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Vietnam

• Bible School Raided, Students and Pastors Beaten

  The Bible school was rebuilt after initially being demolished in 2010.

  At 11 p.m. on June 9th, several hundred people -- including police, government officials, civil defense authorities and hired thugs -- raided the Mennonite Bible School in Binh Duong province.

• Praying Christians Brutally Assaulted by Police

  Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City Photo: Flickr / Jorge Lascar

  On July 31st, a group of Christians in Ho Chi Minh City were assaulted by police while gathered in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral for prayer. They were praying for the resolution of land disputes because the government has been trying to confiscate their properties. Police and security personnel forcibly ended the meeting, dragging the Christians onto buses. Those who resisted were brutally beaten. As a result, several had to undergo medical treatment in hospital.

  In recent years, prayer vigils and peaceful protests have been held by Christians in response to the unlawful confiscation of land by the government. In June of 2012, authorities in Nghe An Province attempted to confiscate land owned by a church in Quy Chau District. In this situation, the parishioners were violently attacked by a large group which left many with serious cuts and bruises.

• Praying Christians interrupted by police

  Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is reporting a group of praying Christians in Ho Chi Minh City were assaulted by police.

  On July 31, a group of Christians gathered in front of Notre Dame Cathedral to pray for the resolution of their land disputes in which the government is trying to confiscate lands.

• Church Worker Dies in Police Custody

  On March 17th, a Vietnamese church leader reportedly died in police custody after being severely beaten and possibly electrocuted. Vam Ngaij Vaj was an elder at a church affiliated with the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), a legally recognized religious denomination, and a member of the Hmong ethnic group from the Ðãk Glong district in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

  Vam was detained for "destroying the forest" while clearing brush from his field with his wife. The police claim he died after accidently putting his hand into an electric socket. However, photographs taken soon after his death reveal severe bruising on his back and neck, leading witnesses to conclude he was beaten violently before his death. Members of Vam's community believe the official charge of "destroying the forest" was merely an excuse to terrorize local Hmong Christians.

  Many of these believers now living in the Central Highlands are originally from the northwest of the country, where Christian communities are subject to arbitrary arrest, beatings by police, forced or coerced eviction, and fines for converting to Christianity. Over the past two decades, they have fled the north in large numbers as a result of religious persecution, hoping they would be able to practice their faith freely further south. Last month, CSW received reports of Hmong Christians being subjected to various forms of harassment and intimidation by the authorities (and local thugs working with them), including destruction of property, violent physical assault and confiscation of land. To learn more, go to the Vietnam Country Report.

  May great comfort rest upon Vam's surviving family and community, knowing that he is no longer suffering but rather enjoying the glorious presence of our Lord whom he so willingly and faithfully served. Pray that those representing every level of Vietnam's government would be mindful of the great value of human life, holding those responsible for Vam's torture and consequential death accountable. As a result of this tragedy, may the government be more vigilant to ensure the rights for religious freedom are upheld, thus preventing further violations against Hmong Christians and other believers.

• New Government Policy Undermines Church Movement

  Threatened by an increasing number of independent churches and religious communities, including the rapidly growing house church movement, Vietnam's new government policy continues to control, restrict and penalize religious groups and their organized activities. Under Communist rule, Christians and their church leaders in Vietnam suffer harassment, arrest and imprisonment, all under ambiguous charges of threats to national security, public order, unity and national tradition.

  Although January 1st ushered the unveiling of a new government policy (ND-92 is a revision of the former, less-detailed ND-22), this latest one is more restrictive, providing the government with additional legal tools for control and repression. By impeding the day-to-day functioning of church groups with even tighter reporting, registration and permission restrictions, there is the increased risk of diminishing the rapidly growing size and number of churches within its borders. Yet, despite the government's latest and deliberate effort to suppress the spread of the Gospel, it has been proven historically that the growth of the Vietnamese church during times of persecution actually heightened. More information and past reports are available for review at the Vietnam Country Report.

  Pray that the faith of these Vietnamese believers will become more fervent despite the government's attempts to implement further restrictions and repression, bringing forth greater blessings to the church as a whole. In fact, may this time of persecution serve to be instrumental in the expansion of the Lord's everlasting kingdom. In addition, may Vietnam's governing officials, and those of legislating bodies throughout the world, recognize that with political leadership and power comes great responsibility and accountability to our Almighty God.

• Update: Pastor's sentence upheld

  An appeals court has upheld the 11-year sentence given to Nguyen Cong Chinh, 43, a Vietnamese believer who pastors a Mennonite church banned by the government.

  In March, the pastor was found guilty of giving interviews to foreign media and for posting articles online that "distorted the country's religious and human rights situations" (for more, click here).

