Let me introduce to you Albert. Albert is a man who had a go of being a pastor 40 years ago, he discovered he had some disagreements with the church, and took it as a sign he wouldn’t become a pastor. So instead he headed into the business world. He has made great strides in international business. He has made big deals, has progressed well with his career and he has owned his own businesses. You could say he is very successful and that would be an understatement.
Forty years to the day of him stopping a pursuit of becoming a pastor he was handed responsibility of a church here in Ho Chi Mihn. He was given the leadership as a temporary way of helping his friend out. However, his friend never returned to Vietnam. Now, Albert is the pastor here in Ho Chi Mihn of a expat church, legalized by the government and has not missed a Sunday in over two years. By being originally from Singapore, he is away from his family more often than not. He is faithfully seeking and living out God’s Kingdom here. As he has made numerous efforts to assist the lower socioeconomic classes here through free medical care, upgrading medical facilities and training medical workers of Vietnam. He makes his life about daily striving to be about God’s love and generous gifts.
How do I know all this? Albert graciously invited my teammates and I into his home to tell us his story. As we arrived he showed great enthusiasm of getting to know us and hearing about AIM. He brainstormed ways future racers might be able to do work alongside him, and made us jealous that they’d have a full month of witnessing his incredible dedication and hard work. Then!! He arranged a meeting that afternoon for us with two of his friends who are church leaders. He even opened up his home for us to meet.
Albert is a family man. He is a business man. He is a pastor. He is a dedicated servant. And now, I get to call him a friend.
This month has been incredible of providing opportunities to meet Kingdom builders, like Albert. I’m so thankful for getting to witness the church here in Vietnam and seeing how my expectations of a ‘closed’ country continually are torn down. The people here are doing marvelous things and are advancing his love in such powerful and tangible ways! Please pray with me and my team in thanksgiving as we witness the great work He is doing here.
