Since around 1989, thousands of Hmong in
the Northern Plateau of Vietnam have become Christians. Severe persecution by Vietnamese
authorities, among other causes, has created a mass migration "at
will" (illegal) to the Central Highlands, starting in early 1997.
The following is a report sent to FEBC by a Vietnamese Christian layman, who at great
risk to his own security, is attempting to minister to these people in this area in
southern Vietnam. References to "Nguon Song" are to FEBC's Vietnamese language
broadcast. As the account shows, many Hmong came to know Christ through the Hmong
broadcast in the North, and to this they augment their support from the Vietnamese
broadcast.
"There are thousands of Hmong people who have come to
faith in Christ through FEBC radio ministries. These Christians live in the northern part
of North Vietnam, in cities such as Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, ... They have been
under severe persecution from local government. In order to keep the faith and avoid
persecutions, many Hmong Christians have left their home, fields, properties and some even
their wives and children, to move to South Vietnam.
"Today, there are thousands of Hmong Christians living in the jungles and remote
areas of central Vietnam. There are no pastors or Christian workers to care for these
people. Recently, I've been involved with a group of Vietnamese Christians called
'Christians with Evangelism Mission.' We are risking our lives to go to where the Hmong
Christians are, to help them rebuild their lives and nurture their faith with God's Word.
Since God is giving us the opportunity to serve Him among our Hmong brothers and sisters,
we're very happy and greatly encouraged, especially when seeing the love these people have
for God and their determination to follow Him. "Although they have no pastor to lead
them, the Hmong Christians are very faithful and committed to their faith. They meet
everyday for prayer and Bible Study. The format of their worship services follow that of
FEBC's Vietnamese broadcasts.' When asked: 'Who came to this jungle area to tell you about
Christ? The Hmong Christians would point to a radio receiver and say: 'We came to faith in
Christ through the Hmong's broadcasts heard over this radio. Nguon Song Radio prayed for
us and helped us become God's children. They also teach us God's Word and show us how to
live the Christian life. Over the past eight years, there has been no pastor to come teach
us the Bible or to care for our soul. God Himself is our Pastor, and our Shepherd. He
comforts us when we are in pain and feeds us His Word. Nguon Song Radio is the pastor to
each of our churches.'
"When we visited the Hmong Christians in the mountains to share with them the Word
of God, at midnight we heard them pray and sing praises to God. In some villages, these
Christians would gather together at four o'clock in the morning for prayer meetings.
"In order to avoid persecution from the local government, thousands of Hmong
Christians in North Vietnam were forced to move to the South. When government officials
learned that these people had become Christians through Nguon Song Radio broadcasts, they
began to threaten, arrest and even torture them, some to the point of death.
"According to the report from SOME lay leaders, a number of Hmong Christians were
tortured by electricity and some were electrocuted to death. More over, secret service
agents would go into the homes of these Christians to confiscate their Bibles, Hymnbooks
and radios. No one is allowed to listen to FEBC broadcasts. Those who do not comply are
punished by having to pay a fine of $500,000 VN and have their radios taken away. Many
Christians are kicked out of their hometown and become homeless. In spite of such severe
persecutions, the Hmong Christians say they would rather die than denounce their faith.
"At the beginning of 1997, thousands of Hmong Christians left everything they
owned to go to South Vietnam. It was just like the Exodus of the Israelites in the Old
Testament. They told us: "Because of our love for God, we are willing to forsake
everything. We have left our beloved home-village, properties, even our wives and
children... Now we are willing to sacrifice our lives for God." The Hmong
non-Christians said that we died in the jungle because of sickness and hunger, but it was
not true. We're all fine. There is no hunger, thirst nor sickness among us. When the Lord
is our Shepherd, we have every thing we need (Psalm 23:1). 'There was a severe drought on
the western part of the area and most of the crops were lost, but where our Christian
brothers and sisters live, only 7km away, the weather conditions were normal and the
harvest was plentiful.
"If you would like to help the Hmong Christians, may we suggest the following: 1)
Regardless of your denominational affiliation, please pray for them. 2) Please send
missionaries or Christian workers to minister to them. 3) Please give them Bibles,
hymnbooks and literature on basic doctrine in the Hmong language. 4) Plan training
workshops for lay leaders to attend. 5) Provide the Hmong Christian workers bicycles,
radios, clothing and medicine."
