“When I am alive, I want my life to glorify our Lord’s kingdom”

Please keep Thong and his family in your prayers. 

Thong Chan, a Khmu Christian, spent 13 years and eight months in prison in Laos for his faith. He was released earlier this year.

Thong was arrested June 8, 1999, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. On February 2, 2012, he was released, two years early. VOM supported him and his family while he was in prison, and provided medical care after his release.

Below are excerpts of an interview conducted by VOM staff shortly after his release.

VOM: You don’t seem like angry or bitter about being in the prison. Were you angry about having to be there?

Thong: I don’t feel regret, but on the other hand, I give thanks to the Lord. Even in prison, I knew that God was with me, and I knew what He had done for me on the cross. It is greater than what I have been through in prison.

What was the time that you felt the lowest or when was it the most difficult? What was the worse time for you?

The worst time was from 1999 to 2001 — about three or four years — because in that time, I didn’t have a Bible. I was also just a new believer, but I still had peace in my heart. When I got a Bible or radio, I would read and listen to grow my faith every day.

So during that time when you didn’t have anything at all. Why did you stay faithful to God?

I remember something I heard on the radio. The speaker said that our Lord is the God who created the world, the universe. When I remembered his words, I would think about the earth, the stars and the moon, and I saw the glory of God. How great God is! If no one can create them, how can they exist? When I look at them, I see that they are real. It comforts me and supports me and caused me to depend on my faith during that time.

Is there anything that you want to say to the people who prayed for you?

I was in jail. I know how hard the life is, but I want to encourage believers in America to be strong in their faith. I know many Americans have not accepted Jesus Christ yet, but you have the freedom to proclaim Jesus and share the Gospel. Go evangelize in the name of Jesus because you can. You have the right to read the Bible, to pray and go to church. Please, do that.

Please pray for my country Laos, that God will change the country to be the land of the Lord. Pray that everyone accepts Jesus Christ because I know that nothing is worthy in this life except becoming a Christian and following Jesus Christ.

Thank you to my brothers and sisters in America, Canada and many other countries for your faithful prayer. I know that I am still alive today because of your faithful prayer. I am now sharing my testimony because of your powerful prayer.

Please pray for my life from now on. When I am alive, I want my life to glorify our Lord’s kingdom. I want to share the gospel and do good things to glorify Him. Pray for me. Pray for my family to minister, and pray that God will provide what we need.

To read the full interview, click here. For more information on the persecuted Church in Laos, visit our Laos Country Report.