December 2007 Pacific Rim Prayer Emphasis:
The Mangkong of Laos

“Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?” Hebrews 12:9, NASB.

Like many of the peoples of Laos, the Mangkong are poor and uneducated; as many as 75% of the Mangkong have never been to school. Most are subsistence farmers. The more than 130,000 Mangkong live primarily between Thailand and Vietnam in the thin central portion of Laos.

The Mangkong are predominately animists and ancestor worshipers. Incense is burnt and prayers are offered for the dead several times a year. Various other offerings are made as part of daily life in hopes of gaining favor or at least avoiding harm from the many spirits that they fear.

OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) had missionaries working among the Mangkong in the 1950s and 60s. They saw entire villages accept Christ, mostly as people were delivered from demonic oppression and through supernatural healings. By the time that missionaries were expelled from Laos in 1975, a small Mangkong church existed. Mangkong believers have suffered great hardship and persecution over the years, but most have stood firm in their faith.

Pray that:

Mangkong Christian leaders will be identified and receive training and encouragement to start new groups of believers.

God will call mature believers to come and live among the Mangkong and develop a strategy to share the Gospel with them.

Entire Mangkong villages will once again turn to saving faith in Christ.

Mangkong believers will continue to stand firm in the face of persecution.

Mangkong Christians will be bold and effective in sharing their faith with people in their village and in surrounding villages.

A rapidly reproducing church will be established among the Mangkong before the end of 2008.

God will prepare hearts among the Mangkong to receive the Gospel.

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