Despite the fact that the constitution and religious freedom laws in Laos officially guarantee the right to worship, Christians in rural areas of the Southeast Asian country are being evicted from their homes and being forced to live in the rain forest. Many of the displaced — including children and entire families — are taking refuge in the forests without access to food, safe shelter, or medical care. “It is often the case that an increase in the number of converts leads to higher levels of persecution. This world hates Christ (John 15:18), and in this respect, Laos is no different,” Williams said. With a population of 8 million, the country has about 300,000 Christians — including 50,000 Catholics — which represent less than 2% of the population.