Advocacy by Christians around the world is being credited as a significant element in securing the release of Rev. Than Van Truong from the Bien Hoa Mental Hospital on September 17, where he had been held against his will for the past year.
Earlier this year, The Voice of the Martyrs reported on the plight of Vietnamese pastor, Than Van Truong, who was being detained the Bien Hoa mental hospital because Communist authorities declared him to be "insane" due to his zeal for God. Kept in solitary and injected with mind altering drugs, he was told that if he would simply cooperate with authorities and admit that their lies were accurate he would be allowed to leave. He refused.
 |
Postcard sent in campaign supporting Pastor Truong |
According to reports, this campaign frustrated and angered Vietnamese authorities and caused prosecuting authorities and Bien Hoa hospital officials to blame each other for the unwanted publicity. Prosecutors were unable to find criminal charges to lay against him, and a doctor at the hospital told his wife that he showed no signs of any mental illness. The hospital committee responsible for re-evaluating Pastor Truong, however, insisted on finding him "delusional" because he persisted on his belief in God.
As Pastor Truong's case became more public, however, the hospital stopped giving him the drugs and allowed his wife to visit him more regularly. In recent weeks, his health began to improve. He began to share the gospel with other prisoners and even baptized some who gave their lives to Christ.
Finally, on September 16, his wife received a telephone call from Pastor Truong, telling her to come and pick him up the following day.
Praise God for Pastor Truong's release and for the faithfulness of God's people in intervening on behalf of this servant of God. Continue to pray for other Christians who continue to suffer in prison in Vietnamese prisons because of their faith in Jesus Christ. We want to thank each of you who joined in the campaign to secure Pastor Truong's freedom. His release demonstrates, once again, the effectiveness of prayer and advocacy on behalf of those in bonds for Christ.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Vietnam and for more information on Rev. Truong, click here.
Population
