Oy in Laos

People Name:	Oy
Country:	Laos
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	24,000
World Population:	24,000
Primary Language:	Oy
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	1.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.80 %
Scripture:	Unspecified
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Mon-Khmer
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Some of the Oy live in 21 villages on the fertile Boloven Plateau region of southern Laos and others live at the foot of the plateau. Many of the Mon Khmer groups in the south are grouped together so that the Oy live intermingled with Brau and Ngae peoples. In some ways the Oy are adopting the culture of their neighbors they still cling to ancestor worship rather than accepting Buddhism. Except for the more isolated communities, they do not practice animistic ceremonies except in times of crisis. Then the rituals resume.

There are more than 200 believers today meeting in several churches. The Laos government has persecuted the believers greatly including imprisonment for their pastors.

The Oy say they originated in China and have lived in their present location for 150 years. Their principle farm crop is rice.
The Overseas Christian Fellowship were the first mission to minister to the Oy. Part of their work was a leprosy clinic for 700 lepers in the area. The first believer was a Shaman. After converting to Christ he was murdered by his own people. They gouged out his eyes and dumped his body in the forest.