Asia: Huge New Christian Radio Signal | 310 | Report 3 & 4

Global Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) was heard ”louder than ever” across Asia from Monday, November 21, after inaugurating two transmitters it hopes will help to reach “millions more people” including “persecuted” Christians in countries such as China.
“We thank God for the privilege of increasing our spiritual footprint in Asia,” said TWR President Lauren Libby.

The transmitters can broadcast in both “analog” and “digital” modes. Digital shortwave will enable TWR to reach both rural areas and large cities with a strong “near FM” quality signal as they are known to reduce fading and interference associated with analog transmissions, TWR explained. Mike Tirone, senior president and general manger of KCBI, a Texas-based TWR affiliate, said he hopes the network will also be able to better serve those who are persecuted for their faith in Communist China.

“I am so excited that now they are going to get the spiritual food and that this is going to help them grow [in God's Word].” Tirone said China’s government has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying Christians are free to  worship within the state-approved churches, but rights groups say many of the estimated 130 million Chinese Christians prefer to worship outside government control, often in home churches.

TWR says it uses the broadcasts in China to help “further supply, strengthen, and fuel the growing house church movement with programmes that offer seminary training, Bible teaching and spiritual encouragement.”

From Guam, TWR broadcasts to what it calls “numerous unreached groups,” including Han Chinese and Cantonese as well as people in North Korea, Burma, and Vietnam who “are largely unreachable except by way of shortwave radio.” Also within range of Guam’s broadcasting site are India and Indonesia who receive “numerous programmes in multiple languages,” TWR said.

Tirone urged company executives and others to become involved in TWR’s mission. “When Jesus saw the sea of lost people, he wept. We need to care about what the Lord cares about.” Founded in 1952, TWR broadcasts from 14 countries as well as through local radio stations, cable, satellite, and the Internet, reaching millions of people in 160 nations in over 200 languages and dialects. It claims to receive over 1.5 million letters annually.

Source: BosNewsLife

BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 107:1-6

PRAISE: God for this major step forward, enabling Christian to be nurtured in their Faith, and unbelievers to hear the Gospel of Salvation in the nations of the Far East, including China, Burma, Vietnam and North Korea.

PRAY: That the Holy Spirit will prepare many people to listen to these broadcasts and come to know the living Christ. Pray that those who prepare programmes may have grace and wisdom.

Vietnam: Jesus Suffered, We Do Too! | 306 | Report 5

The Vietnamese government has made efforts to improve its reputation by allowing Christian churches to register. But when this happens, believers also forfeit control. As a result, many Christians are going underground, worshipping secretly in Vietnam’s mountain region. They are from various tribes – some illiterate, some former addicts, some former witch doctors. But they all want to learn more about God. What they all have in common is persecution for following Christ.
Vietnam’s Christians know that being persecuted for following Jesus is nothing new. “The government says there is freedom of religion, but actually there is a lot of persecution among Christians and other tribes,” ‘Peter’ said. “But I always have freedom, because it doesn’t matter what they allow us or not. I will do what I am called to do.” CBN News asked Peter why they are persecuted while other churches in the world are not. “I think one of the reasons people are not persecuted is because the church hasn’t sent people out to evangelize. The reason we are persecuted is because we are active and are sending people out to evangelize,” he replied.
CBN’s Todd Nettleton says, “As we talk to them about persecution, they’re almost surprised we are asking them because for them it’s normal. It’s what it means to follow Christ,” he explained. “Several of them made the statement, ‘Well, Christ suffered so if we follow him then we’ll suffer too.’” The are speaking up not only for their rights, but for the faith they hold – and the God they love, even if it costs them their lives.

Source: CBN News; Voice of the Martyrs

BIBLE STUDY: Philippians 2:1-11

PRAISE: God that these Christians love Christ to the point of giving their lives. Pray for a great harvest.

Children’s Bibles Make Huge Impact | 303 | Report 26

This year Open Doors has printed 40,000 copies of the Illustrated Children’s Bible, that presents God’s Word through the language of stories that Vietnamese writers and illustrators developed. They were distributed to both house and registered churches all over Vietnam.
One Sunday School class now has hundreds of children in attendance, hungry to hear and learn about God through their dedicated teachers. Open Doors has distributed 200,000 copies of the Illustrated Children’s Bible since 2006. Parents and teachers are also reading it. “Thank God that He has touched many hearts from around the world to pray for us and support us. We want this book introduced to every Vietnamese person and taken to wherever they come from,” said a Christian worker.

