Unity in a divided country

Vietnam is divided in many ways. It has been divided into north and south and has been through several wars. For a few years now, the Christians have found a new, strong unity.

Vietnam is characterised by tribalism, many languages and major demographic differences. The approximately two per cent of Protestant Christians were also very fragmented. They are controlled, monitored, discriminated against, pressurised and persecuted by the state, their environment and their families. Nevertheless, they were unable to form a binding unity. In the midst of a pronounced context of persecution, they were divided and at odds due to their many differences.

However, years of mediation work, much prayer and personal meetings led to the founding of the national Evangelical Alliance in September 2020. 36 churches, denominations and organisations joined forces to form the Vietnam Evangelical Alliance VEA. Today there are already 43 members.

Our ACP partner in Vietnam has been significantly involved in this process from the very beginning. Reverend Ho Tan Khoa, President of the VEA, formulates the goal of the Vietnamese Alliance as follows: "Our vision is to unite the church in Vietnam, strengthen cooperation and partnership, promote evangelisation and church building among the 54 tribes throughout the country and serve the people."

The new, strong unity among Protestant Christians is a thorn in the side of the Vietnamese state. Meetings have been repeatedly broken up by the police. And for the last national meeting in October, the government only granted authorisation for one day. But the leaders are creative - without giving any further details.