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Vietnam

• Authorities Crushing Christian Minorities

  

  A new report from Human Rights Watch announces that the oppression of Vietnam's Christian "Montagnards" (meaning "mountain people") has reached a critical state. The report, Persecuting "Evil Way" Religion: Abuses against Montagnards in Vietnam, claims government authorities have arrested Christians, detaining them sometimes for days or even months at a time. Many of the detainees, who follow a form of evangelical Protestantism not recognized by the government, were also beaten.

  Periodic bouts of persecution are nothing new among Vietnam's Christian minorities. Such treatment has been especially harsh in the Central Highlands, an area where Protestant missionaries worked both before and during the Vietnam War. Today, many of the ethnic minority tribes there still practise evangelical Christianity.

  While Vietnam's constitution contains a guarantee of religious freedom, it only extends as far as the government allows. According to the Human Rights Watch report, persecution of the evangelical Christian minority became official policy in January 2013 when the communist Vietnamese government passed "Decree 92." The new law clamped down on religious groups not registered with the government, prohibited the "manipulation of freedom of belief and religion," and outlined "propaganda against the state" and threats to "national unity." To learn more about persecution in Vietnam, click here.

  Pray that the Lord will greatly strengthen the resolve of His people in Vietnam, enabling them to persevere in spite of severe opposition. May they have the reassurance of His peace and protection as they endeavour to love and serve Him with joy. Ask that He pour out His Spirit upon these faithful Christ followers so they may be mightily used to reach those who have yet to know Him personally as Saviour -- including those in governing authority.

• Pastor and Son Brutally Attacked Again

  Pastor Quang

  Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang and his son Nguyen Quang Trieu were recently attacked by a group of seven young men while uniformed police looked on and did nothing to prevent the assault from happening. An additional 20 thugs joined the original attackers in the beating which took place at the church of the victimized Christians. Two other pastors tried to intervene by helping the victims but were also hurt in the process. Pastor Quang suffered several injuries, including a broken finger, a cut eyelid, as well as wounds to his face. His son also sustained various injuries.

  Earlier this year, Pastor Quang and a colleague experienced a brutal assault in broad daylight near their Bible college. The institution has been the target of several serious attacks which sources believe is part of a strategic plan by Communist security forces to oppose their freedom of religion. (For more information on this incident, visit our website.)

  Please bring this injured pastor and his son to our Lord Jesus in prayer, asking Him to surround them both with His peace and comfort as they recover from this brutal assault. May their hearts not be consumed by fear but instead with an even greater faith so they can continue entrusting their very lives to Him. Also pray that religious freedom will be upheld for Christians and other minorities in Vietnam.

  To learn more about the persecuted church in Vietnam, visit our website.

• Pastors Violently Attacked in Broad Daylight

  Pastor Quangin the hospital after the attack.

  Two pastors were brutally attacked by five men near their Bible college on the afternoon of January 18th. Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang and his associate pastor were assaulted with bricks and rocks and, after collapsing to the ground, were kicked relentlessly. Both men were taken to the emergency department of the hospital. Pastor Quang sustained broken ribs, as well as facial wounds, including a broken nose and injuries to his teeth and jaw. He was later transferred to a local hospital for further treatment and observation. Thankfully, VOM Australia has provided the necessary funds to cover his treatment costs. At last report, no arrests have yet been made.

  Pastor Quang and his Bible college have been targeted multiple times within recent years. In an attack that took place just this past November, nearly 300 assailants threw stones and other objects at the school building. (For more information on that previous attack, visit our website.)

  Please pray that the Lord will completely heal and restore both of these pastors. In particular, pray that the symptoms of Pastor Quang's more serious injuries will quickly abate. As these men recover, ask God to strengthen their resolve to fully commit themselves to their ministry work, granting them and all those affiliated with the Bible college divine protection from any potential further attack. Let us also remember the perpetrators of this crime, asking the Lord to extend His mercy and bring them to sincere repentance.

  To learn more about the difficulties that our Christian brothers and sisters are enduring in Vietnam, go to the Vietnam Country Report.

• Bible College Attacked for Seventh Time

  Mennonite Bible College after the attack.

  On November 2nd, Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang was leading his Bible college church in southern Vietnam when nearly 300 perpetrators began throwing stones and other objects at the church. This most recent attack damaged areas of the building that had just been repaired after previous similar incidences of violence.

• Bible School Raided, Students and Pastors Beaten

  The Bible school was rebuilt after initially being demolished in 2010.

  At 11 p.m. on June 9th, several hundred people -- including police, government officials, civil defense authorities and hired thugs -- raided the Mennonite Bible School in Binh Duong province.

