PERSECUTED FOR FAITH

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” 1 Peter 4:14

Kina*, a 14-year-old girl, faced unimaginable challenges after choosing to be baptized and join the Seventh-day Adventist Church in a remote village in Laos. Although her parents turned hostile and subjected her to beatings and abuse in an attempt to force her back into their traditional religion, Kina displayed remarkable courage and stood firm in her newfound faith.

Kina joined the Adventist church, where she found many friends who were also struggling to be faithful. Her new friends helped her stay strong, and also, encouraged her to have a deeper connection with Jesus each day, which she felt was a gift from the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, Kina was in a difficult situation. She had been beaten, was scared, and was facing a tough decision because she couldn’t go back home and didn’t have any family to turn to for help. The village chief, who was a relative, kindly insisted that Kina obey her parents in all matters. Moreover, Kina did not receive any help from her family.

She instead found temporary shelter at the local pastor’s family house, but the threat of her parents finding her scared her a lot. The pastor, who’s also a Global Mission Pioneer in that region, recognized the danger and kindly relocated her to a trusted relative’s home. During the last confrontation, Kina’s father unfortunately resorted to firing a gun over her head, escalating the severity of her situation.

Kina was physically abused and emotionally scarred. She remained in hiding, unable to return home due to the relentless abuse. Kina is still in hiding in a safe place where she can be faithful to God. Let’s pray that church members will find a way for this girl to escape. Perhaps she will be able to obtain a passport and study at an Adventist boarding school outside the country.

Please, pray for our missionaries, volunteers, and Global Mission Pioneers. Your faithfulness sustains their ministry.

*Names changed to protect identity.

CHALLENGE FOR THE FAMILY: Gather together as a family and pray for Kina’s safety and protection. Ask God to guide her path and provide a way for her to escape from her dangerous situation.