Hanoi Students Arrested During Bible Study.

As students gathered for a Bible class in Hanoi, Vietnam, security forces arrived and arrested the assembled believers.

On January 23rd, Pastor Nguyen (not his real name) reported that “Last week we were arrested by Hanoi security during our Bible class. All students had to stay in the police station and were divided one-by-one to write about what we were doing. The foreign missionary leading our class was charged 1,000 USD and expelled from the country.”

Christians in Vietnam have been experiencing an increase in persecution over recent months.

Historically Christian communities have often been subject to arrests and land grabbing by the authorities. However, converts to Christianity from Buddhist or ethnic-animist backgrounds face the strongest persecution, not only from the authorities but also from families, friends and neighbours.

Protestant Christian believers tend to gather in house-churches for fellowship, and their members face discrimination at various levels of society.

On November 18th, 2016, the communist government of Vietnam adopted a new Law on Belief and Religion, which further limits freedom of religion considerably.

• Pray for the students who were questioned, for protection over them and their families, and for courage to persevere in their faith and in meeting together.
• Pray for believers across Vietnam, as they face growing tension and harassment from families and communities, as well as the Government.
• Pray for the Church in Vietnam to grow strong, and to be light and salt in this nation.
• Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit across Vietnam, for many people to encounter Jesus and come to know the truth of His Gospel of life and grace.

Psalm 17 vs 7: “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O saviour of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.”

Source: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories