Release International

A Vietnamese evangelist has received death threats after a gang of youths, allegedly spurred on by officials, attacked his home and house church twice in six weeks.

Mang Vuong, an ethnic minority Hroi Christian, had nearly finished building his home, which doubled as a church, in Xi Thoai village, Phu Yen province, when the mob first attacked.
 
The youths, angered by Vuong's decision to hold worship meetings in his home, smashed walls and wrecked the interior on July 18. Previously, on June 10, they had broken into the house, stolen nearly £2,000 and destroyed much of its contents.

Sources for Compass Direct news agency claim that the violence had been encouraged by local officials who allegedly called the youth to a meeting and 'plied them with alcohol' the night before the first attack. The same gang has continued to threaten and harass Vuong ever since.

Vuong is part of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), a government-registered church. He had decided to build a home that would also serve as a church – common practice for Vietnamese evangelists – because the closest Hroi church four miles away was full.

Provincial leaders in Vuong's church say they tried in vain to persuade local and regional officials to take action to protect Vuong and now intend to raise the issue with the national Government.

(Source: Compass Direct)

• Ask God to protect evangelist Mang Vuong and bless his ministry.
• Thank God for church growth among the Hroi people. Pray that God will continue to multiply His church in the region.
 
News update:
We are pleased to report that Ali Golchin, a Christian from Varamin, Iran, who was detained in April (Prayer Alert, July 13, 2010), has been released on bail. Ask God to heal Ali, who has reportedly suffered harsh interrogation and solitary confinement. No formal charges have been brought against Ali; pray this remains the case. (Sources: FCNN, MEC)

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