Boun Phommachanh

Boun Phommachanh, age 74, went home to be with the Lord on  March 19, 2021.  He was born November 7, 1946, in Savannakhet, Laos. He graduated from college and was a school teacher while attending graduate school to become an engineer in Laos.  In 1980, he and his family fled to Thailand from the communist authority and were refugees in Thailand for a little over 3 years.  While in the refugee camps in Thailand, Boun accepted Jesus Christ in to his life, that was also when he felt the call into ministry.

In 1983, he and his family came to America. Boun was immediately called to be a pastor to the Laotian community in Hereford, Texas, for over two years. He and his family then moved to Modesto, California, and established two Laotian churches: Orangeburg Baptist Church (morning service) and Central Baptist Church (afternoon service).  He served the many different Laotian ethnic groups such as Kmu, and Lue.  Boun then moved his family to Amarillo, Texas, and started a job at Levi’s Strauss as a Lab Technician while serving the Lord in other leadership capacities with the Lao Southern Baptist Fellowship (LSBF).

In 1996, Boun moved to San Antonio, Texas, and served as the Pastor for the International Lao-Thai Fellowship at First Baptist Church.  He and his family also helped the many Karen, Karenni, and the Chin community start their life in American and assisted them with starting their own language church.  Boun believed in the importance of knowledge and the power of education.  He best exemplified this through his own actions and being a role model for his family and the communities he served.

Boun received his GED while in Modesto, then continued his studies and received an Associates Degree in Food Processing. He then attended Wayland Baptist University and received his Bachelor’s Degree (BA), Master’s Degree(MS), and a Doctorate Degree in Theology (ThD). He also wrote Sunday School lessons for the Southern Baptist Convention and led workshops and training sessions.  Boun had a passion for music especially singing and writing songs for the Laotian Christian Community.  Boun loved the church family dearly and compassionately and always felt it a privilege and a joy to be able to reach those who did not know his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Boun was immensely loved by his family and the people he served.

Boun was a loving husband to Somphit Phommachanh; a beloved father to Manolom Phommahaxay, Manoloth Phongsavane, and Manola Panboon; a grandfather to Justin, Nicholas, Bethany, Allison, Zachary, Jaison, and AJ; and, a great-grandfather to Arion Matias-Boun Phommachanh.

Boun was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Soth Phommachanh.

In honor of Boun and in memory of the faith he displayed throughout his life, the family is accepting donations in his name.  Please click on the donation link above the obituary.