March 6th, 2006 - Sketch of a Country Church
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Vietnamese Quick Facts:
-Population of 80 Million People
-Major Cities: Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
-Buddhism 52%, Catholicism 9%, Cao Dai  18%, Protestant 0.8%, Other 20.8%
-Complete Bible Translation in 1926
-93.7% Literacy Rate
Sketch of a Country Church
It was a few months after the “liberation” of the south in 1975 that the young pastor with his wife and baby followed God’s call to a rural area. Then there was just one elderly believer, who a few months later died leaving them with no believers, and no church building. Now, thirty years later, they have a congregation of about 300 and perhaps the best facilities in the province. Praise God for the faith, courage, sacrifice and sheer hard-work of this couple over so many years, and how He is building His Church.

Materially life is easier now than in the early days, and the opposition and hardships are less intense. But for the pastor many difficulties remain, not least an almost overwhelming workload. Most of the congregation are simple, farming folk, scattered over a wide area. Only a handful of families could be called comfortably off, the majority can make ends meet, but nearly a quarter sometimes go hungry and need material support. Almost all are literate, but very few have the qualities needed for positions of responsibility and leadership in the church, leaving much to the pastor.

The lack of jobs in the countryside means any gifted young people who have the opportunity, move to the city and do not return. Knowing he cannot do everything alone, the pastor has welcomed short-term involvement of many different outside groups who do their part for the sake of church growth.

Besides formal opposition, he also senses very real, dark spiritual powers. His continued burden is simply sharing the gospel with those living nearby, and here opportunities are growing: in the early days people would wave him away, not daring to speak to a pastor, but gradually he has earned trust and now some actually invite him to visit their homes – but where is he to find the time? Several other churches in the province currently have no pastor and have asked for his help but he has no spare time to give.

In a year’s time, the first batch of 50 new, young pastors will graduate from the Bible Institute. How many couples will be like this pastor and his wife, prepared to joyfully embrace the hardships, obstacles and toil of a rural ministry instead a more comfortable position in the city?

Please pray:
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