UBS-Laos Partnership

By Jenise Lee,

It was an ordinary Sunday in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. But this church was abuzz with activity and noise as the young people gathered for the morning service.

The Lao Evangelical Church is the largest denomination in the country enjoying official recognition. As a visitor that day to Anou church (a member of the LEC), I was an onlooker, yet I found that the energy and vigour of the young people there was infectious. The decibels may go up by a few notches when there are young people around – but so does the creative flair and the sense of fun. And the noise they make is a price well worth paying for their lively conversation, smiles and laughter.

The high proportion of young people in Laos is reflected in its Christian congregations like this one at Anou church, in the capital, Vientiane. All shoes were removed and left at the church entrance. Once inside all the worshippers sat on floor cushions – though I, as a visitor and non-Laotian speaker, was directed to the back of the church, where the interpretation headsets were provided.

Genuinely excited

It is estimated that young people currently make up 60 per cent of churchgoers in Laos and that percentage is growing. Consequently, they are a real source of life – not just in churches, but in Laotian communities generally.

Young people in the choir at Anou church, in the Laotian capital, Vientiane.On this Sunday the young people spilled gradually into the church. But unlike their peers in countries such as Singapore, New Zealand and the UK, who prefer to congregate at the back of the church, these were happy to sit anywhere, and to shuffle forward, without fuss or agitation, when making room for those who came later.

They all seemed genuinely excited to be in church that Sunday morning – but once the service actually started they became extremely attentive, focussing exclusively on the worship.

Young people have a great ability to influence each other. And what they may lack in experience, they make up for with their creativity and fearlessness. It is this boldness that drives them to share their faith, this personal conviction that keeps them focussed on the importance of being relevant to their community.

'With all our hearts'

“We do what we can with all our hearts to be used by God and be a blessing to the people around us,” said one.

A young man, a member of Anou church, Vientiane, Laos, prepares to give blood on a Sunday morning. The donation session was organised by the church's active young people.

The day we visited they had organised a blood donation drive. Chairs and tables had been set up in the church courtyard – and there were even a couple of lounge chairs in the church office – for volunteers to use as they had their blood taken.

Young people in Vientiane are the tour de force who will continue to influence their community with their boundless energy.