(March 18, 2003) A team from International Christian Concern, a Washington-based human right's organization, has just completed a fact-finding trip to Vietnam. The team met in 10 cities with 21 of the 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam.

Christians living in the Central Highlands in the provinces of Lam Dong, Dac Lac, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and from areas north of Hanoi report that persecution is worse than it was at the end of 2002 however, the church continues to grow. In Dac Lac, out of a total of 417 house churches, only 2 remain open. Previous reports indicated that 56 pastors were missing and their families did not know where they were being held or imprisoned. ICC could not verify how many pastors or leaders were missing in the Central Highlands. However, team was able to verify that two out of the eleven imprisoned Hmong pastors have been released.

The pastors and leaders in the Christian community of Vietnam describe facing two major problems. The first problem is police interrogations. Pastors or leaders are issued a formal "invitation" to appear at the police station for questioning. This is not an optional invitation but a mandatory requirement. This harassment can last up to a day or two and is designed to make the pastors nervous so that they will stop their religious activities. Even the wives of pastors are targeted. One official told a preacher's wife, "We always know where your husband is." The second difficulty is the lack of privacy. Pastors are constantly followed. One Hmong pastor told ICC, "I leave my house at 2:00 a.m. to sneak out of the village and I travel by foot for 3 hours in order to preach. At 9:00 p.m., I start for my return trip and arrive back home at midnight."

In addition, many leaders frequently said that the church's greatest difficulties were that their church lacked a place to meet, and that the church parishioners were unable to openly witness to their faith.

Confirmed reports establish the fact that the government continues to deny jobs to believers as well as cut off benefits to the elderly and disabled who are Christians. Some are even beaten to the point of requiring a doctor's care after converting.

One pastor said, "We do not pray that God changes the situation but that the church be strong to endure and stand. God is always faithful."

Christians are urged to write their legislators to support Rep. Smith's upcoming bill, "Vietnam Human Rights Act" which will seek to prohibit non-humanitarian U.S. aid from being provided to Vietnam unless their government shows significant progress in freeing religious and political prisoners and respecting the rights of the ethnic minorities.

International Christian Concern is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that advocates on behalf of Christians persecuted for their faith. More information is available on the ICC web site at www.persecution.org or by calling 1-800-ICC-5441

11:14:32 PM    comment []

OPEN DOORS OFFERS PRAYER HELPS TO SUPPORT PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

OPEN DOORS USA
Jerry Dykstra

• Prayer Force Alert – This is a monthly mailing which summarizes worldwide prayer requests for persecuted Christians.
• Prayer Alert Line (800-488-PRAY) – You can call this number for weekly prayer updates.
• Partners in Prayer – Over 120 groups in 46 states throughout the United States gather regularly in prayer on behalf of the Persecuted Church. Open Doors provides leaders with weekly prayer requests, quarterly prayer tapes, meeting suggestions and personal prayer support.
• Open Doors USA Web Site – Open Doors updates needs on its prayer site on the web.
• Prayer Alert E-Mail – This e-mail bulletin is sent out every Wednesday with breaking prayer requests.

For more information on all these prayer opportunities, contact Open Doors at 888-5-BIBLE-5 or register online at www.opendoorsusa.org.  A list of Partners in Prayer chapters and more information is also available at www.opendoorsusa.org/display.asp?page=pipmain.

Here are just two examples of answered prayer in 2002:

• A Pakistani Christian, Ayub, was sentenced to execution in 1996 for blaspheming Islam and the prophet Mohammed. In 2002, Pakistani courts acquitted Ayub and he successfully fled the country for his life.
• In 1999, the Erfani family fled persecution in their native Iran, only to be denied refugee status in Turkey. In 2002, the Canadian government granted them permanent refugee status.

An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide suffer persecution for their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400 million facing discrimination for being Christian. Open Doors, founded in 1955 by Brother Andrew, author of the best-selling book, “God’s Smuggler,” seeks to serve and strengthen the Persecuted Church in the world’s most difficult areas through training, literature distribution, community development and personal encouragement. To partner with Open Doors call 949-752-6600, go to its USA web site at www.opendoorsusa.org  or write Open Doors with Brother Andrew, PO Box 27001, Santa Ana, CA 92799.

11:00:51 PM    comment []

Prayer Request for Today from Pray For China

The rock group, Rolling Stones, will hold its historic performance in Beijing and Shanghai in early April. The government had insisted that 4 songs, which have strong sexual language and connotation, be banned from the concert and its album. We pray for the day Christian groups can openly perform and concerts held which can openly make invitations for Jesus Christ

10:31:04 PM    comment []