HANOI, VIETNAM – In a landmark move, the Vietnamese government has granted permission to Franklin Graham, son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, to hold a massive outreach event in partnership with over 300 churches across the country.
Graham’s ministry, Samaritan’s Purse, had previously faced difficulties obtaining permits for their humanitarian work in Vietnam, prompting concerns that this outreach event would also be blocked. However, after months of negotiations, the Vietnamese government has granted the necessary permissions, marking a significant shift in the country’s religious landscape.
The outreach event, which is set to take place in the coming months, will feature a series of rallies and concerts across multiple cities in Vietnam. According to Graham, the goal of the event is to share the message of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible.
“We’re not here to impose our beliefs on anyone, but we want to share the love of Christ with the Vietnamese people,” Graham said in a statement. “We believe that faith can bring hope and healing to individuals and communities, and we’re excited to partner with churches across Vietnam to make this happen.”
Vietnam, a predominantly Buddhist country, has traditionally been wary of Christianity, viewing it as a Western import that threatens the country’s traditional values. However, in recent years, the government has taken steps to relax restrictions on religious practice, allowing for greater religious freedom.
Graham’s outreach event is seen as a significant milestone in this process, signaling a new era of cooperation between the government and the Christian community. Many Vietnamese Christians have expressed their excitement at the prospect of such a large-scale outreach event, saying that it represents a major step forward for the church in Vietnam.
“We’ve been praying for this for years,” said Pastor Hoang Minh, who leads a church in Hanoi. “We believe that God is doing something special in Vietnam, and we’re excited to see what he has in store for us through this event.”
As preparations for the outreach event get underway, Graham and his team are calling on Christians around the world to pray for Vietnam, asking that God’s message of hope and healing would be received with open hearts and minds.
