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The 101-Year-Old Enemy of the State
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During more than 80 years of following Jesus Christ, Bounsaen’s faith has been seen as a threat to animist communities in Laos as well as to the country’s communist government. Bounsaen abandoned his life as a witchdoctor after meeting a Christian woman at the age of 20. And although he initially read the Bible to impress her, he soon came to faith in Christ. He continued to worship God during his country’s civil war between communist Pathet Lao insurgents and the Royal Lao Army, and during the rise of communism when the Lao Patriotic Front sought to eradicate Christianity from their newly conquered country. Bounsaen eventually left a position in the military to lead a church whose pastor had been killed for his ministry work. The communists persecuted Bounsaen often, sometimes sending police officers and soldiers to interrogate him. He was arrested and imprisoned three times in the 1970s and continued to face persecution as he led the church. In the decades since, Bounsaen’s faith has only grown bolder. “When we have our Christian celebrations [now],” he said, “we invite the officials of the Lao Patriotic Front to come join us at the church.”
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Today, the church where Bounsaen served is almost 100 years old. And with more than 500 members, it is the largest church serving the Khmu ethnic group. Bounsaen no longer preaches every week, but he occasionally gives the opening prayer and continues to visit and pray for those who are sick. Though his body has grown frail with age, Bounsaen’s spirit remains strong. He told a front-line worker that he would like to go to Bible school now. “My heart has just wanted to serve the Lord since I was 20 years old,” he said. “Now I am tired physically, but my heart is not tired for the Lord’s work.” VOM provided hearing aids for Bounsaen last year, and he is now able to listen to Christian radio programs in the Khmu language. He also listens to sermons on an MP3 player. Bounsaen’s message for his brothers and sisters in Christ around the world reflects his love for those he has served so faithfully for more than eight decades: “Do not forget the Christians in Laos.”
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