This Bible school is changing lives in rural Vietnam

What would you do if you wanted to grow in your knowledge of God's Word ... but you lived so far away from any Christian programs that you had no way of ever learning?

This is the situation faced by some believers in rural Vietnam. They are followers of Jesus—but if they want to become more knowledgeable in their faith, they have no access to the necessary tools.

That's why Open Doors' partners conduct satellite Bible school programs for Christians in these far-flung parts of Vietnam! "This satellite Bible school program spans for two years," explains Daniel*, an Open Doors local partner. "Students are called for classroom sessions only three times in a year, [and] each time those sessions last for 10 days."

The result is followers of Jesus who are equipped to serve as church leaders who can grow the Kingdom of God in Vietnam. "By the end of the course, they have a certificate with accreditation from the recognized churches, making them eligible to serve as church workers in Vietnam and establish churches if needed," Daniel says.

Thanks to your gifts and prayers, this multiplicative program is helping the Great Commission to be lived out in the most remote parts of Vietnam—even in places where followers of Jesus can be heavily persecuted for their faith.

Nguyen* is a lean man in his 30s and a recent student in the program. He comes from a rural part of Vietnam where it can be difficult for any Christian to grow in their knowledge of God's Word—even if they have a deep desire to do it.

"I am married and have two children," he says. "Although I come from a Christian family, I was never deeply passionate about my faith. However, in 2018 my life took a dramatic turn when my child fell critically ill. Desperate, I turned to the Lord, and miraculously, my child was completely healed the following day. From that moment on, I decided to commit my life to God. I joined this course, eager to learn more from the Bible."

Thach* is another student from Nguyen's village who was similarly inspired to learn more from Scripture. "Although my family has been Christian for the last two generations, I still strongly desire to deepen my understanding of God's Word," he says. "I am thrilled to have an opportunity to take this course. It will help me lead Sunday services and Sunday school groups back in my village."

The course is also reaching women. Though many women have young children and must balance their responsibilities at home, they remain dedicated to actively participating in the classes.

Mai*, 26, is a mother of two children who wanted to be able to live out her calling. "I wanted to serve the Lord, but to do that, I needed to understand the Bible clearly," she says. "Hence, I opted for this course. I am so happy that I graduate this year in December."

Growing in knowledge ... and expecting persecution

In Vietnam, growing in faith can be difficult due to location ... but it can also be dangerous because of the political and cultural climate. "The government and society very closely monitor churches," Daniel explains. "Many Christians face discrimination; some even encounter violent persecution incidents."

The Bible school program is built to help these future leaders of the church navigate this kind of persecution and discrimination. "I used to be fearful of reaching out to communities where believers are persecuted," Mai says. "However, this course has taught me clearly that we need to share the gospel only with people who want to hear it. This makes the approach of sharing the gospel very much simpler."

Thanh also hopes that what he learns in the Bible course will help him offer the hope of Jesus to persecuted Christians. "Most rural churches in Vietnam have adjusted to persecution and think of it as a usual scenario for Christians because it is very common to be persecuted in some way if you are a Christian," he says. "When we follow God, we know that persecution will occur. But [we also know that] when we face persecution, we need to focus on God and pray to Him. That is why I want to learn more about God's Word so that I can share it with people and encourage them in all their circumstances."

There are additional practical challenges associated with ministry in Vietnam. "Many times, we struggle due to the lack of food and money, and we need to seek financial support from donors, which is very tough," Mai shares. "However, the lessons we learned in these classes will always help us navigate these difficulties."

As the Bible program continues, thanks to your support, the participants and Open Doors' partners ask for your prayers as they navigate the difficult reality of following Jesus in Vietnam.

"Christians in Vietnam require continued prayer support and encouragement as they face intense pressure from their communities because of their faith," Daniel says. "The satellite Bible school is dedicated to creating well-equipped leaders with strong knowledge of the Word of God so that they can lead their churches in persevering for their crown of life, even when it gets tough. Kindly pray for us."

Here's how you can pray:

• Pray for Vietnamese churches, that they will be able to thrive amongst persecution and grow in the Word of God.
• Pray for Open Doors' partners conducting programs like this satellite Bible school so that more leaders are equipped to lead their churches well.
• Pray for the students attending this course, that they will be able to understand what is being taught and will be able to use what they've learned in their ministry.

*Names changed due to security reasons.