Local government officials destroyed a church building and assaulted several believers in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam on December 17, according to a report from Compass Direct. At approximately 7:00 a.m., a large group of officials and demolition workers arrived at the site of the Vietnam Good News Mission and Church and dismantled the building. When hundreds of Christians rushed to the site to try to intervene, police officers repelled them with electric cattle prods. Several Christians were seriously injured, including a child whose arm was broken and a pregnant woman who fainted when jabbed in the stomach. The building, which was built in September, was deemed an "illegal construction" because the believers did not have a building permit. On December 2, the Christians were informed that if they did not tear the building down within two weeks, officials would. However, the Christians' registration attempts over the past year were either denied or ignored and virtually all the buildings in the area were built without permits.
Pray that these Christians will continue to meet together for worship despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25). Pray for healing for those injured in the attack.
Find out more about the plight of Vietnamese Christians at the Vietnam Country Report.