Jesus in Vietnam Ministries

CHRISTMAS OUTREACHES 2020

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.” Psalm 105:1-2 (NIV)

With a recent outbreak of the virus in Saigon the beginning of December, Pastor Tu voiced some concerns about possible restrictions on gatherings and people hesitant to be together in large groups (even though there have been no known cases in Binh Chau). We praise God for answered prayer as He blessed us in all 3 of our Christmas Evangelistic Outreaches. Starting with our Children’s Outreach, we had a total of 85 attending. The picture above shows those children who attended our Children’s Church meal beforehand. We had more children show up at the start of our program. Those attending were blessed with music from our Children’s Choir, a play put on by our youth on the birth of Jesus, and then Pastor Tu shared the Gospel. What joy when 10 children came forward during our altar call to ask Jesus into their heart as their Lord and Savior (picture below). Every child in attendance received a Christmas gift (which included several Gospel tracts) at the end of the program. Next came our Family Christmas Outreach on Christmas Eve with over 100 in attendance (picture above). Several of the non-Christians came, allowed their children to enter the church, but they sat outside during the outreach. Thank God for our outside intercom system that allowed them to hear the program, especially the Gospel. We praise God as 9 more came forward and asked Jesus into their heart at this outreach (picture below). All children in attendance received a Christmas gift. Plus, everyone in attendance was served a fellowship meal after the conclusion of our outreach.

SUOI BANG CHRISTMAS OUTREACH

Next, at the request of Mr. Hein, we held our 3rd Christmas Outreach at our new Suoi Bang church plant, where we have been holding Sunday Evening Worship for the last few months. As a reminder, Suoi Bang is a farming community about 20 miles from Binh Chau. Our Witnessing Teams from the Binh Chau church have been focusing on Suoi Bang the last few weeks and Mr. Hien sent out 40 invitations to people inviting them to our Suoi Bang Christmas Outreach. We were all encouraged to see 24 people attend and hear the true meaning of Christmas. At the conclusion of Pastor Tu’s message, 4 adults came forward to ask Jesus into their heart (picture below). To God be the glory!

MORE CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

For the last 8 years our youth has been a big part of our Christmas Outreaches, singing in the choir, putting on a play, serving meals, inviting their friends to attend, etc. One of the greatest joys is to see these children maturing in their walk with the Lord and developing a heart to serve our Lord. This year we had several of our children who performed in our Christmas play for the first time. Over the years they have watched and been mentored by the older youth to give of themselves and their time to serve others.

We thank each of you who prayed and gave financially in order for us to hold these Christmas Evangelistic Outreaches each year where so many have heard the Gospel and given their heart to the Lord.

BAPTISMS

We have shared with you in previous newsletters the story of how God allowed us to share the Gospel with Tho and her son before we left Vietnam the end of 2019. And then, how God opened the door for us to share the Gospel with her husband, Thanh, over Viber the end of last year. We also shared with them the importance of baptism. While they live in Saigon, they traveled to the Binh Chau church to be baptized by Pastor Tu the Sunday before Christmas. What joy we have in seeing how God is working in the heart of His children (young and older) in Vietnam.

THE CROSS STILL STANDS

When we received the picture below of the cross shining brightly over the Binh Chau church, we were reminded of all the challenges we faced in 2006 to install this cross. As with many others things back then, we were told we could never do it. And, they were absolutely right. But God (don’t you just love that phrase) removed every obstacle presented to us and He alone had the final say as to the cross. Today the Cross is still shining brightly and leading people to Jesus!

PRAISE REPORTS

Not only did God bless us with a fruitful Suoi Bang Christmas Outreach, but His blessings continue. Since our Christmas Outreach, our weekly attendance on Sunday Evening Worship in Suoi Bang has grown from 10-11 up to 25. We praise His Holy Name!

WEDDING BELLS

We had the honor and privilege of seeing one of
our youth who grew up in the church return and get married in it last month. And, not only that, but she married a pastor’s son. Ut (pictured in her wedding dress below) attended our Children’s Church for many years before she left Binh Chau to work in Saigon. Ut is actually the 2nd youth to do this. Hoa, who attended our Children’s church from 8 year old until she was 18 years old, returned in 2018 for her wedding also. She too married a pastor’s son. You guessed it – Ut and Hoa’s husbands are brothers. We praise our Lord and thank you for your prayers and support over the years that has enabled us to sow God’s Word into the heart of so many children like Ut and Hoa. God’s Word does not return void!

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray God’s protection on our children in our orphanage/love house as they are surrounded by non-Christians all day in school. May God give them the strength and desire to stand firm in their faith and influence others for Jesus.

Please pray God will grant us favor with the local authorities as we petition for our Suoi Bang church plant to be officially recognized as part of the Binh Chau church.

Please pray for God’s protection on the new believers from persecution from family, friends, neighbors, etc.

Please pray the new believers will have a desire to get connected with the church through attending Worship. Children’s Church, Bible studies, etc. so they can grow in their walk with the Lord.

Pray for boldness in every member of the Binh Chau church to “tell their story” how God has and is blessing their life.

Please pray for God to provide the funds for a newer, more reliable van for the church and our orphanage.

Please pray for God’s protection on our Witnessing Teams and grant them many Divine appointments to share the Gospel.

Please pray God will open the door and provide the funding for us to build a 2nd story to our existing orphanage/love house so we might be equipped to take in more children and separate the boys from the girls as they grow older.

Please pray God will grant us favor with the local authorities as we apply for Pastor Tu to be officially recognized as the pastor of the Binh Chau church.

Please pray for God to open the door for us to receive the vaccine and for Vietnam to allow international flights from the USA again so we might return to Vietnam in the near future.

“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:9