The Voice of the Martyrs sources in Vietnam report that on May 22, 2006 at 2:30 pm, a raid was conducted on the Mennonite house church situated at C5 H1 Tran Nao St, Binh Khanh ward, District 2, in Ho Chi Minh City. As many as fifty security officers, police and hired thugs forced their way into the building, kicked down doors and began to severely beat the pastors, the Christian construction workers and other believers present. They were punched and beaten mercilessly by electric prods and cudgels. Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang received shocks from an electric prod and was beaten by a cudgel. Another church worker, Nguyen Hieu Nghia, was kicked in the chest and struck by a cudgel. Brother Tran Minh Hoa was hit and forcibly pulled down from the roof. The attackers destroyed repairs being done to the house, which also serves as the home of Pastor Quang. All the materials used on the building were confiscated by the authorities and brought to the Binh Khanh ward.
Pastor Quang had apparently received a building permit to repair damage done to the building on July 19, 2005 by security officers who alleged that part of the building had been illegally constructed (click here for details and photos of the original destruction). Authorities claim the recent raid was because the repairs went beyond the scope of the building permit.
A number of church members were arrested, including former Mennonite prisoners Nguyen Hong Quang, Pham Ngoc Thach, Nguyen Huu Nghia and Le Thi Hong Lien. Some were handcuffed and others were dragged to the Binh Khanh ward office where, once they were out of public view, they were beaten further. Some of them were released after a few hours of interrogation. Others were released at midnight. The last to be released was Pastor Quang, who was freed on Tuesday evening (May 23), about 28 hours after his arrest.
Compass Direct noted in a May 26 report that observers are puzzled that Vietnam would risk such potentially negative publicity at a time when it is diligently seeking be removed from the U.S. State Department's list of Countries of Particular Concern of religious liberty offenders (click here to read more). Removal from this list is necessary if Vietnam is to receive entry into the World Trade Organization, which it desires greatly. One source speculates that local officials may have done this independently because of an ongoing animosity against Quang and the Mennonite Church.
Pray that the building project will be allowed to continue. Pray that those who sustained injuries will recover quickly and be able to continue the work God has given them. Pray that they will be able to find joy in the fact that they are able to participate in the sufferings of Christ and find hope in the fact that He will be glorified through them (1 Peter 4:12-13).
For more information on the ongoing persecution of Vietnam's Christians, click here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Population
