When three families in a Laotian village became Christians, the village leaders grew angry. They couldn’t tolerate villagers abandoning their ancestral religion or risk others being led astray by the Christian families. The leaders knew they had to do something drastic, to make a statement and warn other villagers away from this foreign religion.
In February, the Christian families were called to a meeting with village authorities and members of the Lao Patriotic Front. The authorities gave the Christians an ultimatum: Leave Jesus or leave the village. The families didn’t hesitate in their decision.