“He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.” 1 Samuel 2:8a ESV.

The government of Vietnam recently brought Decree 95 into effect, placing local Christian Churches under more pressure.

Decree 95 was announced on 29 December and came into effect on 30 March.

It effectively allows the government to shut down religious groups for a range of vaguely specified violations by extending some Articles and measures outlined in the 2016 Law on Religion and Folk Belief (LRB).

Vu Chien Thang, deputy minister of Home Affairs and head of the Government Committee of Religious Affairs, had insisted that this prior legislation needed strong enforcement measures.

Essentially, the new law requires all religious groups to register with the government, as well as adding measures relating to the dissolution of religious organizations and religious education institutions, and detailed procedures for receiving and reporting foreign aid.

Anyone found in violation of the laws may be sent to compulsory education or rehabilitation centres or subject to temporary detention and even prison sentences.

While the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of belief and religion, the government requires churches to exist for five years before they can apply for registration. Even when they do register, many house Churches are denied, while others have to wait years without any progress.

As a result of these regulatory burdens, many local Protestant house Churches simply choose not to register at all, placing them in an even more precarious situation.

Lacking legal status, local Churches are unable to open bank accounts and must use cash for all their transactions.

Furthermore, for the past 30 years, house churches in Vietnam have been highly dependent on financial aid from international organizations.

The new decree will make it significantly more difficult to raise and receive foreign donations, creating more challenges for these churches to continue operating.

Currently Vietnam has 11 legally registered evangelical denominations and many unregistered house churches.

While Christians living in larger cities and those with closer relationships with local government officials tend to be able to worship freely, life is more difficult for believers among ethnic minority groups and in rural areas who still face social exclusion, discrimination, and attacks.

Despite the challenges of the new decree, Hien Vu, program manager of the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) in Vietnam, says pastors and church leaders are determined to continue with their ministries.

“They are used to these restrictions,” Vu commented, describing their attitude as “We’ll deal with it when it comes, but we’ll do whatever God calls us to do.”

Previously, many of the laws relating to religious activities were not strictly enforced. However, with the introduction of Decree 95, the ability for Christians in Vietnam to practise their faith freely and worship together is likely to become much more challenging.

Christians in Vietnam make up 9.7 percent of the population and the communist state is currently ranked 35 in the Open Doors World Watch List of the most difficult countries to be a Christian.

Home Group Prayer

Dear Lord,

We pray for the faithful Christians in Vietnam, particularly those who are members of house Churches.

We pray that despite the restrictions and challenges they face, they may be able to continue to operate and grow, and spread your Word among the people there.

Give wisdom to the Church leaders in their dealings with authorities and provide them with the resources they need to minister to their congregations.

Protect all those who trust in you from persecution and discrimination.

In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

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Materials used by kind permission of the original author.

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