This report comes to you from Steve Brockman, a businessman living in Vietnam who has given his life to serve the pastors and church planters there, as well as in Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. He wants to introduce you to Pastor Samuel, and as you read about him, you will understand why. We are honored to partner with Steve and these men.
Samuel was born and raised in Hue, Vietnam. Life in Vietnam had been a trial; finding work and earning enough to care for his present and future seemed an insurmountable hurdle. There was barely enough for him, and he also had the responsibility to care for his parents and extended family. So, Samuel moved to Malaysia to work in a labor camp, where he would earn twice as much as he did in Vietnam. While there, 13 years ago, someone came to the labor camp to preach to the Vietnamese workers. That evening, he heard the gospel clearly presented in his language and gave his life to Jesus Christ.
Another wonderful event took place while there. Samuel met a young lady named Lanh from a province two hours North of Hanoi, called Bac Ninh. She also worked in one of the factories and received Christ in the labor camp.
Eventually, they returned to Vietnam, met each other’s parents, and were married. They now have 3 children. (English names – Paul, Daniel, and Jubilee).
Lanh has a clothes ministry, sewing clothes for the children in the tribal areas. These are poor children, not always considered to be a part of the nation, because their allegiance is to the tribes they are from, which often inhabit the mountainous, western region of Vietnam and spill over into Laos and Cambodia. As cultural and geographical outsiders, they lack the same social standing or employment opportunities and often live in grass or bamboo huts, struggling to survive. Giving food and clothes is an amazing way to open doors to friendship so that you can present the gospel more effectively. It is one thing—a beautiful thing — to talk about the love of God, but another to preach it and then demonstrate it with loving assistance. The writings of James taught us to do this.
After marriage, Samuel met a pastor in Da Nang named Bich. Together, they started a church in Da Nang. With much adversity from the police, the church has grown to over 100 attendees!
Then, God arranged for Samuel to meet a man from the Bru tribe in the province of Quang Tri, named D’ung. (left). Samuel helped him start a church in Khe Sanh. Together, they also cross the border into Laos, train the tribal men there in doctrine, and help them start churches.
Later, Samuel met a young man (English name- Noah) who wanted to reach his people, the Ka Tu tribe, in the province of Quang Nam. Samuel took him “under his wings,” disciplining him for 2 years. Last year, Noah started a church in Dong Giang with Samuel’s help. The brother on the right is a supported preacher named Paul. He has a growing church in Khe Sanh, with several new converts added each month.
Recently, Samuel has finished training a young couple (English names, Ruth and Jonathan). Jonathan is from the Gia Rai tribe. He and Ruth will train men in his tribe and will plant churches there with our help. They have already made inroads by starting a ministry among the children.
Six months ago, Samuel decided to start another church in Da Nang. By mutual agreement with Pastor Bich, 8 members transferred to the new church being planted on the North side of Da Nang to help Samuel grow it and to have mature teachers to help him train the new converts. The church already has 20 in attendance! Sometimes they gather for a family meal, and all the church members attend, since they are now a part of God’s Family. It is a wonderful time of fellowship and discipleship, answering questions, gentle teaching with baby’s milk as Paul described it, and strengthening bonds of love. This group does not have a government license, so please pray that they will not incur fines or confiscation.
Samuel needs assistance with church planting and training among the H’Mong tribe in Gia Rai (near Pleiku) and in border villages in Laos, as well as with expanding his new church in Da Nang. Please pray for him. Below is a new Bru tribal church plant in Laos
Thank you. Steve
Jon speaking: After reading Steve’s report, I wrote to him to ask about their specific needs and the associated costs. Here is his reply.
Samuel has a motorbike, but some of those he is helping in the tribes do not (or have one so beat up it is running on fumes).
The help we would like to give to these new church plants is:
- Laptops.
- Laptops are used for teaching Bible illustration (via a screen) and for music. It helps them learn the Bible and Christian songs, and it provides an instrumental background. The tribes have extremely limited musical instruments, primarily simple bamboo flutes and small 3-4-stringed wooden instruments.
- Screens
- Food
- Chairs
The amount needed for each new church will not exceed $3,000. The new churches are:
- 2 in Gia Lai
- 1 in Hue
- 3 in Bac Ninh
- 1 in Khe Sanh
- 3 Laos border churches
A total of 10 new churches = $30,000. If a smaller amount is received, Samuel and I will prioritize Bac Ninh, in the North, and the men in Laos.
Jon speaking again: Please know that the churches in Vietnam are not asking for a handout. They already sew children’s clothes, purchase and deliver medicines and food, sandals, and cooking materials like woks. But their growing ministries are more than they can handle on their own. They did not ask for help. I asked them if they had a need that we in America could have the honor and privilege to fulfill for them.
Notice that they are asking nothing personally for the pastors and church planters, but only for the ministry. Please know that not all of these men are helped by our Great Commission Fund. If you can give or increase your giving to the fund, well, you can see that it is money well invested in eternity.
We have already given them several motorcycles, but they need more. Each one is priced at $1,350.00. I hope to return to Vietnam in 2027. If you are interested in going along, not for tourism but for ministry and assistance, contact me. Thank you – Jon
