Vietnam: Christian celebration hailed as a 'breakthrough'

More than 15,000 people were allowed to attend a huge open-air Christian meeting in Ho Chi Minh City in what is being seen as a breakthrough in religious freedom for Vietnam.

The meeting at Tao Dan Stadium on April 21 was unusual because unregistered house churches were permitted to join in the worship celebration – in violation of Vietnam's strict laws on religion. The event was sponsored by the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship (VEF), none of whose 24 member house church groups has been officially registered.

Event organisers faced many challenges. Official permission for the event was not granted till 4pm – just three hours before it was due to start. But it was a huge success: about 1,200 people became Christians, according to Compass Direct news agency.

There has been widespread praise for the VEF for the way it has actively promoted unity within the sometimes divided evangelical movement in Vietnam. Many unregistered churches which are not part of the VEF were invited to the celebration.

(Sources: Christian Today, Compass Direct)

• Thank God that Ho Chi Minh City authorities allowed this Christian celebration.

• Praise God for the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship's work in promoting unity.