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

New Year, New Openings
At midnight on the 9^th February this year, if you were to stand on the roof top of a house in Vietnam, your senses would have been overwhelmed with a plethora of sounds and sights.

 

In the background you would have seen and heard an impressive display of fireworks welcoming in the first day of Tet (or Lunar New Year) – this year is the Year of the Rooster.  As you looked around you would have seen some families standing on rooftops straining to see the fireworks through the numerous high-rise houses in front of them.  Others would be consumed with offering incense to their ancestors, the spirits of whom they believe come to visit them at this time of year.  And all this takes place to the traditional music resounding through the sky of…Abba, singing “Happy New Year”.

 

Tet is the biggest event of the Vietnamese calendar, and most Vietnamese look expectantly to the new year ahead, and wonder what it may bring.  Sadly, though, it is not a time when many come to know the Lord.  The majority are caught up to varying degrees in all the rituals and superstition that surround this time of year. 

 

For the church in Vietnam, though, this new year is a time of new openings and opportunities, as two events take place over the first weeks of the year -  the expansion of the Bible school, and the first General Church Conference for 5 years.

 

The Bible school opened in 2003 with 50 students, and is now in its 3^rd year.  However, this year sees an expansion of the college as a new batch of first year students join the existing 3^rd year (of 4 years) students.  Praise God that they have had permission to expand in this way, and may the Lord provide for all their needs in terms of facilities, materials, etc.

 

The last General Church Conference was held in 2001, and was a most significant meeting.  Soon after it was held, the Tin Lanh (“Good News” – the name given to the Open evangelical churches in Vietnam) church was given official government recognition.  This gave them an opportunity to press for matters such as the opening of the Bible school, and printing of more Christian literature.  May the results of this conference (held from March 1-4) also be as significant for the expansion of God’s kingdom in Vietnam.

 

Praise God for:

• Permission for expansion of the Bible school, and for the General Church Conference
• The progress that has been made since the last General Church Conference in 2001

 Pray that:

• The new Bible school would have all the facilities and materials it needs to function effectively
• The new and existing Bible school students would be fully equipped to serve the Lord in Vietnam
• The outcome of the General Church Conference would be the expansion of God’s kingdom in Vietnam