ago | [YT] | 1,681

Voice of the Martyrs USA

On the morning of July 23, 2024, Thongkham and Sengdara met with a ministry partner from out of town, and together they went to the church building. When they arrived at their home later that day, Sengdara felt uneasy. Thongkham went around to the back of the house to see to evening chores. After one of their foster children reported that a stranger had come looking for Thongkham, Sengdara went outside to talk to him. She came to the door just as Thongkham turned to face two strangers dressed in black who had let themselves into the yard. She didn’t have time to even call out to him before the men pulled out suppressed handguns and shot her husband seven times. Stunned, Sengdara rushed to Thongkham’s aid. The men waited until they could see that Thongkham was beyond help, then calmly left the yard. Their son, Max, got help transporting Thongkham to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

📍 Location: Laos

3 days ago | [YT] | 1,653

Voice of the Martyrs USA

Rahel sits peacefully in a simple gown and speaks of the comfort she has in Christ. “I am not a very strong person, but God speaks to me,” she said. “So I listen to God’s voice. During my low time, God was with me, and he is strong, and I trust him.” Rahel lives in a part of central Ethiopia where extremist rebels and Muslim groups often target Christians. In April 2023, the body of her husband, Tesfa, was discovered inside their church building along with that of another church member. The two men had been brutally killed, and police are still uncertain who is responsible for the attack. “My situation was very difficult and shocking, but God always encourages me,” she said. “What do I say as a woman of God? I give them mercy, I pardon them. I forgive them.” Rahel knows someday she will see her husband in heaven, and they will both be dressed in imperishable garments.

📍 Location: Ethiopia

4 days ago | [YT] | 2,222

Voice of the Martyrs USA

From the beginning of his ministry in Laos, Thongkham focused his energy on training young people to be faithful to God. He and his wife, Sengdara, invited them into a sort of underground seminary where they could gain knowledge of the Bible and practical ministry skills to equip them to be effective witnesses for Christ and leaders in the church. The couple estimated at the time of a 2023 interview that seven “generations” of young leaders had been through this training and were now training new leaders themselves. The couple faced regular pressure from Communist authorities, who repeatedly interrogated them and threatened them to stop their work and recant their faith in Christ. Thongkham and Sengdara’s perseverance bore fruit. When they returned from Bible school in 2008, there were three known churches in their province. Now, there are more than 90, many of them led by pastors trained by Thongkham himself.

📍 Location: Laos

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,993

Voice of the Martyrs USA

Like most other members of the Khmu tribe in Laos, Thongkham had worshiped ancestral and nature spirits. After his father died, he lived with his uncle, who became a Christian in 2000. Thongkham had heard from his friends that Christians were bad and not to be trusted, so he had little patience with his uncle’s Christian talk. But after six months in the hospital with a serious health issue, he considered the change in his uncle’s life. He prayed that God would heal him and promised to follow Jesus if he did. The pain stopped that night and never returned. Amazed, Thongkham told his uncle about the prayer and met with several believers who showed him the JESUS film. Seeing the gospel in this format and being discipled by a Christian family transformed Thongkham’s life. Years later, he would be killed for his commitment to Christ.

📍 Location: Laos

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,433

Voice of the Martyrs USA

REMEMBERING MARTYRS: In contrast to most of the other apostolic figures, little confusion exists about the place of Paul’s death. According to church history, Paul was beheaded on June 29th in Rome.

Paul’s work to share the Gospel began even before he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus. His rabid efforts to hunt down Christians in and around Jerusalem scattered believers to the wind, planting the Gospel seeds everywhere they went. Paul’s intensity and zeal made significant contributions to Christendom. He produced almost half the New Testament writings with the letters he sent to the churches, set the standard for missionary living, pioneered evangelistic practices, and planted several dozen churches.

Paul’s final thoughts had little to do with regrets and much to do with the satisfaction that flows from grace-drenched living. He wrote to Timothy:


For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

The one who once persecuted Jesus Christ became the one who spent the rest of his days promoting Christ.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,535

Voice of the Martyrs USA

“I used to witness and share the gospel in the village,” Andre said of a village in Benin. “Muslims have a rule you shouldn’t enter the household of an imam. I remember [the imam] coming to my house [after I visited him] and saying, ‘Why did you not come back to speak about your gospel in my house anymore?’” Andre said the imam’s tone sounded more like a threat. He did not visit the imam again. One month later, his wife, Miriam, was attacked and killed. Police investigated the crime but never made any arrests. Andre strongly suspects local Islamic extremists planned the attacked after Andre share the gospel with the imam.

📍 Location: Benin

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,463

Voice of the Martyrs USA

⚽ Egypt is playing in the World Cup soccer tournament. When they play, remember to pray for persecuted Christians in Egypt, a restricted nation.

🙏 HOW TO PRAY: Christians who are outspoken about their faith in Egypt are often beaten or imprisoned. When Christians are attacked or kidnapped by Muslims, the government rarely provides protection or assistance. Christian converts from Islam are often expelled from their families and divorced by their Muslim spouses. They lose their children and their jobs. Pray for Christian converts from Islam who are severely persecuted by their families. And pray that Egyptian Christians will be bold witnesses to Christ.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,147

Voice of the Martyrs USA

⚽ Algeria's World Cup journey has come to an end, but the need to pray for Christians in Algeria remains. Remember to pray for believers who are persecuted for their faith in Christ.

🙏 HOW TO PRAY: Algeria is a shining example of a persevering church in North Africa. Sharing the gospel with Arabs can cause serious problems, but Berber Christians continue to share the gospel boldly in and around Al-Qaida terrorist camps. Recently, more than 60 Algerian Christians were put on trial for activities related to their faith. Pray for God's strength and favor as these bold and faithful believers endure persecution.

📖 LEARN MORE: Learn more about what it means to follow Christ in Algeria at bit.ly/4p33ORg

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 1,672

Voice of the Martyrs USA

⚽ Tunisia plays in the World Cup soccer tournament today. As they play, remember to pray for Christians who are persecuted in Tunisia, a restricted nation.

🙏 HOW TO PRAY: Though Tunisia has a rich Christian history, there are now few churches or Christians in the country. It is illegal for families to persecute their family members who leave Islam, but such persecution still occurs, and local governments still harass Christians. Pray that God will provide places for Christians to meet and that more Tunisians will place their faith in Christ through courageous believers proclaiming the gospel.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 1,628