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COMPILED BY LANCE COLKMIRE
lance_colkmire@pathwaypress.org
Historic Christian Rallies in Vietnam
HANOI, Vietnam (Com- a powerful personal narrative praise songs such as “Sing Halle- drug addiction. His story, simply
pass Direct News)–Protestant followed by a gospel message, lujah to the Lord.” Witnesses said and humbly told, proved an
history was made in Vietnam and an extended time of prayer the music was accompanied by effective bridge to a Christmas
on December 13, when 12,000 for the nation. As at the previ- tasteful, emotionally engaging evangelistic message by Pas-
people gathered for a Christmas ous event in Ho Chi Minh City dance. Top Vietnamese artists tor Pham Tuan Nhuong of the
rally here. The event, which that house-church Christians had performed, including new songs Word of Life house church. Then
took place in the large square in long worked and prayed for, the by Vietnamese songwriters, and the winsome Pastor Pham Dinh
front of the entrance to My Dinh program featured music from a Vietnamese choir of 80 sang, Nhan, a top southern house-
National Stadium in the heart of Jackson Family Ministries of the as did a Korean choir. church leader, gave a disarming
Hanoi, was said to be 10 times United States. A young man in his 30s, but strong invitation to follow
larger than any prior Protestant In a world of globalized gos- who now pastors two house Jesus, witnesses said.
gathering in history in northern pel and praise choruses, songs churches, told the crowd how Organizers said approximate-
Vietnam. Two days earlier in included hymns such as “How an encounter with Jesus proved ly 2,000 people then poured
southern Vietnam, an estimated Great Thou Art” as well as classic more powerful than the grip of forward in response, packing the
40,000 people attended a large area in front of the stage.
Christmas celebration in Ho Chi The final portion of the pro-
Ho Chi Minh City
Minh City. gram included a time of intense
Local sources said long- prayer for the nation, with pas-
requested written permission for tors confessing and praying for
the Hanoi event, titled “Praise righteousness for Vietnam’s lead-
Jesus Together,” never came in ers, as well as for God’s protec-
spite of several reminders. But tion and blessing on their land.
four days before the rally was to In their prayers they claimed Viet-
take place, Hanoi authorities and nam for Christ, witnesses said.
police told organizers–in words A high point for the throng
as close as they would get to was the superimposing of a large
granting permission–that they white cross on a yellow map of
would “not interfere.” Vietnam on the backdrop. As
“One can hardly overesti- the Korean choir sang a spirited
mate the importance of such revival hymn, the crowd raised
an event in the lives of northern thousands of hands and explod-
house church Christians,” said ed in sound.
one long-time Compass source. Until recently–and still in
“For many, this will have been some places–most Vietnamese
the first time to join in a large meet in small groups in homes,
crowd with other Christians, to knowing at any time there could
feel the growing power of their be a hostile knock on the door,
movement, to hear, see and par- a source said. “None of these
ticipate in the high quality, and groups is registered or recog-
deeply spiritual mass worship.” nized by the government,” the
Witnesses said the throng source said of the crowd at the
deeply appreciated a program of Hanoi rally. “What you see is
outstanding music and dance, Christians standing up!”
28 EVANGEL • MAR 2010
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