At the beginning of this month, our team was slightly overwhelmed. We were put in charge of a seemingly impossible task. A task of seeking out the Christian organizations for AIM to partner with in the future. Seems easy enough, except we’re in Laos — a closed country. So these Christian organizations, these Unsung Heroes of the country, these people who are being the hands and feet of Jesus in Laos without getting any recognition for it can be extremely difficult to find.
Personally, I was overwhelmed by the task. These organizations weren’t just a Google search away here. How were we just going to stumble upon them?
And then Brad came across this Gospel Music Festival that was taking place on March 20th-21st. After looking into it more, we all had so many questions. How is this event even happening in this closed country? What are the chances this is going on at the very time we’re in Laos? (It clearly wasn’t just coincidence) And how the heck can we get involved?! We didn’t want to just be put in charge of clean up and tear down; we wanted to be all in. See the miraculous stuff; see the healing, and the deliverances. We wanted to see the Holy Spirit move in ways we’d never seen before. Immediately, Brad began emailing the leaders of the GMF. After waiting for what seemed to be forever, someone finally emailed us back.
We shared with them about the World Race; why we’re in Laos in the first place; and most importantly, we told them we wanted to be involved in this as much as possible, specifically praying for people.
This time their response was quick. They told us we could be a part of the prayer teams if we went to the training sessions that were taking place the Thursday before the event began. It was going to be from 8:30am to 4pm at the church. Well, it didn’t take us long to all decide we were on board, even if it meant sitting in a hot, 100 degree church for 8 hours.
The next morning we biked to the church bright and early. The sessions began, and through the course of the day we learned things about the church in Laos that can’t be explained by anything else but the all mighty power of God. Stories that give you goose bumps by the end of them. And we quickly realized we were sitting in the very same room as all the Christian leaders from all over this nation. Every major Christian leader gathered together under one roof to put on an event that would shake this nation and all of it’s people. Talk about a humbling and surreal experience.
That’s when I realized, these leaders; these people who are sitting all around me are the persecuted church here in Laos. The stories of people going to jail, people disappearing for what they believe, people dying… these people have seen all of that and probably more.
Now that is the epitome of Unsung Heroes. I can bet that if I named off every single person who was sitting in that room, no one would even recognize one of their names. Many people in Laos probably wouldn’t even know who they were. But that doesn’t matter because here they are— in a country that is seemingly desolate and unfixable; a country that has strict laws about religion and what you can believe; a country that is so controlled by Satan he’s flaunting it in your face— is a group of on-fire disciples of Christ who are more than willing to do anything it takes to be the hands and feet of Jesus. More than willing to die for their beliefs because I can assure you, if they wanted to be safe, they wouldn’t have been sitting in that room fighting to put this event on for their people.
And the crazy thing is? 5 hours before the event was supposed to begin on Friday the 20th, we hear that the government actually shut down the fields it was supposed to be held at. GMF leaders quickly decided to move the event to the church where we’ve been holding the meetings at. We are immediately asked to head over to the fields and promptly move all stage equipment, stereos, and chairs to the church for setup. After three hours of loading and unloading, we finally get everything to the church when we hear that they still have to get the go ahead from the Laos government to even have the event at the church.
Now, I don’t know about you, but you know you’re on the right track when the Enemy puts up that much of a fight because of one event taking place.
But our God is greater than any scheme of the Enemy. Our God is bigger than any government official. Our God is more powerful than any rule or regulation.
And the Gospel Music Festival happened. But for one night, hundreds of Laos people, hundreds of leaders, hundreds of lost and broken gathered together, and the Holy Spirit was on the move. I saw a desperate people cry out to their Loving Father. I saw a furious hope come alive, and determined hearts lit on fire. I saw Christian leaders take bold stands.
And, I believe I saw the start of a countrywide revival.
Yes, maybe angry police showed up at the end and lined the fences. Maybe the second night of the Gospel Music Festival didn’t happen. Maybe the government shut down all of it. But, maybe none of that matters.
Because, maybe the Holy Spirit can do the unimaginable regardless of any of that. A closed country means nothing to God.
