In October last year, I had the opportunity to join a group of co-workers from the Christian and Missionary Alliance in visiting Vietnam for a conference and a visit to the mission field. It was my first time setting foot in Vietnam. Due to its unique historical context, I was particularly interested in the state of the spread of the gospel there.

      Vietnam and North Vietnam were unified in 1976. However, I came to realize through this visit that significant differences still exist between the north and the south. Economically, for instance, local pastors mentioned that half of the income from the south is used to subsidize the north. Similarly, there are notable differences in the spread of the gospel between the two regions. Our first stop was to visit a seminary in Ho Chi Minh City in the south affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The entire campus was beautiful, and its spacious hall could accommodate 3,000 people. We were surprised that there is such a magnificent seminary in the south, but it is also the only seminary in the south.

      During our meeting, dozens of students from this seminary went on stage to sing two beautiful hymns. As they went up the stage, the host read out the names of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups one by one, symbolizing that Christians from every ethnic group attend the seminary with God’s calling. They sang the hymn “The Regions Beyond” by Dr. A.B. Simpson, expressing their heartfelt desire to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of heaven in different ethnic groups and different regions after graduation. Listening to their resounding voices singing the hymn deeply moved my heart.

      We also visited another seminary in Hanoi in the north, which was much smaller in scale. A Chinese teacher at this seminary shared with us the challenges it faces, including unsuccessful attempts to relocate the campus, insufficient dormitory space, outdated and insufficient facilities, students’ inability to afford tuition fees, etc. The teacher mentioned that the seminary’s canteen recently closed and could no longer operate due to complex reasons. Students had no choice but eat out. However, many lacked the funds for meals and had to skip lunch from time to time. Hearing about the situation of this seminary was truly heart-wrenching. Indeed, the spiritual needs in the northern part of Vietnam is immense. Brothers and sisters could pay more attention to them and lift them up in prayers.

      This visit also gave me a personal understanding that the spread of the gospel in Vietnam is closely tied to Hong Kong in some ways. Among the Vietnamese-Chinese we met, many spoke fluent Cantonese. It is because they or their parents had once lived in the refugee camps in Hong Kong during the 20th century. At that time, many Christians visited the refugee camps to share the gospel with them, through which a significant number came to believe in Christ. Upon returning to Vietnam, they continued to share the gospel and build up the church. God has used the passionate witness of Hong Kong Christians to bless the church in Vietnam!

       This visit to the mission field enriched my understanding of the livelihood and the state of the spread of the gospel in Vietnam. That is the precious part of participating in such visits. May we all seize the opportunities to serve overseas and together proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of heaven in every corner of the world.