There are times in life where you just can’t believe that you are where you are. That happened several times for me while in Vietnam. One such time, I was sitting in a coffee shop with Caroline and a Vietnamese named Deborah (name changed for protection). She was telling us her testimony and about life in the persecuted church. Sometimes I am taken back to the New Testament of Paul and others, whose purpose was to encourage the persecuted church to keep going.
A registered church in Vietnam
As I sat there, I knew I was sitting with a rare warrior for the Lord. She beamed Jesus. Literally. Like Moses, when he spent time with the Lord on Mount Sinai and came down and glowed, she clearly spent tons of time in the presence of the Lord. She understood Him in ways that I had not, and knew Him so intimately. Her foundation was unshakeable and no trial could waiver her faith. She understood the seriousness of her calling, and never wasted time.
She met her husband (who was days away from becoming a Buddhist monk) 8 or 9 years ago and has one son. They help run the underground church in Vietnam. They have had to move 7 times in the last 7 years because of persecution from the government. Their desire is to train up leaders for the house churches. They do this at night and during secret times so that the government cannot stop them. And during persecution, the church is flourishing. James 1 talks about how trials bring life. So the trial of suffering as a body is bringing about life. One hundred fold. The masses are ready for change. They are ready for answers. They are ready for their souls to be fed. Not by statues or chants, not by clearing the mind, but for something deeper. They long to be swept along into the movement of radicals who bring about change by love. Who do not operate out of fear, but are more concerned with others then themselves. They long to join the vision of change. They want to be apart of the history in the making, they are dreaming once again of new foundations, of a new nation, a new world in which life bursts forth from every seam. The church here on the outside looks small, but once in you realize the depth and seriousness of the believers, you realize it is a war in which they have already won. And the devil knows it. He is screaming because he knows his time is coming to an end quickly, and that the Church in which he has done all that he can to stop, is flourishing. It’s funny; you would think that he would learn that trials and suffering ALWAYS produces life.
A Catholic church in downtown Ho Chi Minh
Deborah’s story was one of many trials. She grew up very poor, and with parents who abused her. She sold vegetables at a local market while attending school, to help provide finances for her family. From the outside, her story is very typical in poor areas. You find this everywhere. But, one day, a Christian lady came to her home and shared the gospel with her. From that night on, she was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and her life changed dramatically. Because of one lady’s love for the Lord, Deborah’s life was radicalized and in turn, hundreds of lives are being radicalized. Never forget your impact for the Lord. Never. Pray for the persecuted church in Vietnam, that it may continue to explode despite persecution, and that finances would come in so that any one who wants to receive training in the church may have the opportunity. And please use your love for the Lord to radicalize our generation.
One of our amazing translators and friends
