A few significant protestant christian denominations officially recognised by the vietnamese government in the approach through socio history from 2007 to present

DEDICATION To all Christians in Vietnam, “Your labour is not in vain” “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Corinthians 15: 58 (NASB) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My deepest appreciations and gratitudes to: My master degree thesis supervisor, Đỗ Quang Hưng of Vietnam National University - Social Science Humanities, Hanoi, for your guidance, wisdom and knowledge that gave me the courage to fulfil my dream to accomplished this thesis The Director of Institute, Vice-Director of Institute and Staff of Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science (IVIDES) of Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi, for having faith in me, allowed me to study the Master Degree in Vietnamese Studies programme inspite of my academic discipline challenges Senior Pastor, Eldership Board and Crossfields Missions of DUMC - Dream Centre, Malaysia, who have faith and believe in who I am David Steven, for your generosity and great assistance in sharing your boundiful resources, in order to make this master degree thesis from a dream to a reality Gerry Keener, USA, your humbleness and great assistance in sharing your experiences and materials that I needed for the master degree thesis Nguyễn Quang Trung, President of Vietnam Mennonite Church, HCMC, for your time, materials and sharing of your experiences that touches my heart deeply Lê Quốc Huy, President of Vietnam Baptist Convention, HCMC, for your time and sharing of the experiences that the denomination has gone through Trần Thanh Truyện, Executive General Secretary of Vietnam Seventh-Day Adventist Church, HCMC, for your big serving heart, who willingly share materials of all kinds in order for me to get this master degree thesis done Lâm Hữu Đức, President of Vietnam Methodist Church, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, thanks for your support, encouragements and timely advice as my godfather throughout these times You never give up on me! Friends of Class K8 IVIDES, VNU, Hanoi - for your warm friendships and caring support throughout my master degree programme study Friends of Class of K9 IVIDES, VNU, Hanoi – for your friendships and encouragements throughout my master degree programme study We made it, K9! My beloved ones, for your understanding, encouragements and support Through good and bad times, you are always there for me! With you, I could go through all kinds of roller coasters in this journey of my life Above all, I want to give thanks to the LORD God, the Almighty Father of Heavens and the Earth, for loving and choosing me at such a time like this, serving You as an empty vessel, be an impactor and to make known Your Name Last but not least, my close friends who directly or indirectly, locally and overseas, have played your roles in keeping me insanity and in sober while I was writing this master degree thesis DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP I, Annette Wong Ai Khim (Vương Tâm), declares that this master degree thesis title, “A Few Significant Protestant Christian Denominations Officially Recognised By The Vietnamese Government In The Approach Through SocioHistory From 2007 To Present,” and the work presented in it are my own I confirm that:  Where the work was done wholly or mainly while in candidature for the master degree with the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science (IVIDES) of Vietnam National University, Hanoi  Where I have quoted from work of others, the resources are always given with the exceptions and statements of such quotations; this master degree thesis is entirely my own effort of research work and writings  Where the resources and materials I received, researched, collected and used including the Internet, have been fully identified, cited and referenced accordingly as required of me Hanoi, Date _, Month , Year 2016 _ Annette Wong Ai Khim (Vương Tâm) ENDORSEMENT OF THE MASTER THESIS WORK BY MASTER THESIS SUPERVISOR I have read and agree with the content of this master thesis work done by the master degree student This master thesis work has been carried out under my supervision and is to my satisfaction Hanoi, Date _, Month , Year 2016 The Master Degree Thesis Supervisor, _ Professor Dr Đỗ Quang Hưng TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS LIST OF PIE CHART LIST OF PDF DOCUMENTS LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS INTRODUCTION OF THE THESIS .1 