Pastor Arrested and Questioned; Organization Calls for Advocacy

 
Rev. Tran Mai praying with church leaders
Photo courtesy of
Praise, Inc.

According to Compass Direct, Pastor Mai, leader of the Inter-Evangelistic Movement, a house-church organization in Vietnam, was arrested at the border as he returned to Vietnam on August 29. He was allowed a call to his wife, but she was not told where he was or what charges he faced.

While in custody, Mai was questioned about his activities abroad, his involvement in literature distribution during the South East Asian Games in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2003, as well as his connection with Rev. Bui Van Ba and Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang.

Mai is an active participant in the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship, which had called for three days of prayer and fasting for the Church in Vietnam on September 5-7. It was during that time of prayer that Mai was permitted to return home. There is no indication yet if charges will be laid against him.

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, together with partners including The Voice of the Martyrs, has published an Advocate Pack with information and addresses, calling on Christians to intervene for their brothers and sisters in Vietnam. The document can be obtained from our website (click here).

Eight days after being arrested, Rev. Tran Mai was allowed to return to his home but ordered to appear at the Ministry of Public Security for questioning the next morning.

Please pray for Rev. Mai, as well as the many Christians in Vietnam facing persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. The next three days of prayer and fasting for the Church in Vietnam are scheduled for October 3-5. We urge believers around the world to plan to participate.

For more information on persecution of the Church in Vietnam, click here.

  • Current Ministry Project

    By helping to provide solid Biblical teaching and training uniquely suited to the needs of a specific tribal group, VOMC is able to equip members of Vietnam’s persecuted church to stand firm in their faith and reach out to others in their communities with the powerful message of the Gospel.

    Project Fund: Underground Church

  • Country Information

    Population
    104,799,174 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Kinh [Viet] (85.3), Tay (1.9), Thai (1.9), Muong (1.5), Khmer (1.5), Mong (1.4), Nung (1.1), Hoa (1), others (5.5)

    Religion (%)
    Catholic (6.1), Buddhist (7.9), Protestant (1), Other (0.8) none (86.3%)

    Leader
    President To Lam (May 2024)

    Government type
    Communist state

    Legal system
    Civil law system

    Source: CIA World Factbook

    Pray for Vietnam

    We can thank the Lord for the tremendous witnessing efforts and steadfast faith demonstrated by the persecuted Christians of Vietnam. May they not be intimidated by governmental stipulations but rather encouraged to stand firm on the promises of God – relying on Him for the wisdom, diplomacy and favour required to deal appropriately with the authorities. Pray for radical changes to take place in the hearts of the country’s leaders, especially those who are responsible for implementing and administering Vietnam's laws, so that the work of the Gospel will continue to thrive.

  • Pray for Vietnam
    We can thank the Lord for the tremendous witnessing efforts and steadfast faith demonstrated by the persecuted Christians of Vietnam. May they not be intimidated by governmental stipulations but rather encouraged to stand firm on the promises of God – relying on Him for the wisdom, diplomacy and favour required to deal appropriately with the authorities. Pray for radical changes to take place in the hearts of the country’s leaders, especially those who are responsible for implementing and administering Vietnam's laws, so that the work of the Gospel will continue to thrive.

Vietnam News

  • Location of 11 Christian Prisoners Unknown
    A prison is in an open area next to mountains in Vietnam.
    A prison in Vietnam
    Photo: VOMC
     

    Human rights organizations around the world are raising concerns about the fate of 11 Christian prisoners in Vietnam. The Christian men were all sentenced to prison at different times between 2011 and 2016. It has recently come to light that their whereabouts remain a mystery, and that the believers who should have completed their sentences by now were not yet released to return home.

  • Christian Found Dead After Meeting with Police
    A meeting of believers in Vietnam.
    Pray that believers in Vietnam will remain faithful to Christ.
    Photo: VOMC

    On March 8th, the body of Pastor Y Bum Bya was found hanging from a tree at a cemetery near his home in the Dak Lak Province of Vietnam. Though local authorities declared the Christian leader's death a suicide, reports indicate that his body showed signs of torture. The believer's death happened shortly after he had been summoned to meet with police.

  • New Regulations Bring Tighter Restrictions
    Flags of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the nation of Vietnam are flying together.
    Flags of Vietnam and the Communist Party of Vietnam.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Vuong Tri Binh (cc)

    With the release of Decree 95, which took effect on March 30th, Vietnamese governing officials declared that the new regulations they were instituting would ensure freedom of belief for all people within the country, enhancing the responsibilities of individual agencies and organizations. The decree expands on the "Law on Belief and Religion" that was implemented in 2018, which outlines additional policies and procedures regulating religious activities in Vietnam.

  • Three Christians Detained
    Nhà tù Côn Đảo (Côn Đảo Prison)
    A prison in Vietnam.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Tycho (cc)

    Vietnamese police detained three members of an independent house church on March 6th. After being held for three days, the detained Christian men were eventually released. Although the three believers are from Dak Lak province, they had been arrested while working for a furniture manufacturer in Dong Xoai, which is located several hours away from their hometown.