Source: Open Doors

BIBLE STUDY: Deuteronomy 11:18-19

PRAISE: God for evidence of a great spiritual hunger in Vietnam. Pray especially for children.

Vietnam: Changed by God’s Power | 303 | Report 25

Vietnam is a Communist nation and the government is hostile to Christian churches. Yet Christians in Vietnam are reaching out to those lost in a world of drugs and despair. At the Emmanuel Full Gospel Church in Ho Chi Minh City men gather everyday to pray, worship and read the Bible. They could pass for seminary students, but in reality all 30 of them are former drug addicts.
Pastor Hung Dinh says that only God’s love has the power to deliver men and women from the bondage of drug addiction. ”They are considered as the garbage of society. Their families and even they themselves give up,” he said. “Most say they have not been successful with rehabilitation centres, but here in the centre they feel the power of God’s love and they experience deliverance…”
Over the past two years the number of drug users in Vietnam has remarkably decreased by 25 percent because the government is serious in giving treatment to drug dependents. But churches there are also playing a very important role in transforming their lives. Hung says police often come to the church and ask him questions. Yet, the success of the church’s ministry to drug addicts has earned it favour from government authorities. “They persecute us and threaten us. I tell them I don’t go against the government. I only do the work of the Lord to teach and to love,” he said. “After they see my faith and see the transformation of the people here, they respect me and they don’t bother us anymore.”

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Ezekiel 36:23

PRAISE: God that atheist regimes cannot deny God’s work in restored lives. Pray for a growing vitality in the Church’s ministry affecting the nation.

AG Of Vietnam Holds First Council | 303 | Report 14

In what is an example of the growth of Christianity in Vietnam, on October 20, 2010, the Assemblies of God of Vietnam (AG) held its first general council in Ho Chi Minh City. The event drew 700 delegates from 39 cities and provinces nation wide. It was also attended by representatives from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, and a number of Protestant organizations from Vietnam and overseas.
The event was full of life, singing, dancing, joyous music and passionate reaching,” states Jeff Dove, a representative of the U.S. AG. “The emphasis of it all was turned from the past and present to the future and what all hoped they could now do for God in openness.”
Since being granted a certificate of operation in September 2009, the AG of Vietnam has already extended ministry to 43 cities and provinces across the country.

Source: AG News & Info

BIBLE STUDY: Daniel 7:13-14

PRAISE: God that this formerly closed nation is beginning to open up to Gospel ministry.

Vietnam: Marking Gospel’s 100 Years | 302 | Report 15

In what is a clear sign of the easing of restrictions on churches by the authorities, Luis Palau will lead a major new mission in Vietnam next year, as part of the churches’ celebrations marking 100 years of evangelical Christianity in that nation. The outreach – the first foreign mission to the country since the fall of Saigon in 1975 – will take place in April and June 2011. It will begin with large outdoor events in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on the weekends of April 8 to 9 and 15 to 16 respectively, led by Vietnam’s rapidly growing churches.

The official 100th anniversary celebration will be held on June 14 to 16 at Da Nang, probably in an indoor arena since June is the rainy season in Vietnam. Earlier this year Palau was in Vietnam, addressing more than 500 church leaders, as well as U.S. diplomats and the government officials whose permission will be required before the Festival can go ahead.
After years of hostility to the church, the Government has just started to allow Christian events to take place – some of which are proving very popular. For example, last December they gave permission for an outreach in a large field outside Ho Chi Minh City just 48 hours before it was set to begin. Despite the short notice, 50,000 people attended and around 8,000 of them received Christ as Saviour.

Source: Christian Today

PRAISE: God that so many formerly closed nations are opening to the Gospel with abundant fruit.

