Lao Evangelical Church
Encyclopedia
The Lao Evangelical Church (LEC) is the largest registered Christian church
in Laos
. It is believed that the church has around 120,000 members (2% of the population) and 200 ordained Pastors. The LEC is headquartered in Nakham Village, in Vientiane
Capital. There are three main churches in Vientiane capital, Nakham, Naxai and Anou church. These three churches are headed by the national leaders of the LEC. As of 2009 there have been no foreigners that have been allowed to become members of the LEC.
The Lao Evangelical Church (LEC) grew out of the work of Swedish Protestant (1890), Swiss Brethren
(1902) and Christian and Missionary Alliance
missionaries (1928). The missionaries who worked in three different parts of the country came together and adopted a constitution to establish the LEC in 1956. The newly formed church was granted corporate status by the Royal Lao Government
in 1960. The change of government in 1975 impacted the church negatively. Between 1975 and 1990 the church did not have any contacts with the outside world as the country remained a closed-door society where religious freedom was restricted. Since the country opened up in 1990, the membership of the LEC has been growing. The LEC recently started a Bible school training programme at its headquarters in the state capital Vientiane. Until now most of the pastors were trained in neighboring countries. Since 1975, no expatriate
missionaries
have been permitted to work within Laos. Although public evangelical activities are not encouraged by the socialist government, the churches in the capital city, towns and rural areas are experiencing considerable growth, especially with increasing youth membership.
Nakham Church is the Head of all the Churches and holds a more traditional service, however not as traditional as Anou church. The Church has Air-Con
. Also it is the only church with an Evening Service.
Sunday Church Schedule:
Sunday School 8:30AM – 9:15 AM
Morning Service 9:15AM – 11:15AM
Lunch 11:30AM – 12:00AM
Afternoon Fellowships (Men, Women, Youth) 1:00PM – 2:30 PM
Evening Service 4:00PM – 5:15PM
Youth Prayer 6:30PM – 7:45PM
If you arrive at the Airport and you take a taxi
ride into town you will pass the church on your left hand side with a big red cross on the top of the building.
Is the most modern church service
, The church does not have Air-Con so it can become hot in the hot season and wet season.
Sunday Church Schedule:
Sunday School 8:30AM – 9:15 AM
Morning Service 9:15AM – 11:15AM
Lunch 11:30AM – 12:00AM
Afternoon Fellowships (Men, Women, Youth) 1:00PM – 2:30 PM
Youth Prayer 6:30PM – 7:45PM
Naxai Church is located near the Japan
ese Embassy. Before the Japanese Embassy there is a small market with a sign pointing down a road saying Providence Primary School. Follow the Sign and you will see the Church on your right hand side.
Anou Church is the most traditional Lao service. Lao instruments are used in many of the songs and they sit on the floor. There is a seated area at the back mainly for mothers and toddlers. The main room has air-con.
Sunday Church Schedule:
Sunday School 8:30AM – 9:15 AM
Morning Service 9:15AM – 11:15AM
Lunch 11:30AM – 12:00AM
Afternoon Fellowships (Men, Women, Youth) 1:00PM – 2:30 PM
Youth Prayer 6:30PM – 7:45PM
Anou Church is located in the centre of the town. Look for road opposite the ST Bank tower on the same road as Lao Plaza Hotel
and the Cultural Hall.
there have been no allowed foreigners to become members or Ordained ministers through the LEC.
(CCA) since 1967, but did not have contacts with CCA from 1975 to 1990 due to the political situation in the country. Ever since the LEC was allowed to relate with overseas Christian bodies, it became an active member of CCA.
The LEC also partners with NMS (Norwegian Missions Society) and also with Mission OneWorld.
and leadership development
. The LEC has been able to provide training through partnerships that have been able to support a few of its leaders to receive education
from seminaries overseas.
LEC Members who seek Theology education on their own with out LEC official, their education will not be accepted. One of the greatest concerns stated from LEC is foreigners taking their youth and training them in "their way".
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. It is believed that the church has around 120,000 members (2% of the population) and 200 ordained Pastors. The LEC is headquartered in Nakham Village, in Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
Capital. There are three main churches in Vientiane capital, Nakham, Naxai and Anou church. These three churches are headed by the national leaders of the LEC. As of 2009 there have been no foreigners that have been allowed to become members of the LEC.
History
Regarding the History of the LEC, the church its self has not provided any kind of official history. However this information has been gathered based on other organizations that have worked with in Laos or have worked with the LEC.The Lao Evangelical Church (LEC) grew out of the work of Swedish Protestant (1890), Swiss Brethren
Swiss Brethren
The Swiss Brethren are a branch of Anabaptism that started in Zürich, spread to nearby cities and towns, and then was exported to neighboring countries...
(1902) and Christian and Missionary Alliance
Christian and Missionary Alliance
The Christian and Missionary Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian...
missionaries (1928). The missionaries who worked in three different parts of the country came together and adopted a constitution to establish the LEC in 1956. The newly formed church was granted corporate status by the Royal Lao Government
Royal Lao Government
The Royal Lao Government was the ruling authority in the Kingdom of Laos from 1947 until the communist seizure of power in December 1975 and the proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic...
in 1960. The change of government in 1975 impacted the church negatively. Between 1975 and 1990 the church did not have any contacts with the outside world as the country remained a closed-door society where religious freedom was restricted. Since the country opened up in 1990, the membership of the LEC has been growing. The LEC recently started a Bible school training programme at its headquarters in the state capital Vientiane. Until now most of the pastors were trained in neighboring countries. Since 1975, no expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
have been permitted to work within Laos. Although public evangelical activities are not encouraged by the socialist government, the churches in the capital city, towns and rural areas are experiencing considerable growth, especially with increasing youth membership.
