Former guerrilla soldier a Mennonite pastor
by Eastern Mennonite MissionsPrint Article Email to a Friend
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam—Vietnamese Mennonite Pastor Hai (not his real name) is a small, wiry man whose cheerful smile belies a lifetime of struggles.
For 14 years he was a guerrilla soldier, then a policeman for 12 before he decided to seek the “Lord of Heaven” he had heard about. He left his life of force and violence, which included the persecution of Christians.
Not surprisingly, Hai faced harsh opposition from his former comrades in arms. He understands prison, painful physical abuse and extreme social pressure. But now life has other challenges. Hai shepherds three small Mennonite house churches north of Ho Chi Minh City, one which meets in the small front room of his frame-and-bamboo house, located behind a winding sandy path off the main road.
To minister in the other two congregations, he bikes over 20 miles with his wife, Thuy (not her real name), on the back. One group meets on Saturday, the other Sunday afternoon.
Hai and Thuy support themselves growing fruit and black pepper on their small plot of land.
Because of his long service in the cause of the revolution and the struggle against the previous government and American military forces, Hai is entitled to a monthly pension from the government and a more substantial block or brick house. But by choosing to follow the Lord and become a pastor he forfeited these benefits.—Eastern Mennonite Missions
Related Resources
Discussion Guides:
Current Stories
Articles
News stories, digests and Meno Acontecer
- Former guerrilla soldier a Mennonite pastor
- Amish school opens six months after tragedy
- Hesston basketball team goes to prison
- AICs celebrate 35 years of training in Africa
- Joy Mennonite Church given advocacy award
- Bluffton baseball team returns to diamond
Columns
Subscribe