Despite being a picturesque network of rivers and channels, it is one of the poorest parts of Vietnam. About a fifth of the country's poor live in the area, and from 28-42 percent of the populations of the 12 Delta provinces are defined as poor.
Although the Delta conditions provide a good environment for rice growing (a major Vietnamese export), many in the region remain poor (either because of middle men who drive a hard bargain, or other factors such as the Delta floods in the year 2000 that affected over 1 million people).
The Mekong Delta is not only a materially poor area, but it is also spiritually poor. Although there are a few churches in the major towns and cities in the region, many people remained unreached by the gospel. Indeed, reaching them can be hard, as in many cases, there are no roads or pathways to people's homes - the only access is by water. Praise God, though, for those who have taken up the challenge, and are seeking to reach them using boats.
When an individual or family does believe, there is then the problem of how to attend church. In many cases, the only way is to meet at home in cell groups. Yet, through this way, the believers have been able to greatly strengthen one another, and encourage each other when opposition to their new-found faith comes along.
Please pray:
Praise God:
