My Brothers & Sisters in Christ !!!!

Easter 2004 has a significance for the Montagnard Christians in Central Vietnam, though the road to Golgotha. I believe some of you who watched the film "The Passion of the Christ", you may understand what terrible things Christ has gone through for us. Especially today, I am asking you all join us to pray for YOUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST IN VIETNAM, THEY ARE LIVING IN FEAR, HUNGER, MANY WITH LOST LOVED ONES, SOME DIED AND MANY IN PRISON.  We are planning two days-- April 17 & 18, 2004--on which to pray for the Montagnard Situation in Vietnam. Therefore today Montagnard Pastors from the three Cities of Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro, gather together in the United Montagnard Christian Church 1204 Street, Greensboro, NC 27405.  Also, All Montagnard, Vietnamese and American Christians are cordially invited to share your heart for the Montagnard tragedy in Vietnam. We are to continue praying on the First Saturday of the month @ 12:00 noon for 10 minutes--praying or meditating to raise your Faith and pray to God until everybody is able to practice their religions in Vietnam. May God's Blessing be upon you.

 --- Rev Y Hin Nie

For decades, Vietnamese Communists have been warring against the Montagnards, or mountain people, a tribe in Vietnam's central highlands. U.S. troops sometimes referred to them as "America's most loyal allies in Vietnam." The communist government's repressive campaign against the Montagnards has intensified in the past few years after a massive conversion to Christianity swept through their villages. Recent reports detail instances in which Vietnamese authorities have forced Christian tribesmen to drink pigs' blood and to renounce Jesus as Lord. 

March 2, scores of the Montagnards were forcibly repatriated to Vietnam by Cambodian authorities. Many believe if the American and international communities do not deal with this act of forceful repatriation, thousands remaining in Cambodia will face a very bleak future. (For more information on the Montagnards, see www.montagnards.org.)

While Americans are concerned with the possibility of war in Iraq and more terrorist attacks at home, Christians must remember those  elsewhere facing persecution for their faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ.

--Christian Aid reports that communist authorities have imprisoned 200-300 Christian pastors at undisclosed locations inside Vietnam. Among them are 11 Hmong pastors from the North with numerous of Bahnar, Jarai, Ede and Mnong and other tribes pastors from the Central Highlands. 

--Hanoi's police took these pastors from their homes without explanation. The families have not been able otherwise determine the whereabouts of their abducted husbands and fathers.

--Secret documents have been uncovered describing a government-sponsored program (called "Plan 184") to systematically persecute Christians. Open Doors, a ministry to persecuted Christians, ranks Vietnam as the fourth worst persecutor of Christians worldwide. Their 2002 list places Vietnam behind North Korea, Laos and Saudi Arabia.

--The persecution by Vietnamese authorities is brutal and barbaric.

--Reports say Vietnamese police disrupt house churches, barge into the homes to stop worship services, rip Bibles and songbooks from worshipers’ hands, and drive them out of the service, threatening them with death. The police have forced many to sign documents recanting their faith. At least 356 house churches have been closed by authorities (from John Lindner, Christian Aid).

 Join Us in Intercession for the Persecuted Church:

-Heavenly Father, COMFORT, STRENGTHEN & ENCOURAGE Your people in
Vietnam. Be their ADVOCATE. May JUSTICE be done in

Vietnam Job 16:16-21; Ps 91:all; 82:all; 126:all; 1 Cor 15:57-58; 1 Jn 2:1-2, 5:4).

-AWAKEN the American, Europe, Canada and

World Wide Christian  Churches to PRAY! In Jesus' Name, Amen
(Mt 25:31-46; Heb 13:3).