Leadership
The LEC picks its own leadership and it is self governed, The LEC is ruled by The LEC Committee which is headed by the President of the LEC, Vice Presidents, Secretary, and a Treasurer. Although the LEC is self-governed it still must report activities to the Lao Front of National Construction of the Lao Government, per Decree #92.Vientiane Capital Main Churches
Here is the list of three Main Churches of the LEC in Vientiane Capital.Nakham Church
Is located in Nakham village. There is a Sunday Service from 9:15 AM – 11:15 AM that offer English Translation. There is a Thursday prayer service from 7:30PM – 8:30PM every Thursday Evening.Nakham Church is the Head of all the Churches and holds a more traditional service, however not as traditional as Anou church. The Church has Air-Con
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
. Also it is the only church with an Evening Service.
Sunday Church Schedule:
Sunday School 8:30AM – 9:15 AM
Morning Service 9:15AM – 11:15AM
Lunch 11:30AM – 12:00AM
Afternoon Fellowships (Men, Women, Youth) 1:00PM – 2:30 PM
Evening Service 4:00PM – 5:15PM
Youth Prayer 6:30PM – 7:45PM
If you arrive at the Airport and you take a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
ride into town you will pass the church on your left hand side with a big red cross on the top of the building.
Naxai Church
Is located in Naxai village. There is a Sunday Service from 9:15 AM – 11:15 AM that offer English Translation. There is a Thursday prayer service from 7:30PM – 8:30PM every Thursday Evening.Is the most modern church service
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
, The church does not have Air-Con so it can become hot in the hot season and wet season.
Sunday Church Schedule:
Sunday School 8:30AM – 9:15 AM
Morning Service 9:15AM – 11:15AM
Lunch 11:30AM – 12:00AM
Afternoon Fellowships (Men, Women, Youth) 1:00PM – 2:30 PM
Youth Prayer 6:30PM – 7:45PM
Naxai Church is located near the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Embassy. Before the Japanese Embassy there is a small market with a sign pointing down a road saying Providence Primary School. Follow the Sign and you will see the Church on your right hand side.
Anou Church
Is located in Anou village. There is a Sunday Service from 9:15 AM – 11:15 AM that offers English Translation. There is a prayer service from 7:30PM – 8:30PM every Thursday Evening.Anou Church is the most traditional Lao service. Lao instruments are used in many of the songs and they sit on the floor. There is a seated area at the back mainly for mothers and toddlers. The main room has air-con.
Sunday Church Schedule:
Sunday School 8:30AM – 9:15 AM
Morning Service 9:15AM – 11:15AM
Lunch 11:30AM – 12:00AM
Afternoon Fellowships (Men, Women, Youth) 1:00PM – 2:30 PM
Youth Prayer 6:30PM – 7:45PM
Anou Church is located in the centre of the town. Look for road opposite the ST Bank tower on the same road as Lao Plaza Hotel
Lao Plaza Hotel
Lao Plaza Hotel is a hotel at 63 Samsenthai Road, Vientiane, Laos, located next to the Lao National Museum. It bills itself as the first 5-star hotel in Laos, also most travel guides cite the smaller boutique Settha Palace Hotel as the finest hotel in the city.The rooms of the hotel are described...
and the Cultural Hall.
Foreigners
Foreigners are welcome to attend the three main church services in the Vientiane Capital. They are welcome to assist in translating the church service for other foreigners, however they are not invited to participate in any other way.Churches in Other Provinces
There are multiple LEC Churches throughout the provinces, with no exact number at this time of how many churches there actually are. Major cities generally have at least one LEC Church. However in many parts of the country foreigners are advised not to attend the church services. If you are tourist generally speaking you will not cause any problems if you pop in a church service on a Sunday morning, however for foreigners that are living in Laos attendance at countryside LEC churches can raise suspicions of intentions to mislead the local church against the country and authority. Foreigners living outside of Vientiane who wish to attend an LEC church in their area should check first with other foreigners living there or with the pastor of the church to find out whether attendance would be welcomed or would cause problems.Memberships
At this time only Lao citizens may become official members and become ordained through the LEC. Due to government restriction towards ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
there have been no allowed foreigners to become members or Ordained ministers through the LEC.
Partnerships
The LEC has been a member of the Christian Conference of AsiaChristian Conference of Asia
The Christian Conference of Asia is a regional ecumenical organisation representing 17 National Councils and 100 denominations in 21 countries:- Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan,...
(CCA) since 1967, but did not have contacts with CCA from 1975 to 1990 due to the political situation in the country. Ever since the LEC was allowed to relate with overseas Christian bodies, it became an active member of CCA.
The LEC also partners with NMS (Norwegian Missions Society) and also with Mission OneWorld.
Training
The LEC has its own training center for lay leaders and pastors, however the training is very little and inadequate for solid theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and leadership development
Leadership development
Leadership development refers to any activity that enhances the quality of leadership within an individual or organization. These activities have ranged from MBA style programs offered at university business schools to action learning, high-ropes courses and executive retreats.- Developing...
. The LEC has been able to provide training through partnerships that have been able to support a few of its leaders to receive education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from seminaries overseas.
LEC Members who seek Theology education on their own with out LEC official, their education will not be accepted. One of the greatest concerns stated from LEC is foreigners taking their youth and training them in "their way".