Vietnam

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- U.S. evangelist Franklin Graham says thousands of people accepted his invitations to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during a historic Christian festival in communist-run Vietnam where authorities have oppressed religious minorities. "As the Holy Spirit worked in hearts, at least 4,500 people over two nights came forward publicly during the invitations, both inside the sports complex and outside in the extended area, to make life-changing decisions for Christ," he said in a statement following the December evangelism event in Hanoi, the capital.

HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- The wife of jailed Vietnamese pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh fears for her husband's life after he spoke openly about mistreatment in prison, according to friends familiar with the situation. Tran Thi Hong reportedly said that her husband, a 45-year-old missionary pastor, "is being punished" for speaking "honestly" to a U.S. delegation about the "tortures, threats and mistreatment" he endured behind bars.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Rights activists say Christians in Vietnam face increased persecution after a foreign missionary was expelled and Bible students were detained by security forces

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos HANAOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Church officials in Vietnam say one of the country's longest serving prisoners of conscience was released under pressure from the United States, but Christians remain concerned about an alleged Communist government-led crackdown on devoted believers, which included killing an evangelical pastor and a Christian convert.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)—Church leaders and rights activists fear that lawmakers in Vietnam will pass a new law on religion that would “likely worsen oppression” of minority Christians and other groups in the Communist-run Asian nation. Some 27 advocacy and religious groups have urged Vietnam's government to make necessary changes to the legislation to prevent “further abuse of religious” minorities.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- A Vietnamese Christian rights lawyer and Protestant church leader has been attacked when he left his home in Hanoi following years of house arrest and imprisonment, activists have told BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Two Mennonite church leaders have survived an attack by five men in Vietnam but are still recovering of their injuries, Christians told BosNewsLife. Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang and his associate pastor were reportedly assaulted with bricks and rocks and, after collapsing to the ground, kicked relentlessly near their Bible college north of Ho Chi Minh City.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Rights activists say violence against a Christian center and the detention of several believers in southeast Vietnam is the latest in a series of attacks targeting devoted Christians and unregistered churches in the Communist-run nation

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Christian activists expressed concern Friday, December 6, that a revised constitution for Vietnam can be used to repress religious leaders and faith groups. Vietnam's amended constitution will come into effect on January 1 next year.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Two Vietnamese Catholics, whose arrest sparked mass protests in Vietnam's Nghe An Province last month, have been sentenced to six and seven months imprisonment, trial observers told BosNewsLife Thursday, October 31.