  Vietnam is one of the world's few remaining Communist nations. Though Vietnam's constitution provides for freedom of worship, the government continues to restrict organized activities of many religious groups. Only government-controlled religious organizations are allowed.

  Pray that God will grant Nguyen a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Pray that God will use the time Nguyen spends in prison to further His kingdom. Pray that authorities in Vietnam will respect religious freedom.

  To learn more about our persecuted family in Vietnam, go to the Vietnam Country Report.

• Officials destroy two new church buildings

  Vietnamese officials in Muong Cha district, Dien Bien Province, destroyed two new church buildings belonging to ethnic minority Hmong Christians and threatened to tear down a third.

  The Ho He Church, erected in April by the unregistered Vietnam Good News Mission, was demolished on June 17. The Phan Ho Church of the registered Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) was destroyed days earlier on June 13. The church building threatened with demolition, The Cong Church, also belongs to the Vietnam Good News Mission.

  The Hmong Christian movement in Vietnam's Northwest Mountainous Region has grown from virtually nothing to some 400,000 believers in the last two decades. The Hmong Christians remain under heavy government suspicion and are regularly objects of harassment and sometimes outright persecution.

  According to a trusted source, these incidents demonstrate the dysfunction of the government's church registration regime. More than half of Vietnam's Protestants remain unregistered. Hundreds of these congregations have tried to apply for registration, only to have officials simply refuse to accept the applications. Others are told they cannot register because they are not legal or because there are no Christians where they live.

  Pray the Lord will encourage the faith of these believers, particularly the church leaders. Pray that in spite of these setbacks and the opposition they face, God will fill the believers' hearts with peace beyond comprehension as they bring their needs to Him with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7). Pray that God will soften the hearts of those opposing Hmong Christians in Vietnam.

  Visit the Vietnam Country Report to learn more about the opposition our brothers and sisters face in Vietnam.

• Christian families forced to leave village

  These Christians in Southeast Asia hold the charred cross from their destroyed church.

  Officials in Cao Bang province in northern Vietnam are continuing in their persecution of Christians (read the story). Recently, two Hmong families were forced to move from their village by local officials who demanded they give up their new-found faith or leave.

  Those who live in Cao Bang are very poor and still practice ancestor worship; those who convert to Christianity are forced to leave the village. Instead of giving up their faith, the two Christian families moved to Thai Nguyen province. Although the land is inadequate for farming, they are happy to be able to freely worship God.

  Please pray for these families and other Christians from Cao Bang province as they are forced to establish new lives in new places. As sufferings overflow, pray that their comfort in Christ will be more than enough for them (2 Corinthians 1:5). Also pray that God will soften the hearts of the Cao Bang authorities.

  For more on Vietnam's persecuted Church, go to the Vietnam Country Report.

• New believers expelled from villages

  In northern Laos and across the border in northern Vietnam, Hmong Christians suffer raids by the communist police.

  Hmong believers in Vietnam are facing opposition from village authorities because of their faith in Christ.

  Three families were expelled from their village in Cao Bang province, in northern Vietnam, because of their recent adoption of Christianity. Each family came to faith after a Hmong Christian worker prayed for an ill family member and the family member recovered from illness. The families, which include a total of 13 people, must find a new place to live because officials will not allow Christians in their village.

  Likewise, in Thai Nguyen province, also in northern Vietnam, a Hmong family was compelled to leave their village because village leaders opposed their Christian faith. One family member was very ill, but she recovered after moving to a Christian village and receiving prayer.

  Praise God for His work among the Hmong people and for using them as His witnesses. Pray for these families who have lost everything to follow Christ. Ask the Lord to supply all their needs. Pray that they will grow stronger in their faith, and that their testimony will encourage others to know Jesus.

  Please visit the Vietnam Country Report to learn more about our persecuted brothers and sisters in Vietnam.

• Pastor sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment

  Pray for Christians who are imprisoned for the witness.

  A pastor of a banned Mennonite church was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for undermining national unity. State media reported that, on March 27, Nguyen Cong Chinh was found guilty of writing and spreading material that slandered government authorities and "distorted Vietnam's domestic situation." It also accused him of having affiliations with anti-government groups. Chinh is reported to have repeatedly complained to outside organizations about Vietnam's mistreatment of religious minorities and lack of religious freedom.

  Pray for Nguyen's release, in the Lord's good timing. Ask the Lord to minister to Chinh, his family and his church and give them the strength to remain faithful. Pray that God will provide opportunities for Chinh to clearly share the gospel for which he suffers (Colossians 4:2-3).

  Go to the Vietnam Country Report for more on Vietnam's suffering Church.