3,000 Adventist Christians Found in Vietnam
By Judy Aitken
May 7, 2009
In January, 2009, Pastor Isah Young*, leader of the house church movement in Vietnam, sent three ASAP lay-pastors on an exploratory missionary endeavor. He heard that there was a large group of Christians in a certain area. Pr. Young and these servants of God were well aware that this mission field was known for its communist stronghold and quickly learned that they are against any spiritual activity. They knew that every town is carefully organized by the communist party, every “village” or neighborhood has a communist party leader/chief who reports all suspicious activity to the party and in turn alerts the local police to investigate. No strangers freely come and go. I imagine if I were them, I would wonder where we could safely stay, how we could possibly talk with people about Jesus and share literature and DVDs. I’m not sure if I would be up to this great risk.
Three days prior to leaving their homes in January of this year, the humble workers earnestly bowed in prayer, claiming Scripture and fasting as a means of seeking God’s will for their trip and the leading of the Holy Spirit. God led them to a lady, though a member of the communist party, to their surprise, she was willing to rent her home to them. The Holy Spirit softened her heart to their ministry and impressed her to do everything she could to protect them. Because one of her family members works in a high position in the government, her activities are not questioned. After a month’s time, nine leaders from the neighboring villages were able to come into this home for training. The homeowner ministers to the people that enter her home like an angel would. She even provides food for the missionaries and those who come to the training.
It is a blessing that they do not have to go outside to buy food on a regular basis because of the great risk involved. One time when two of the missionaries were buying fruit in the market, they saw a police officer coming quickly towards them. They immediately dropped their bags and started running in different directions. The police officer picked up speed and started to pursue him. This happened a couple months after they had arrived in the area and many people had already received their materials and knew their good intentions for being there. People from all corners of the market started creating human blockades so the police officer could not catch the missionary. The police called for back-up but they were not successful in arresting him. I believe Psalm 91:11 that says, “The Lord will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways,” was played out in a beautiful way that day.
The strategy God gave the ASAP lay-pastors was to find out who the Christian leaders were first. They met with these leaders one by one, made friends with them and started to gain their trust. They learned quickly from the leaders that there were in fact many Christians in this area who already strongly believed in God. Lay pastor Vinh Trung* reports, “As I shared Pastor Isah Young’s sermons on DVD with them, their faces often lit up when they saw the name Peace & Happiness radio. I found out that it was because of Adventist World Radio’s messages of hope that the animists found truth and became believers.” The ASAP missionaries were puzzled why these believers were not keeping the Sabbath. They learned that pastors from the Sunday church came in and told them that God would be just as pleased for them to worship on Sunday as He would Saturday. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the ASAP lay pastors gently led the leaders and villagers to an understanding of truth from God’s Word. In three months time, they confirmed that 3,000 people in eleven villages in this province have decided to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Praise God for this miracle!
When the police recently caught some of the groups worshipping God on Sabbath in this province, they arrested the people and forced them to labor in the forests. Men, women, and children, young and old, had to either pay an exorbitant fine or resort to cutting down large trees and hauling them to the base of the mountain. The people are not allowed to evangelize or worship with any more than their immediate family who live in the same household. Yet many of them stand for the truth they hold in their hearts. They do not forsake the assembling of themselves for the sake of Christ.
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* Names have been changed, and the picture blurred for the safety of God's servants.