missions in...
by Dr. Dick HiUis, Director, Overseas Crusades
H aving had t h e opportunity of go ing to Viet Nam many times, it is a privilege to tell you about it. Over these yea rs , ca tac ly sm ic changes have taken place. South Viet Nam itself is a country of some 15 million people. There are 30 or more provinces, while the people them selves are divided racially. The larg est number are Vietnamese, another million Chinese, and then there are the tribal peoples. Estimates range from 60 to 150 tribes with the popu lation near one and a half million. The majority of Vietnamese are Buddhists. There is, however, a very strong Catholic following. The Chi nese are followers of Confucius. The tribal people are animists and wor ship all sorts of spirits, those in the rocks, the trees, the streams. With so many divisions, you can see why it is so difficult to rule the nation: three different racial groups and three different religions. Scripture enjoins us to pray for those in au thority. There is a tremendous need, not only in our own government, but also for other leaders. How we long to see peace come to this land! It is an area of suffering, sorrow and sin fulness. This land has known war for 27 years. It has been ravaged and plundered. As we consider the gravity of the times, let us be faithful in praying for the church of Jesus Christ, with its band of truly born-again Chris tians. In Hebrews 13 we are told to remember them that are in bonds as bound with them. These dear peo ple have experienced so much by way of trial and heartbreak. They have left everything because of the Com munist oppression. They have gone to another place to start all over
again. Can you imagine doing this? You pick up what you can, leaving your home, and perhaps that of your ancestors, knowing that you will probably never come back again. It is not good enough simply to be con cerned about Viet Nam because our beloved country is involved there. It is not good enough simply to be concerned because you have a son or a relative in that battle zone. The motivation behind our heart burden is the desperate need of lost and dying men, women and children in Viet Nam who are without Jesus Christ as Saviour. Paul said, “I owe something to all men.” There is something wrong in the Christian’s life if he doesn’t have an active con cern for all men in their desperate plight without the Lord. The spiritual growth of the evan gelical church in Viet Nam didn’t begin until 1911. You can see how relatively new the organized minis try really is. The moving force for God has been through the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomina tion. While other groups labor there now, of which we of Overseas Cru sades are privileged to be a part, the vision of C&MA directors is thrilling to contemplate. Among the Vietna mese people there are between 40 and 50 thousand who truly know and love the Lord Jesus Christ. The tribal people would have perhaps the same number. The church continues to grow despite the abnormal condi tions which exist. Today, there are less than 125 missionaries in Viet Nam. We should have no less than 500. My personal work has been with the Chinese. On Taiwan, or For mosa, there are 550 evangelical mis sionaries for 12 million people. Still 13
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