Last week the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the Thu Thiem church that was ordered destroyed by the Vietnamese authorities. In June the congregation had gathered to begin reconstruction on a building destroyed in July 2000 but the construction was stopped when the authorities confiscated the building materials. When the church gathered again on the site for a service on July 6, the police surrounded the gathering and demanded that all new construction be dismantled by July 12.
According to the Australian office of The Voice of the Martyrs, the Religious Department in Ho Chi Minh City called the church leaders together on July 10 to discuss the situation. They were able to reach an agreement in which the government acknowledged their mistake in taking too long to consider the application for the new building. At the same time, the church acknowledged their error in building the church on farmland before they received a government permit and Pastor Truong Van Nganh agreed to withdraw the letter of protest he had written.
The church is giving thanks to God for His intervention in this matter as well as thanking those who prayed. Continue to pray for the Thu Thiem Evangelical Church, that all the permits will be granted and that they will be able to have a building to gather for worship.
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