Hmong Daw in Laos

People Name:	Hmong Daw
Country:	Laos
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	420,000
World Population:	2,143,600
Primary Language:	Hmong Daw
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	4.00 %
Evangelicals:	3.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Miao / Hmong
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

More than 150,000 Hmong Daw ('White Hmong') live scattered across more than 12 provinces of northern Laos. The Hmong Daw are usually found living at the top of the highest mountains in a particular area. The Hmong Daw have also been dispersed throughout many nations of the world. More than 230,000 live in Vietnam, 220,000 in China, 70,000 in the United States, 60,000 in Thailand, while significant Hmong Daw refugee communities are also found in France, Canada, Australia and French Guiana.

Because the Hmong helped the CIA during the Vietnam War, many refugees were allowed into the United States after 1975.

The Hmong Daw and the Hmong Njua are the only two Hmong groups in Laos. The two often live alongside each other. The Hmong Daw seem to be the dominant culture of the two. Despite their similarities, the Hmong Daw and Hmong Njua speak different dialects and practice different customs. There continues to be a measure of inter-group rivalry and tension between them.

In recent years there has been a tremendous turning to Christ among the Hmong Daw in Vietnam and southern China. Mostly because of Gospel radio broadcasts in the Hmong Daw language, some 100,000 have become Christian. Strangely, however, the revival has not impacted the Hmong Daw in Laos, even though they are able to listen to the same broadcasts. Today there are no more than 1,500 Hmong Daw believers in Laos, out of a total of only 2,500 Hmong Christians.

The recent radio revival is not the first impact this form of media has had among the Hmong Daw. In the mid-1950s whole Hmong Daw villages in Laos accepted Christ after hearing the Gospel on the radio.

Prior to the advent of Communism in 1975, around 10% of Hmong in Laos were Christians, most of whom belonged to churches affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Almost all of these believers, fearing for their lives, fled Laos as the Communists took control of the country. Today they are scattered throughout Thailand and Western nations, leaving behind only a small Hmong Daw church in Laos.

Prayer Points

Pray the revival among the Hmong Daw in Vietnam and China would also impact the Hmong Daw in Laos.
Ask God to raise up laborers to plant churches among the Hmong Daw.
Pray that many of the Christians who fled Laos in 1975 would visit their relatives and share Christ with them.