House church attacked in Vietnam
by Staff
August 17, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - A house church building in Xi Thoai village, Phu Yen Province, Vietnam was attacked and damaged by a gang of youths on July 18. The building, which was also intended to be the home of Christian evangelist Mang Vuong, was in the process of being constructed in order to serve the ethnic Hroi community as the nearby church had reached full capacity. Vuong belongs to the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), the country's largest government-registered denomination.The same youths, spurred on by local authorities, earlier broke into Vuong's home on June 10 and stole 60 million dong (approximately $3,250 CAD) -- money borrowed to pay the contractor of his new house. Household items including furnishings and books were also destroyed.
Since the attack in June, police from local and provincial levels came to the area several times to "investigate." However, local Christians believe authorities were only attempting to identify the Christians in the village. In the following weeks, authorities did nothing to address the crime and failed to stop the daytime raid in July. "There was no other reason for this -- it is religious persecution, pure and simple, incited and allowed by local government officials," a prominent church leader said. "The inaction of higher officials casts into doubt our country's claim to uphold religious freedom." (Source: Compass Direct)
Pray that believers in Xi Thoai village will not lose heart but will trust the Lord in all things. Pray for wisdom for area church leaders during this time. Pray that authorities in Vietnam will respect religious freedom.
Go to www.persecution.net/vietnam.htm to learn more about the plight of Vietnamese Christians.
