Gospel Ministries and Needs in Vietnam

The relationship between Chinese and Vietnamese had been established since the period of Han's Dynasty in China.  Most of their cultures and customs were common to each other.   In the mid-9^th Century, Vietnamese declared independent from Han's ruling, since then the Han people moved into Vietnam and became immigrants of the country.

 

As of today, Vietnam has population of approximately 1.2 million emigrated from China.  About half of them reside in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as City of Saigon, and the rest are in different areas.  They are mainly from the coastal region of Canton Province in China, and speak Cantonese, Chaozhouese and Fukinese.

 

Ever since the communist took-over the government in 1975, Christianity activities in Vietnam had been banned.  The past influences and growth of the churches became non-existing.  Many church facilities were abandoned and some were closed by orders of government.  The population of Christian was decreased. Current remaining population of Christian is estimated about one thousand and five hundreds some.

The current political status in Vietnam seems to be stabilized in these few years and the economics situation has been improving.  In 1999 the government re-honored the freedom of religion to people and allowed limiting open worship services in Christian churches. All churches have to be approved by government; and the leaders shall be graduated from the government authority approved seminaries.  Currently there are eight Chinese Christian Churches with congregation of approximately 50 to 250 each.  Only two female Chinese Ministers have been appointed as leaders of these churches, and they have been heavily serving all tasks, such as bible studies, fellowship, preaching and etc.  Some of Chinese churches are now pastured by appointed Vietnamese Pastors; however, due to the differences in language and culture, they can merely serve as legal liaisons between government and church.  As far as the caring and gospel ministries are concerned, the laymen believer and deacons of the churches have been carrying out the responsibilities.  The field of spreading gospel in Vietnam has been widened, but lack of ministers.  New believers over there have been waiting for God's called servants who can lead them to the truth of salvation and help to expand the field of the Lord's ministries. Thanks God for His calling in October this year, three members of Friends of Grace have the opportunity to re-visit Ho Chi Minh City under the leadership of Pastor Philip Huynh from the Alliance Church.  The goals for this visit were to host Medical Evangelical Meetings including Sunday worship, mission sharing, musical worship and health seminars.  The responses were quite encouraging. Four hundreds some people had received free medical treatment, and over thousand people (from eight Chinese Churches) attended the health seminar and five rounds of evangelical meetings.  Also they have the opportunity to preach at four different churches on one Sunday, to encourage brothers and sisters in Christ working together for the sake of spreading Gospel.  Let all the Glories be to God!

Friends of Grace are planning to return Vietnam in November 2004 for the third short-term medical missionary trip, and for revival and evangelical ministries.  We just need a respectful heart and devoted attitude toward God, and let every little piece of work be pleased to God. May God give us strength!  We hope you will pray for us in this ministry, and perhaps, can be a part of this ministry.

 

Pastor Huynh feels that disciple training should be the current priority, since the closure of seminaries in the past 27 years gave no opportunity to develop servants for God's tasks.  Although the government has approved the resume of seminary operation, not much Chinese participants can be qualified due to many restrictions from the ordinances.  Fortunately there were two theological training courses sponsored by Chinese churches in the past four years, and that developed thirty some laymen believers and facilitated one seminary course (for Chinese full time minister) from which 11 students are learning diligently with good results.  Pastor Huynh and his fellow workers have been participating in this ministry for more than four years. The costs of these training classes and the scholarships for students have been supported by the MESSAGE, Inc. The students have been going out to different church for internship and some of those have dedicated themselves to the church planting ministries.

 

Pastor Huynh recruited and led tens of short-term missioners to the eight churches serving in different areas.  These participations were the make-up for the needs of these churches, brought in different approaches for pasturing churches and lifted up the local Chinese churches in spirits.

If you are willing to support this ministry, please contact Pastor Huynh directly via email: phtehuynh@hotmail.com