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.
Pastor Y Khen Bdap, who previously served a four-year prison term following his arrest in 2004, has identified the detained Christians as members of his family: his brother, Y Qui Bdap; his son, Y Nam Bkrong; and his nephew, Y Kic Bkrong. Y Qui Bdap is a 40-year-old pastor who serves as the leader of a house church. Police searched the home that the Christian men were renting and then went to their place of employment where the believers were subsequently detained.
Pastor Y Khen Bdap is convinced that the raid took place due to the Christians' affiliation with an unregistered church. In Vietnam, religious groups that are not approved by the government are subjected to frequent harassment and arrests. For more details on the persecution facing Christians in this Southeast Asian country, go to our country report.
While we praise God that the three house church members were thankfully released after only a few days of detainment, please join us in praying for His continued provision, peace and protection as they resume their daily lives and ministry activities. May these believers be further strengthened in their commitment to serve Christ, remaining mindful that according to God's Word it is an honour to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 5:10). Pray also for the ongoing ministry efforts of other believers in Vietnam, asking that our persecuted Vietnamese brothers and sisters in Christ would be encouraged to continue reaching out in their communities with the hope of the Gospel despite the opposition they encounter.
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