Day 18
Vietnam
When a family came to know Christ, their relatives responded angrily and expelled them from their home. The local Church responded by building the family a new home, but insufficient funds prevented them from finishing. The community mocked the Christians, saying that God didn’t seem to be looking after them. After praying, donations came in, and the congregation saw that God did indeed provide. Pray that God strengthens the Christian Believers. Pray that communities may see tangible evidence of God’s love, care, and provision for those who follow Jesus Christ (The Bible, Genesis 16:13).
Source: How Vietnamese Christians are keeping the faith despite losing their homes and churches (Open Doors)
Vietnam is a former French colony. It is also one of the last Communist strongholds in the world. Like in all authoritative regimes, corruption and persecution are rampant. Some traditional churches are allowed to operate freely. Any Church that attempts evangelism or tries to engage in social service faces severe persecution not limited to prison sentences. Christian Converts are usually from minority tribes. This factor increases their persecution level more than others in Vietnam. China is the key trading partner for Vietnam despite maritime border disputes in the South China Sea.
