'Mum, Dad. I've got something to tell you.'

• Father, grant your children courage to be steadfast and immoveable in Christ, in the midst of opposition from family and friends, bearing witness to his life in speech and action. Amen.

It all started about 10 years ago, when she found a small book about creation in a friend's home. This young Vietnamese girl lived in a province just south of Ho Chi Minh City. She grew up visiting the pagoda regularly with her family, who were strongly influenced by her uncle, a famous monk in that area. He was much loved and respected, and when he passed away, he continued to be revered in family worship. So, surely, wasn't it his influence in the spirit world that led to his niece being accepted into a prestigious university in Ho Chi Minh City?
     
While studying in the city, a desire to improve her spoken English skills brought this young woman into contact with foreigners, one of whom knew of this 'Creator' mentioned in the booklet she'd read many years before. The new friend explained the difference between Buddha and the Creator of the world, and also told her about the Creator's Son. After careful consideration, the girl decided that she believed in this Creator and his Son.
     
Instinctively, she knew that it would not be right to keep visiting the pagoda with her family. Her parents were fairly casual about it anyway, so it would be easy to make excuses. But to forget her uncle and to cease praying to him? Would total commitment to the Creator God really cost this?
     
She enjoyed her first visit to church; particularly the story from the man at the front. But she was confused - a Vietnamese woman at the church said that she prayed and prayed to this Creator God, but that he didn't seem to hear her. So was this new religion really any different from going to the pagoda?
     
And in general discussions about religion, this Creator drew scathing criticism from the girl's very best friend. Could she confess her own desire to follow a despised Creator God? And how could she ever tell her parents?

Christianity is far less socially acceptable in rural areas than in the cities. On hearing of her daughter's faith, one mother replied, 'It would be better if you had never been born.'

Update
At this time, the Holy Spirit has done a wonderful work in this young woman's life, giving her great joy in studying the word and in prayer. However, she has still not told her parents. Pray for her and her parents at this time, that God will touch the hearts of them all. For those who would like to pray on.

Many Vietnamese enjoyed the lights, gifts and festivities of Christmas. Now it's time for 'Tet', the Vietnamese New Year and their closest equivalent to Christmas, a joyful time when family members scattered around the country all go home.

• Pray for those who have learnt of Christ at Christmas. And especially pray for the faithful witness of those who are the sole Christians in their families during the Tet reunion.

The Vietnamese government has set three key goals for 2007: growth in GDP of 8.5 per cent; increased reforms to streamline administration; an intensified fight against corruption.

• Ask that these goals would be achieved through wise and just governance that improves the living conditions of ordinary Vietnamese people, especially those in rural areas.

The 50 students who graduated from Bible College last year are currently being assigned to their new churches. In comparison, every year 2000 students in Ho Chi Minh City alone attend Buddhist 'universities' and colleges, many with the goal of becoming monks and teachers of Buddhism.

• Grant the recent Bible College graduates such a vision for the lost, that they would be willing to go to remote and difficult locations to build our Lord's Church. Ask that church leaders would also be strategic in sending these students out. Rejoice in the power of the Holy Spirit, who is able to multiply the efforts of the faithful few and open the eyes of the thousands still in darkness.

Vietnam has been a member of the WTO (World Trade Organization) for just two months now. It is anticipated that this change will bring opportunities to some, but hardship to others through increased competition.

• Pray that Christian business people, both Vietnamese and expatriate, would set good examples of ethical practice and godly priorities in life and time management. May they also show compassion to business associates and friends who may struggle as a result of the WTO changes.

Last year, mobile phone subscriptions in Vietnam doubled to nearly 20 million users. All communication here is highly monitored, even mobile phone calls and text messages. A new law requires all 'pre-paid' mobile phone users to register their names (some 80 per cent of all mobiles are currently 'unregistered').

• The authorities will now be able to track who is making the calls, so do pray that Christians will be 'wise as serpents and gentle as doves' in their communications. Pray for protection.