Yoy in Laos

Introduction / History

Yoy is a member of the Northern Tai language family. All Yoy are adequately bilingual in the national language, Lao. Indeed, to most outsiders there is no visible or cultural differences between the Lao and Yoy. The distinctiveness of the Yoy is confined to their language.

Tai Yoy people live in Khammouan Province in central Laos. They live at the juncture of three districts: Nakay, Grommarol and Bouarapha. A slightly larger number live in Thailand.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The lifestyle of the Yoy people is similar to the peoples around them. Most are farmers.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Yoy are professing Buddhists, although a close inspection of their religious practices reveals a regular dependence on spirit-appeasement and animism.

In many respects, Buddhism has lost some of its authority over the inhabitants of Laos in recent decades. Before the advent of Communism in 1975 it was already showing signs of decay.

One early missionary summarized the conflict between groups in Laos that are outwardly Buddhist, yet in reality know very little about the faith they so boldly profess: "Ask any person you meet a few questions about the sage who propounded the faith they are supposed to hold, and it will be speedily discovered they...know little of the life and less of the teaching of him whom they apparently worship. The great moral precepts of this religion are not taught to them, are unknown to them."

What Are Their Needs?

The Yoy live in a part of Laos with few known churches. They have lived for centuries with little knowledge of the abundant life they can receive only through Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Ask God to send his children to show the Yoy people the way to the cross and teach them to disciple others.

Pray the Holy Spirit would prepare the hearts of the Yoy to humbly accept Jesus Christ.

Pray for the Lord to send dreams and visions to Yoy elders, preparing them to open their communities to Jesus Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project