Author: Dung Van Do

April 30th of 2003 marked the 28th anniversary of the Vietnamese Exodus to America.  Since the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Vietnamese population, now, has grown to 2.1 million in North America.  During the 28 years, the Vietnamese have acquitted themselves well with hard work and a high educational ethic, which has brought them much worldly “success.”  However, in spiritual matters, the progress has been slow; only 4% of the Vietnamese population are connected to Christianity, and the other 96% are non-believers or unchurched.

    The Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, still echoes in our ears to “…go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  In the LCMS, only about a dozen Vietnamese churches/missions yet exist.  The field is “wide open” for the baptizing of millions of North American Vietnamese and the planting of numerous Vietnamese missions.   In  order to accomplish  this, the church at large and local Lutheran churches need to be more proactive by training more indigenous lay leaders, missionaries and pastors for the planting of effective missions.  At this point, Vietnamese work is facing a shortage of indigenous missionaries.  This challenge has been mentioned by St. Paul, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How, then, can they call the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can they preach unless they are sent?  (Romans 10:13-15)  This passage reminds us of the urgent task to proclaim the Gospel to share the Good news, “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

    This Pauline passage is a real challenge to LCMS churches living near Vietnamese communities today, and it’s even more challenging to Vietnamese Lutherans.  When the Vietnamese become part of Christ’s family, we are also called to share the Good News of Christ to our friends, relatives, and neighbors.  This is a daunting task for the Vietnamese, as they face ostracism from family and friends who are Buddhist.  Thus, we are ever in prayer.  We ask the Lord for courage, conviction and opened hearts. We ask the Lord of the harvest to help us identify and develop effective, indigenous missionaries and leaders. We ask the Lord to raise up the awareness of the need for Vietnamese missionaries, pastors and church workers.  

    I thank God for CAME—which focuses on the outreach to Asians in North America.  God established this organization and instrument to be the right hand of our synod at a critical moment in our mission history, to help extend the Gospel to uncultivated North American groups, such as the Vietnamese community. CAME is a helping hand to local congregations and districts which have a passion to evangelize Asian people groups.   

    Since July, 2002, I have gone on numerous missionary journeys, sent by CAME, to scout several large Vietnamese communities in places such as Fairfax County, Virginia; Montgomery County, Maryland; the Clear Lake area around Houston, Texas; the Metroplex area (Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas); and many locations in Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa). In each of these areas, God has opened doors for us to be partners with local congregations in sharing the Gospel with the Vietnamese.

    CAME’s aim among the Vietnamese communities is to help build Vietnamese congregations, raise up indigenous lay leaders and equip them to carry out the great commission. At my home church in Trinity, Port Arthur, Texas, we thank God for faithful young men like Tai Vo and David Mai who have served the congregation as elders, Sunday school teachers, members of the Share the Good News Team, and assistants who help lead worship services. David and his wife Phoebe live and work in League City, Texas where many Vietnamese flock. David has expressed his desire to be trained and equipped to serve God’s people as a missionary. Other potential missionaries who are being recruited include Jacob Vo of Chicago, Illinois and David Doan of St. Paul, Minnesota.  We thank God for this progress and ask Him to continue to work through us!

     For more information about challenges in Vietnamese ministries, please contact Rev. Do at (409) 983-1130 or dung@cameministries.org.        

 

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