Reflection on Vietnam’s population

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Reflection on Vietnam’s population reaching 100 million!

Dear Ministry Partner,

Vietnam, a southeast Asian country with a rich and diverse cultural landscape, has recently witnessed a significant milestone as its population reached 100,000,000. This growth has brought forth both challenges and opportunities for the nation. One crucial aspect to consider is the intercultural mission, which contributes to social cohesion and inclusive development. In fact, Vietnam welcomed the 100 millionth citizen in April, according to the Population and Labor Statistics Department under the General Statistics Office (GSO). I was privilege to be invited to lead a seminar on the Evangelism and Intercultural Mission: The Role of Tribal Pastors in the Time of Diversity. There were 6 different tribal pastors from provinces in central Vietnam. In this occasion, I challenged the role of tribal pastors in the central Vietnam, where 70% (less than 2 million) are Christians, on how their involvement in intercultural endeavors can help facilitate harmony and progress in multicultural society.

In Vietnam, approximately 70% of the nearly 2 million Christians are ethnic minority believers. However, due to differences in economics, culture, and language, many ethnic minorities have felt inferior to the Kinh people (Vietnamese), making it challenging for them to spread the Gospel to them. Additionally, preaching the Gospel between different ethnic groups has been a significant obstacle.

When I first started a church in southern Vietnam, I was the only ethnic minority pastor ministering the Kinh community at that time, a government official said. However, nowadays, the gaps in language, culture, and economics are not as wide. Many villages now have Kinh people living alongside ethnic minorities, and some even have multiple ethnic groups living together. Recently, a meeting was held with six brothers from different ethnic groups who serve the Lord in southern Vietnam most of whom serve with various ethnic groups, including the Kinh people. It is no longer uncommon to see ethnic minority pastors leading Kinh people.

While the changing lifestyles have positively influenced some Kinh people and other ethnic minority families to trust in God through indigenous believers, they struggle to remain steadfast in their faith. This is because many ethnic minority pastors are unable to preach or serve in Kinh language.

Leading an evangelism seminar in central Vietnam

First meeting with tribal pastors in the south

Tribal pastors, as spiritual leaders and mediators, can play a critical role in the intercultural mission. Their deep understanding of their respective communities and their ability to communicate across different cultures make them invaluable assets in promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding. In this seminar, I shared some specific ways in which tribal pastor can contribute to the intercultural mission.

The milestone of Vietnam's population reaching 100 million has brought to the forefront the importance of intercultural mission and the need for inclusive development. Tribal pastors in the Central Highlands of Vietnam can play a pivotal role in promoting harmony and progress in a multicultural society. By leveraging their unique positions as spiritual leaders and mediators, they can help bridge the gaps between different ethnic groups and contribute to a more inclusive and prosperous nation.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

National Director/CCI Vietnam

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Staff Update

New classes in the northwest

Visiting and teaching class in central Vietnam

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Testimonies

One of our CCI Hmong teachers, Pastor S, has highlighted the limited knowledge of Hmong teachers as one of the major challenges they face. Most of Hmong pastors are farmers, and few have resources to further their knowledge. Consequently, Hmong teachers lose confidence when teaching CCI textbooks and struggle with difficult questions from students. Despite these limitations, Pastor S has opened three classes and taught a variety of classes over a year. He is also one of the few Hmong teachers proficient in teaching two languages: Vietnamese and Hmong. To boost his confidence in teaching, Pastor S watches many teachings on YouTube and reads books, which helps him consolidate his knowledge better.

I was greatly encouraged by Pastor S's family's hospitality and his spirit of learning despite being in a remote location. They have access to a quite good 4G internet connection, making the internet the most convenient source of study for them. However, the downside is that many children in impoverished rural areas are addicted to games, TikTok, and YouTube.

"I have dreamed of studying in a Bible class but I was not able to leave my village and my farm to go to southern Vietnam. Thanks to CCI, who helped my dream come true. I have been facing some difficulties during studying, but praise God that I am now halfway done.

I have learned many things from this program, and it has built me up spiritually. Moreover, I have learned from our teachers’ examples and their sacrifices and dedication for the Lord. During training, we stayed together, during meals, coffee, and fun times. This helped build relationships between pastors and students. They are not transferring knowledge, but also inspiring their lives to us.

~ Mr. D

Prayer Requests & Praises

Please pray for a city that is located in Central Highland of Vietnam. Before the pandemic hit Vietnam, there was a CCI class graduation in 2019. Due to some obstacles, the second class was not able to start. I am glad that we are going to start a new class there next month, on June 7-8. Please pray for the 23 students from different districts in central Vietnam who are going to gather in Central Highlands to be trained by CCI.

The Vietnam National Director is going to lead a 2-day seminar on Love and Biblical Dating in central Vietnam province on June 1-2.

Two more CCI classes will be started next month in northwest Vietnam. Pray for our Hmong North Coordinator, as he works with pastors in this area.

The second intensive class for Hmong pastors in north Vietnam is going to meet in June 20-29. Pray for God’s provision and protection.

The staff of CCI Vietnam is looking forward to the Global Conference to be held in Thailand in November. Many would like to go, but do not have the money to buy plane tickets. Please pray for God’s provision for this. If you feel led to help, please click the button below. Thank you.

Help CCI Vietnam Attend the Global Conference in Thailand

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