Three Vietnamese Christians convicted of subversion

Pray for believers in Vietnam today!

Three members of the “Cow Shed Church” in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, have been convicted of subversion and given prison sentences, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Pastor Duong Kim Khai, Tran Thi Thuy and Nguyen Thanh Tam, along with four others, were convicted for their activism in a peaceful campaign for land rights.

The three Christian men, who are members of an unrecognized branch of the Mennonite Church, have been assisting fellow Vietnamese in making formal complaints to the government regarding the forced sales of their farmland to large corporations.

The three Christians have assisted in writing complaint letters asking the government for compensation and are known members of an overseas-based democracy party that calls for peaceful political reform.

All seven of the arrested were denied legal representation at the trial, which is thought to have been rigged. Pastor Duong was sentenced to six years in prison, Thuy to eight and Tam to two. Pastor Duong has been held since August 10, 2010.

Vietnam is one of the world’s few remaining Communist nations. Its constitution provides for freedom of worship; however, the government continues to restrict activities of many religious groups. Unregistered churches face harassment, discrimination and sometimes outright persecution.

Pray for Vietnam!

• Pray the light of the gospel might banish the ideological and moral darkness over this nation.
• Pray for protection for Christians who are courageously witnessing in Vietnam.
• Pray the Vietnamese church will continue to grow and be a light to others.