• Praying Christians Brutally Assaulted by Police

  Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City Photo: Flickr / Jorge Lascar

  On July 31st, a group of Christians in Ho Chi Minh City were assaulted by police while gathered in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral for prayer. They were praying for the resolution of land disputes because the government has been trying to confiscate their properties. Police and security personnel forcibly ended the meeting, dragging the Christians onto buses. Those who resisted were brutally beaten. As a result, several had to undergo medical treatment in hospital.

  In recent years, prayer vigils and peaceful protests have been held by Christians in response to the unlawful confiscation of land by the government. In June of 2012, authorities in Nghe An Province attempted to confiscate land owned by a church in Quy Chau District. In this situation, the parishioners were violently attacked by a large group which left many with serious cuts and bruises.

• Praying Christians interrupted by police

  Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is reporting a group of praying Christians in Ho Chi Minh City were assaulted by police.

  On July 31, a group of Christians gathered in front of Notre Dame Cathedral to pray for the resolution of their land disputes in which the government is trying to confiscate lands.

• Church Worker Dies in Police Custody

  On March 17th, a Vietnamese church leader reportedly died in police custody after being severely beaten and possibly electrocuted. Vam Ngaij Vaj was an elder at a church affiliated with the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), a legally recognized religious denomination, and a member of the Hmong ethnic group from the Ðãk Glong district in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

  Vam was detained for "destroying the forest" while clearing brush from his field with his wife. The police claim he died after accidently putting his hand into an electric socket. However, photographs taken soon after his death reveal severe bruising on his back and neck, leading witnesses to conclude he was beaten violently before his death. Members of Vam's community believe the official charge of "destroying the forest" was merely an excuse to terrorize local Hmong Christians.

  Many of these believers now living in the Central Highlands are originally from the northwest of the country, where Christian communities are subject to arbitrary arrest, beatings by police, forced or coerced eviction, and fines for converting to Christianity. Over the past two decades, they have fled the north in large numbers as a result of religious persecution, hoping they would be able to practice their faith freely further south. Last month, CSW received reports of Hmong Christians being subjected to various forms of harassment and intimidation by the authorities (and local thugs working with them), including destruction of property, violent physical assault and confiscation of land. To learn more, go to the Vietnam Country Report.

  May great comfort rest upon Vam's surviving family and community, knowing that he is no longer suffering but rather enjoying the glorious presence of our Lord whom he so willingly and faithfully served. Pray that those representing every level of Vietnam's government would be mindful of the great value of human life, holding those responsible for Vam's torture and consequential death accountable. As a result of this tragedy, may the government be more vigilant to ensure the rights for religious freedom are upheld, thus preventing further violations against Hmong Christians and other believers.

• New Government Policy Undermines Church Movement

  Threatened by an increasing number of independent churches and religious communities, including the rapidly growing house church movement, Vietnam's new government policy continues to control, restrict and penalize religious groups and their organized activities. Under Communist rule, Christians and their church leaders in Vietnam suffer harassment, arrest and imprisonment, all under ambiguous charges of threats to national security, public order, unity and national tradition.

  Although January 1st ushered the unveiling of a new government policy (ND-92 is a revision of the former, less-detailed ND-22), this latest one is more restrictive, providing the government with additional legal tools for control and repression. By impeding the day-to-day functioning of church groups with even tighter reporting, registration and permission restrictions, there is the increased risk of diminishing the rapidly growing size and number of churches within its borders. Yet, despite the government's latest and deliberate effort to suppress the spread of the Gospel, it has been proven historically that the growth of the Vietnamese church during times of persecution actually heightened. More information and past reports are available for review at the Vietnam Country Report.

  Pray that the faith of these Vietnamese believers will become more fervent despite the government's attempts to implement further restrictions and repression, bringing forth greater blessings to the church as a whole. In fact, may this time of persecution serve to be instrumental in the expansion of the Lord's everlasting kingdom. In addition, may Vietnam's governing officials, and those of legislating bodies throughout the world, recognize that with political leadership and power comes great responsibility and accountability to our Almighty God.

• Update: Pastor's sentence upheld

  An appeals court has upheld the 11-year sentence given to Nguyen Cong Chinh, 43, a Vietnamese believer who pastors a Mennonite church banned by the government.

  In March, the pastor was found guilty of giving interviews to foreign media and for posting articles online that "distorted the country's religious and human rights situations" (for more, click here).

  Vietnam is one of the world's few remaining Communist nations. Though Vietnam's constitution provides for freedom of worship, the government continues to restrict organized activities of many religious groups. Only government-controlled religious organizations are allowed.

  Pray that God will grant Nguyen a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Pray that God will use the time Nguyen spends in prison to further His kingdom. Pray that authorities in Vietnam will respect religious freedom.

  To learn more about our persecuted family in Vietnam, go to the Vietnam Country Report.