Vietnamese believers call for three days of prayer and
fasting for Christians in prison for their faith.
- Vietnam Mennonite
Church requests specific prayer for strength and
endurance for the prisoners, especially Ms L.
- Pray
for Christians to remain faithful under pressure and
persecution, and for justice to prevail at the hearing
on Feb. 2.
- The proposed time of prayer and fasting
begins from 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 1 to 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 3 in support of the imprisoned Mennonites.
Court Appeal Delayed,
Vietnam Church Asks for Prayer -
Vietnamese Ministries,
January 30, 2005
(Ho Chi Minh City)
The Ho Chi Minh City's
People's Court has announced a delay in the appeal of Pastor
Nguyen Hong Quang and associates set for February 2. Quang's
wife was informed by his defending attorney on Thursday
(January 27); the court did not announce a new date.
Leaders of the Vietnam Mennonite Church on Wednesday
(January 26) had sent out a request to all Christian
communities to observe three days of fasting and prayer from
February 1 to 3.
In a stated capacity as VMC acting president, Mrs. Quang
sent a letter Friday (January 28) saying that the church was
continuing its plans to observe those three days, and called
on all Christian communities to fast and pray for the church
in Vietnam, and specifically for the Vietnam Mennonite
Church. They again called for special prayer for Ms. Le Thi
Hong Lien who is suffering severe mental illness.
Quoting Hebrews 13:3, church leaders wrote, "Remember those
in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those
who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering..."
And they referred to Isaiah 58:6, "Is not this the kind of
fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and
untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and
break every yoke?"
Two of the six arrested leaders were released early December
when their prison terms were completed. The other four were
sentenced to prison terms of one to three years at the
November 12 trial.
Vietnam recently announced that it would grant amnesty to
more than 8,200 prisoners January 31 and February 1 on the
occasion of the New Year.
On Friday (January 28), a BBC release reported that the
European Union was informed that Father Thaddeaus Nguyen Van
Ly, arrested in 2001 for sending to the United States
Congress a report of lack of religious freedom, is going to
be released in this amnesty. Fr. Ly was sentenced in October
2001 to fifteen years imprisonment. In response to
international protests, the sentence was twice reduced.
There was no indication that the imprisoned Mennonites would
be released in this amnesty.
In the request for prayer, the Mennonite leaders wrote, "We
believe with certainty that, with dedicated prayer and
fasting, the Lord will do miracles, and the Lord's name will
be glorified in these days."
