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Update from Vietnam
Posted by
Bob Fetherlin
,
23 April 2007
·
687 views
I'm currently with Gary Benedict and two leaders from Simpson University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Yesterday I asked our C&MA partners from the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Tin Lanh) about how many believers they thought there were now in their family of churches here. They stated that there are now more than 1,000,000 believers associated with Tin Lanh. That means the Alliance-related family of churches in Vietnam is now the largest of any of our partner churches around the world, and more than twice the size of the Alliance family of churches in the USA!
I thank God for the vision and passion that brought Alliance missionaries to Vietnam back in 1911. From then until 1975, they poured themselves out among the people of Vietnam. Churches were planted, men and women were nurtured in Christ and taught the Scriptures, loving compassion was demonstrated, and leaders were trained. In 1975, there were about 125,000 believers associated with Tin Lanh. From then until now, this family of churches has grown more than eight-fold . . . without the help of foreigners. This is so encouraging!
While here, we've had meetings with the Bureau of Religious Affairs and Tin Lanh leaders to explore a partnership between Simpson University and Tin Lanh. The purpose of the partnership is to help with the training of Tin Lanh church leaders at the master's level. The training delivery is being designed so that church leaders can stay in their places of ministry. With the government's permission, Simpson University will offer some courses in Vietnamese in Vietnam, in partnership with and at the invitation of Tin Lanh. Some students from Vietnam will apply for government permission to study in Redding, California on the campus of Simpson University as well. Distance learning options are also being explored as a part of this partnership.
While here, we've visited the land granted by the government of Vietnam for the building of a new campus for Tin Lanh's Institute of Bible and Theology. Building plans have been approved and preparations are being made to construct this new campus. At present, 115 Bible and theology students (15 of whom are from the north) are in training in temporary facilities to serve as Tin Lanh church leaders. It is hoped that the new campus can create opportunity for the number of leaders being trained to expand so that the leadership needs of this growing family of churches can be met well.
Bureau of Religious Affairs leaders shared with us the document detailing the new government policies on belief and religion. We are encouraged by progress being made, and are grateful for the Tin Lanh family of churches in Vietnam!
I thank God for the vision and passion that brought Alliance missionaries to Vietnam back in 1911. From then until 1975, they poured themselves out among the people of Vietnam. Churches were planted, men and women were nurtured in Christ and taught the Scriptures, loving compassion was demonstrated, and leaders were trained. In 1975, there were about 125,000 believers associated with Tin Lanh. From then until now, this family of churches has grown more than eight-fold . . . without the help of foreigners. This is so encouraging!
While here, we've had meetings with the Bureau of Religious Affairs and Tin Lanh leaders to explore a partnership between Simpson University and Tin Lanh. The purpose of the partnership is to help with the training of Tin Lanh church leaders at the master's level. The training delivery is being designed so that church leaders can stay in their places of ministry. With the government's permission, Simpson University will offer some courses in Vietnamese in Vietnam, in partnership with and at the invitation of Tin Lanh. Some students from Vietnam will apply for government permission to study in Redding, California on the campus of Simpson University as well. Distance learning options are also being explored as a part of this partnership.
While here, we've visited the land granted by the government of Vietnam for the building of a new campus for Tin Lanh's Institute of Bible and Theology. Building plans have been approved and preparations are being made to construct this new campus. At present, 115 Bible and theology students (15 of whom are from the north) are in training in temporary facilities to serve as Tin Lanh church leaders. It is hoped that the new campus can create opportunity for the number of leaders being trained to expand so that the leadership needs of this growing family of churches can be met well.
Bureau of Religious Affairs leaders shared with us the document detailing the new government policies on belief and religion. We are encouraged by progress being made, and are grateful for the Tin Lanh family of churches in Vietnam!