Luis Palau’s 50 Years of Ministry | 9th July 2010

Argentina-born evangelist celebrated his 50 years of ministry last April, with an event hosted at the Oregon Convention Centre in Portland, USA. The celebration also marked the opening of the Greater Portland Area Season of Service (SOS). In past years, SOS in Portland has mobilised tens of thousands of volunteers to carry out hundreds of community service projects in the city. This year the SOS will culminate with an evangelistic festival with Palau as the main speaker.
Luis Palau met with about 500 pastors in Vietnam last month andthe Vietnamese church leaders invited him to lead the first foreign mission to the country since the fall of Saigon in 1975. The mission is expected to take place in December. The mission would come at a strategic moment for Christianity in Vietnam, as the government has just started allowing Christian events to takeplace.
National Religious Broadcasters’ President, Dr. Frank Wright, said,“His 50 years of faithfulness in proclaiming Christ remains an inspiration to us all.” Palau recently returned from China where hepreached to about 8,000 people in Hangzhou.

Source: Palau.org; Idea; The Christian Post

BIBLE STUDY: 1 Corinthians 1:9

PRAISE: God for 50 faithful years of proclamation of theGospel of Christ. Pray that the doors of Vietnam may openand that this planned event may cause a move of the HolySpirit over the Nation.

Luis Palau’s 50 Years of Ministry | 9th June 2010

Argentina-born evangelist celebrated his 50 years of ministry last April, with an event hosted at the Oregon Convention Centre in Portland, USA. The celebration also marked the opening of the Greater Portland Area Season of Service (SOS). In past years, SOS in Portland has mobilised tens of thousands of volunteers to carry out hundreds of community service projects in the city. This year the SOS will culminate with an evangelistic festival with Palau as the main speaker.
Luis Palau met with about 500 pastors in Vietnam last month andthe Vietnamese church leaders invited him to lead the first foreign mission to the country since the fall of Saigon in 1975. The mission is expected to take place in December. The mission would come at a strategic moment for Christianity in Vietnam, as the government has just started allowing Christian events to takeplace.
National Religious Broadcasters’ President, Dr. Frank Wright, said,“His 50 years of faithfulness in proclaiming Christ remains an inspiration to us all.” Palau recently returned from China where hepreached to about 8,000 people in Hangzhou.

Source: Palau.org; Idea; The Christian Post

BIBLE STUDY: 1 Corinthians 1:9

PRAISE: God for 50 faithful years of proclamation of theGospel of Christ. Pray that the doors of Vietnam may openand that this planned event may cause a move of the HolySpirit over the Nation.

Vietnam's Story of Overcoming Faith | 30th May 2010

We have few details of what is truly happening inside Vietnam. What we do know is that God is powerfully at work in the midst of horrendous persecution, as the story of brother Trung illustrates: “Lord, if you exist please heal me, I offer my life to you and will serve you,” Trung prayed as he knelt in his room and childhood memories of stories about Jesus resurfaced. Trung had malaria and he expected to die. After praying, he lay down and went to sleep. At about midnight he suddenly heard the Lord call his name. He was startled and, as he sat up in bed, he felt God’s peace come over him. “In the morning I felt well. The Lord answered my prayer and I have remained malaria-free to this day,” he recalls. Trung evangelised freely following his conversion, was arrested for his faith, beaten, released, and continues to serve God in Vietnam in spite of the pain in his chest due to the beatings he received in prison.

Source: Prayer Alert; Voice of the Martyrs

BIBLE STUDY: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

PRAISE: God for the strength He gives His servants in Vietnam. Pray for a great harvest for Christ.

http://revivalmedia.org/2010/05/29/vietnams-story-of-overcoming-faith-30th-may-2010/

Vietnam's Story of Overcoming Faith | 30th April 2010

We have few details of what is truly happening inside Vietnam. What we do know is that God is powerfully at work in the midst of horrendous persecution, as the story of brother Trung illustrates: “Lord, if you exist please heal me, I offer my life to you and will serve you,” Trung prayed as he knelt in his room and childhood memories of stories about Jesus resurfaced. Trung had malaria and he expected to die. After praying, he lay down and went to sleep. At about midnight he suddenly heard the Lord call his name. He was startled and, as he sat up in bed, he felt God’s peace come over him. “In the morning I felt well. The Lord answered my prayer and I have remained malaria-free to this day,” he recalls. Trung evangelised freely following his conversion, was arrested for his faith, beaten, released, and continues to serve God in Vietnam in spite of the pain in his chest due to the beatings he received in prison.

Source: Prayer Alert; Voice of the Martyrs

BIBLE STUDY: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

PRAISE: God for the strength He gives His servants in Vietnam. Pray for a great harvest for Christ.

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