Curious about the growth of faith in Vietnam? Here we stand before the Protestantic Church in Da Nang. It represents a significant chapter in the story of Protestantism in Vietnam.
Protestantism’s introduction to Vietnam began right here in Da Nang. It was the year 1911. A Canadian missionary named Robert A. Jaffray arrived. He planted the seeds of this faith. Jaffray belonged to the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Over one hundred missionaries followed him. They assisted in growing the Protestant faith throughout Vietnam.
The early days were challenging. During French colonization, Protestantism wasn’t encouraged. Still, the faith spread slowly. By 1928, the French local government authorized thirty pastors. These pastors could operate in the country. A pivotal moment arrived later. The Vietnamese government recognized the Evangelical Church of Vietnam North in 1963. It was the first Protestant organization to receive this recognition.
The story took a difficult turn in 1975. The communist takeover of South Vietnam led to the confiscation of Protestant church properties. Seminaries in Nha Trang and Hanoi were among those seized. Hundreds of Protestant churches faced destruction during this period.
Amidst these challenges, the Protestant community persevered. All Protestant denominations were gathered into one organization. It was called the Evangelical Church of Vietnam. This occurred in 1975. By 1997, it had around 500,000 official members. A house church movement emerged in 1988. This happened when some active pastors were expelled from the official churches. Tran Dinh Ai was one of the most prominent pastors. His movement grew significantly. By 1997, it included 16,000 members and 165 churches.
Protestants played a key role in Bible translation. They produced several translations in 1926 and 1991. They translated books of the Old Testament and New Testament into Vietnamese. The organized work of United Bible Societies in Vietnam began in 1890. In 1966, the Vietnamese Bible Society was established.
The early 2000s saw further growth. More than half of the Protestants belonged to evangelical house churches. The growth was most dramatic among ethnic minority peoples. These included the Mnong, E De, Jarai, and Bahnar. The government officially recognized the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam in April 2001.
Today, the Protestantic Church in Da Nang stands as a testament to resilience. It shows the enduring spirit of the Protestant community in Vietnam. In 2020, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs reported impressive numbers. There were 1,120,000 Protestants in the country. They were spread across 100 organizations. They worshiped in 800 churches and 5,500 stations. The journey of faith continues.