Thu Thiem Church in Vietnam Given Temporary Approval

[MORTARDUDE]

Thu Thiem Church in Vietnam Given Temporary Approval
July 11, 2003


Prayer and intercession made the difference

From VOM Australia--VOM received news today from a representative of Thu Thiem house church on which we reported recently. The church was under threat of total destruction and the leaders were being interrogated by the police. In the meantime the Pastor had sent a letter of protest to the Government.


At 3 pm of 10 July 2003, the Religious Department of Ho Chi Minh City called Pastor Truong Van Nganh, two members of the Thu Thiem house church committee, and Rev Tran Ba Thanh, member of Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Evangelical Church (South Vietnam), to discuss the situation and consider the following agreement.


-Thu Thiem house church made a mistake to build the church on farmland before they received a permit from the government.


-The government made a mistake to take too long to consider the application to build the Thu Thiem house church.


-The Religious Department of Ho Chi Minh City hereby gives temporary approval for the Thu Thiem house church which will be permitted to have services in the church during the time the government gives consideration to permitting them to build a permanent church. During this time Pastor Truong will take responsibility for security issues related to church meetings.


-Pastor Nganh agrees to withdraw the appeal letter he had sent to the government office.


Both sides signed agreement to these conditions at 4 pm on 10 July 2003

Members of the Vietnamese community expressed their gratitude that circulating news about the plight of the Thu Thiem Church and calling Christians around the world to prayer has brought a measure of relief to the situation.