November 18, 2014
Vietnamese police and ‘armed thugs’ ransacked a Mennonite centre and arrested Christians for not having ID papers that officials had confiscated previously.
Officials and ‘hired hands’ wielded hammers and metal-cutters as they attacked the Mennonite Christian centre in Ben Cat, north of Ho Chi Minh City, last week.
Among those detained and charged for not having proper papers were two pastors and the son of church leader Nguyen Hong Quang. The Christians were interrogated for two hours before being released. Their documents had been confiscated during earlier raids and not returned, church leaders said.
The raid last Friday, which was filmed by police, was the latest in a string of attacks on Pastor Quang’s congregation since June. Officials have cut off water and power supplies to their centre, and roads leading to it have been blocked. More than 30 church members have been injured, some requiring hospital treatment. Some say they have been harassed at home and work too.
Pastor Quang and five other members of his church came to international prominence as the ‘Mennonite Six’ when they were imprisoned in 2004. Since his release, Pastor Quang, who is also a lawyer, has concentrated on church activities rather than campaigning for religious freedom – but persecution of his church has continued regardless.
(Source: Morning Star News)
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Thank God for the courage of Pastor Quang and his congregation, who have stood firm in their faith despite intense and sustained persecution. Pray that God will strengthen their faith.
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Pray that many Vietnamese will come to Christ through this congregation’s powerful witness to God’s love and His grace.
He went leaping and praising God. 