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The
Vietnam I never knew by Pastor Gregory B. Lindsey
July 21,
2009
I was only twelve years
old when the Vietnam War ended in 1975. I can recall little
about the event. Through my childhood to college years, I
lived in the reality of the Cold War. It was the United States
verses the Soviet Union and its
communist allies. For me, Vietnam was a dark mysterious place.
In fact when people even said the word "Vietnam",
all that would come to mind is the war. It was the first war
in which America had suffered defeat. In its wake it left
suffering veterans and lost loved ones.
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One
of the most momentous events in the 20th century was the
fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. For as long as I could
remember, the threat and fear of nuclear war had always
been part of my world view. The impact was also significant
on the American psyche.
In the years following 1991, America's foreign policy |
towards Vietnam began
to soften. The US trade embargo was lifted in 1994, and in
1995 diplomatic ties were formally restored. The Vietnamese
government was anxious to open itself up to the outside world
and to encourage economic development and tourism. The new
motto of the Vietnamese to the world was "Vietnam is
a country and not a war."
The opportunity had arisen
to discover a whole new Vietnam.
Years later, I become
more involved in the church and had a special interest in
global mission, particularly South East Asia. In 2002, I did
a two week tour of Communist China, and the state sanctioned
and house churches there. I was greatly impressed with the
devotion of the Chinese Christians, and the vitality of the
Chinese church movement.
My visit to China
in 2002
Nevertheless, I had this
strange calling towards the mysterious Vietnam.
The
next year, my wife Jennifer and I made the decision to leave
our jobs and sell our home in Virginia and move to Pennsylvania
where I would attend seminary at the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg. It was during my third year while
I was on internship that I felt that urging again.
I sat down at my computer
and searched the Internet for "Lutheran" and "Vietnamese".
I had done this several times before but never came up with
anything.
This time I found a website
for Lutheran Vietnamese Ministries with Pastor John Dovinh
as the mission director. I
was on the phone immediately to Pastor Dovinh, and within
minutes I felt a bonding with this gentle man.
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In my correspondents
with John, I discovered that the Vietnamese people are
spiritually hungry for the grace which can only be found
in Christ Jesus.
Reflecting upon
the church activity in China, I cannot
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I cannot help but wonder
if we are on the verge of a new era in the movement of the church
among the Vietnamese people. Change can be slow and painful
in a context such as Communist Vietnam, yet Vietnam's faithful
Christians find strength for endurance through fellowship, prayer,
and the support of ministries such as LVM.
While memories of the
Vietnam war continue to haunt many Americans, the knowledge
that Christ is winning the hearts of the Vietnamese people
brings new hope.
For our Lord Jesus Christ,
the people in Vietnam cannot be forgotten. Neither should
we forget them as our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ
as well.
Blessings from Our Lord
Jesus Christ
Pastor Greg Lindsey
Christ Lutheran Church
- Manchester, PA
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