An evangelical church in Ho Chi Minh City has been ordered to cease construction on their church building and to destroy what has already been built by July 12. According to reports received by The Voice of the Martyrs in Australia, police originally destroyed the Thu Thiem Evangelical Church in July 2000. The believers continued to meet on the concrete slab for four months until moving to a house church.
On June 9, the congregation quietly began rebuilding at 4:00 a.m. Two hundred police officers descended upon the congregation three hours later, surrounding the site and attempting to stop the building project. According to a report from Compass Direct, the church's pastor, Truong Van Nganh and Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang, a Vietnamese Mennonite activist, spoke with the police, who reluctantly left when they realized they could not legally stop the building project. A gang of troublemakers arrived later in the day and tried to provoke those who were praying nearby. Authorities were called in to remove the agitators and, while there, cut off the electricity to the site. However, the church had a generator and continued working. Eventually construction stopped when the authorities confiscated the building materials.
On July 6, Pastor Truong called the people together for a service at the site. Police surrounded the 140 believers who met and ordered them to dismantle the new construction by July 12. On July 8, police interviewed the assistant pastor for most of the morning and it is expected that Pastor Truong will be questioned today.
The church has received support from Christians throughout Vietnam, including a letter of solidarity written by two Catholic priests. The church members are asking for Christians around the world to join with them in prayer during this difficult time. Pray for wisdom and strength for Pastor Truong and the other leaders as they deal with the authorities.
Population
