“We Have No Voice But We Will Still Worship”: A Church Planter’s Story on the Cost of Faith in a Persecuted Region

When you hear the phrase “Christians in persecuted regions”, what image comes to mind?

Perhaps you picture believers arrested or beaten for their faith, like those in Vietnam, or families in Laos driven from their homes because they refused to deny Christ.

In the Asia Pacific region, Christians are among the most persecuted people groups, and the reality is heartbreakingly broad. According to Open Doors International’s 2024 survey, two in five Christians in Asia (about 40%) live under high levels of persecution or discrimination, and seven out of eleven Southeast Asian nations (including Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia) are identified as condoning or actively participating in Christian persecution. There have been multiple reports of priests killed in Myanmar, shelters burned in Bangladesh, and churches attacked in Pakistan.

While persecution is often brutal and visible, it can be subtle and isolating too. And yet, through every trial, faith stands. Our featured church planter, whose identity we must protect for safety, has witnessed unimaginable hardships and unshakeable hope. Through every trial, he testifies that Christ’s light continues to shine, even in the darkest places.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

(Trigger warning: This story contains details of gunshot and death)

A Legacy of Faith

When my country gained independence in 1975 and the new government came to power, many Christians fled to America, Canada, and other countries. The main churches in the capital were shut down, the majority of pastors left, public worship stopped, and those who stayed faced much persecution and restrictions. And yet, people prayed and worshipped underground, sharing the gospel in secret even as they lived under a constant threat to their freedom or lives.

I’m a third-generation Christian, so I’ve heard stories from my parents about those early years. My father, a church leader, served during those very difficult times when churches were underground. Christians had to be careful, because police could come for you at any time, and once arrested, there were no guarantees that you’d be seen again. My father, along with the other leaders, had already been warned to be prepared for a sudden arrest. I was just a boy then, around ten or eleven years old, and I remember being scared, hearing my parents whisper that the authorities could come at any moment. But I also remember the courage of the believers. The church was small, but people were strong. They refused to turn from Christ.

A Call to Plant

Growing up in a mission-minded family, I always had a vision to be a pastor. As God continued to stir my heart, I studied the Bible in Hong Kong for four years before returning home.

In my country, Christians are a small minority, about 3% of the population, with Buddhism being the largest religion. Besides persecution, I had witnessed many struggles around me, including drug addiction, family issues, lack of education, and corruption, and I believed that only Jesus can save my country. That became my single passion: to see lives changed through Christ.

After serving at an established church as a senior pastor for nearly two decades, I felt God calling me to plant a church. I had taught seminary courses on church planting and sharing the gospel, but I had no real experience.

My two weeks at the City to City Asia Intensive motivated me in more ways than my four years in seminary. It gave me a broader vision and a clear strategy for my ministry. The modules helped me see my city’s needs in new ways and gave me tools that I could actually use. I already had faith and vision, but City to City helped me figure out how to put it all into action.

Faith Through Persecution

Persecution today takes many forms. Christians are barred from high-ranking government roles. We can work in private businesses or as farmers, but not as police officers, soldiers, or senior officials. Even teachers are limited to lower ranks. It’s a quiet but powerful form of discrimination.

Then there are more violent forms. Sometimes, when someone becomes a new believer, local authorities support the villagers in burning or destroying that person’s house. Families are forced to leave with nothing, and their homes, land, and crops are all taken away. In some areas, Christian children are even denied education. And, of course, there are arrests, imprisonment, and even killings.

One of the most heartbreaking cases happened last year. A close friend of mine and a brother in Christ was murdered in his own home, in front of his wife and children. He was a respected leader in his area and had been warned several times. People would come to spy on his home. One evening, a few men came, shook his hand as if to greet him, and shot him in his mouth and his heart. His family saw everything.

What’s even more heartbreaking is the silence from the authorities. Here, we cannot protest or speak publicly. We have no voice. If we speak, they can make us disappear. But we will still worship. Now, his wife continues to lead the community. Despite her grief, she stands firm, and the church is still worshipping. That’s faith. We continue forward, because if we give up, persecution wins.

Persecuted but Not Abandoned

Ironically, before independence, when persecution was less severe, our churches weren’t growing much. But after persecution began, the church multiplied despite hardship.

I believe persecution tests us. It reveals who we are in Jesus Christ. Without persecution, there is no awakening. God allows it because it strengthens us. It makes us depend on Him.

Our lives are very different from places like Europe or America. Every day brings the fear of persecution and oppression. I don’t know what it feels like to have a regular church experience, because for us, every day we have to stay alert and strong. To serve Christ here in my city requires sacrifice and boldness. What keeps us going is the reward we’ll receive from Jesus one day. That’s why we keep planting churches, sharing the gospel, and serving the city.

During this season, when my church has faced challenges, I’ve cried out to God many times. But through those tears, I’ve come closer to Him. I told my church recently, “We must thank God for these trials, because through them, He is shaping us.” One day, when we have our permanent church building, a place that belongs to us, our testimony will be powerful. Those who never face hardship have less to say, but we who have gone through storms will have stories that strengthen others.

Challenges and Prayer Requests

Church planting in a persecuted region requires exercising faith daily, because every day brings a new challenge. At present, the restrictions from local authorities are very concerning. They can make life very difficult for us. Please pray for the protection of believers and that God would open the eyes of our oppressors.

My second prayer request is for our church plant, which has now grown to about 150 members. It has been an incredibly hard but fulfilling journey. We currently rent spaces for Sunday gatherings, but if an owner refuses to continue, we have nowhere to go. My deepest hope is for our community to have a safe place for worship, discipleship, and leadership training. Please pray for financial provision for a church building.

I know our struggles may not stop even after we begin construction; authorities might still try to block us. But we must build the church. Money cannot protect us; only God can. I trust that He will make a way.

Finally, please pray for pastors and church leaders in my nation to be united, mission-minded, and bold in sharing the gospel.

Encouragement for Us

I want to encourage every church planter, whether you live in persecution or in freedom, to resist the pull of comfort. Jesus didn’t remain in comfort; He left His throne in heaven to enter a hard, dark world to save us.

There is no lasting peace here on earth, only in heaven with Jesus. We’re already in an uncomfortable world, called to bring others to Him. Even good things like money, success, or recognition can distract us from God and make us lose sight of our true purpose.

Those in persecuted places know little comfort, yet their faith is strong. Comfort can make us spiritually sleepy, but stepping into discomfort wakes us up. It strengthens our faith and fills us with the power of the gospel. It’s like sitting in the stands versus playing on the field: the game is harder, but it keeps you alive and engaged.

So don’t be afraid to step out of comfort. That’s where real faith begins.

–

We are deeply grateful to this church planter for sharing their journey with us. Their faithfulness reminds us that God’s Kingdom is advancing even where opposition is strongest.

Please continue to lift up other church planters and believers in persecuted regions: for strength, protection, and fruitfulness in their ministry. And ask God how you might play a role in supporting them, whether through prayer, giving, advocacy, or simply spreading awareness.

May their example stir us to boldness in our own walk with Christ. Their story is part of our story. Let’s not forget them.