The current population has reached over ninety million, including 54 ethnic minorities, with approximately 1.3 million Chinese people. Buddhists account for 54.1% of the population, while 21.8% profess no religion. The proportion of Chinese Christians is one in a thousand. 2011 marked the centenary of the introduction of Christianity to Vietnam. Since 2005, due to a slight relaxation in government religious policies, public evangelism has been allowed in addition to home gatherings. In recent years, the door for evangelism in Vietnam has opened, hearts have been stirred, and the economy is rapidly growing. However, incidents such as the anti-Chinese protests in 2014 and the recent government reshuffle in February have added to the uncertainty.

Our center began dispatching missionaries to Vietnam in 2014, starting with Bible study classes. With nearly 30 colleges and universities in Hanoi, campus ministry takes a significant role, attracting thousands of exchange students from China each year, who typically stay for one to two years. Additionally, Taiwanese businesses are crucial to Vietnam’s economy, making Chinese the second most spoken language after English.

The Sino-Vietnamese churches under the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship include 13 in Ho Chi Minh City and 2 in Hanoi, with numerous house church meeting points scattered throughout. Many churches lack pastors proficient in both Mandarin and Cantonese, and some still lack leaders. Our center currently holds its own Sunday worship service under the Hanoi International Fellowship (HIF) and hosts two weekly small groups.

Our missionaries in Vietnam are native-born, educated in the United States, fluent in Vietnamese, and focused on sharing the Gospel with the local Vietnamese. We have established fellowship groups and training programs specifically for locals. Currently, there are over 75 language groups in Vietnam in need of Bible translation. We collaborate with two organizations, Let Them Hear in Vietnam and The Word for the World in South Africa, and receive assistance from mentors from Wycliffe and language professors from Vietnamese universities. We are currently translating the New Testament into nine ethnic minority languages simultaneously. Some languages already have their script, while others require audio Bible translations from scratch. The monthly cost to translate the Bible for one ethnic group is $2,000, covering all meeting expenses, transportation, and daily support for local translators. We currently have six full-time staff members working on translation and assistance, and we appreciate your prayers and support for this ministry.