Population : 47,000 or more
Location : north central Laos
Language : Nung 1
Religion : Theravada Buddhism, Animism, Ancestor Worship
% Christians in this country : unknown
Scripture : Bible Portions 1971
Jesus film : none
Christian Radio Broadcast : FEBC
Gospel audio recording : available
The Christmas Story : none
Mission Agency / church planting working among them : 0

The 47,000 Thai Nung of Laos are said to be originally from Yunnan province who immigrated to Vietnam and fled as refugees to north central Laos when the Vietnam conflict began in 1954.

The Thai Nung are hardworking farmers. Their societies are both patrilocal and patrilineal. This means that they live near the husband's relatives and the ancestral lines are traced through the males. Marriages are arranged through a mediator, who negotiates between the man and the bride's parents. Although the Thai Nung men sometimes marry women of other ethnic groups, the women believe in strict endogamy (marriage within their own clans). Wealthy Thai Nung men may have more than o­ne wife, and they all live together in o­ne house. Thai Nung houses are usually clustered closely together. Each house contains an altar to the family's ancestors. The altar is located in the main room, opposite the doorway.

The Thai Nung practice their own ethnic religion, which revolves around ancestor worship  and spirit worship. They have also been heavily influenced by Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The Thai Nung believe that the spirits of their deceased ancestors are alive and need to be fed and cared for. These spirits are said to become hungry and dissatisfied when they are not properly appeased, turning into evil spirits. They also believe in an unseen world of many gods, demons, and spirits. Many shamans (priests or priestesses) live in each village. The villagers depend o­n them to cure the sick by magic, communicate with the gods, and control events. The Thai Nung believe that spirits, or phi, live in the elements of nature, particularly locations such as mountains, rocks, trees, water, and fields. Priests must have the power to control all of these spirits and to protect the villagers from them. When a baby is born, a shaman is always present in order to prevent disaster at the hands of the spirits. When someone dies, the shaman performs a ritual to ensure the safe arrival of the deceased at "the place of the dead." The villagers frequently offer animal sacrifices to appease the spirits. This usually involves the slaughter of pigs, chickens, ducks, or whatever the priest suggests.

The Thai Nung do not have the Jesus film or any Christian broadcasts available to them at the present time. O­nly portions of the Bible have been translated into their native languages. Additional tools such as Christian literature, radio programs, and television broadcasts are desperately needed. Thai Nung in Vietnam and Laos have missions agencies targeting them. 

PRAYER POINTS

• Pray for God to grant His wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are currently targeting the Thai Nung.
• Pray that God will send quality laborers to work among the Thai Nung in SEA.
• Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the few hundred Thai Nung believers.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will complete the work begun in their hearts through adequate discipleship.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Thai Nung in darkness.
• Pray that God will call out prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Thai Nung.