It's A God Thing!

In recent years few would have believed it - but it is happening! As our founder Dave Roever is fond of saying, "It's a God thing!" For the past three years the Vietnamese government has allowed the Christian church to hold evangelistic rallies in public forums in the city of Saigon. This last December a Christmas rally was organized and held in the sports stadium - right next door to the Presidential Palace. Just across the road from the back gate of the Palace, the city's sports stadium became a place of worship as thousands gathered within its gates. Each night of the rally the street was crowded with people coming to worship and exalt Jesus Christ. No doubt some were curious about this new happening in a city and country where such expressions of faith, in a public forum, have been strictly forbidden for the last 30 years. Nevertheless, the government allowed people to congregate along the street around the rally as well as within the stadium. The theme of the youth rally was, "A priceless gift." Pastor Cu brought his message by emphasizing three powerful aspects of the Gospel message.

• Who gives, and who receives the gift? God gives and anybody, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, can receive His gift.
• What is in the gift? God gave to the earth, "A Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes..."
• How to receive the gift? "Just open your heart to receive Jesus!"

As an interlude between each portion of the message the mass choir sang and music led in lifting up praise to Jesus Christ! An estimated 13,000 people came to the rally each evening to the sports stadium. At last report, the Christian Association is compiling an accurate number of the conversions; however, it is estimated that there were approximately 600 people who gave their life to Christ the first evening and 1,500 people who accepted Jesus Christ as Savior on the next evening!

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