The Rational Study of The Thesis Title 2 The History Challenges of The Research The Objective And Scope of The Research The Research Methods The Structure of The Thesis Chapter THE PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY .9 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 An Understanding of A Triune God 11 1.1.2 A Protestant Christian In Relations With His Triune God 16 1.1.2.1 The Definition of “Man” (Humankind in relations to God) 16 1.1.2.2 The Creation of Man (God’s purpose for Man) 20 1.2 The Views Between Two Major Religion / Philosophy And Protestant Christianity In Vietnam .22 1.2.1 The Views From An Atheist 24 1.2.2 The Views From Tam Giao (Triple Teachings) 25 1.2.3 The Views of Tam Giao and Protestant Christianity 28 Chapter 2: THE HISTORY MOVEMENT OF PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY IN VIETNAM BEGINNING FROM 1911 TO PRESENT 31 (Emphasised on CMA (ECVN) and three other significant Protestant Denominations that have been officially recognised by the Vietnamese Government Committee for Religious Affairs – GCRA) 2.1 The Official Beginning of Protestant Christianity In Vietnam From 1911 to Present: Christian Missions Alliance (CMA) and Evangelical Church of Vietnam (ECVN – Northern and Southern Regions) 32 2.1.1 The Socio-History of the Church Movement 32 2.1.2 The Brief History of the Denomination and Basic Doctrinal Based .42 2.2 Three Other Significant Protestant Denominations In Vietnam 43 2.2.1 Seventh-day Adventist Church of Vietnam (SDA VN) 44 2.2.1.1 The Socio-History of the Church Movement .44 2.2.1.2 The Brief History of the Denomination and Basic Doctrinal Based 57 2.2.2 Vietnam Mennonite Church (VMC) 61 2.2.2.1 The Socio-History of the Church Movement 61 2.2.2.2 The Brief History of the Denomination and Basic Doctrinal Based 77 2.2.3 Vietnam Baptist Convention (VBC – Grace Southern Baptist) 81 2.2.3.1 The Socio-History of the Church Movement .81 2.2.3.2 The Brief History of the Denomination and Basic Doctrinal Based 97 Chapter 3: THE CURRENT CHALLENGES FACING BY THREE SIGNIFICANT PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED BY THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS (GCRA) 103 3.1 Vietnamese Traditional Culture vs Protestant Christianity .105 3.2 Freedom of Rights to Believe and Rights to Practice 108 3.3 Properties And Lands Were Confiscated From The Protestant Christian Denominations After 1975 111 CONCLUSION: TODAY THE PROTESTANT CHRISTIANS IN THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM 113 (The ECVN Denomination, Three significant Denominations and Other Protestant Christian Denominations / Sects) REFERENCES 121 APPENDIX A - Interview Questionaires Sheets APPENDIX B - List of Interviewees LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS The following tables describe the significance of various acronyms and abbreviations used throughout the thesis: Abbreviation: ADRA BF&M BYU CMA CWS CYSS ECVN (Northern Region) ECVN (Southern Region) EMM GBC HN HCMC IMB IGE MCC MEI NAVMF NLF R&ROL SAWS SBC SDA VN VBC (Grace - Southern Baptist) VMC VNCS Meaning: Adventist Development and Relief Agency Baptist Faith and Message Brigham Young University Christian Missions Alliance Church World Services Christian Youth for Social Services Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Northern Region) Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Southern Region) Eastern Mennonite Missions Grace Baptist Church Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City International Mission Board (Baptist) Institute For Global Engagement Mennonite Central Committee Mission Evangelique de L'Indochine Francaire (Evangelical Missions of French Indochina) North America Vietnamese Mennonite Fellowship National Liberation Front Religion and Rule of Law Seventh-Day Adventist Welfare Services Southern Baptist Convention Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Vietnam Vietnam Baptist Convention (Grace - Southern Baptist) Vietnam Mennonite Church Vietnam Christian Service (VN) GCRA VNMM Vietnamese Government Committee Of / For Religious Affairs Vietnam Mennonite Missions These are the Bible versions of various acronyms and abbreviations used throughout the thesis: Abbreviation: ASV NASB NIV RSVB Meaning: American Standard Version New American Standard Bible New International Version Revised Standard Version Bible ... title, ? ?A Few Significant Protestant Christian Denominations Officially Recognised By The Vietnamese Government In The Approach Through SocioHistory From 2007 To Present, ” and the work presented in. .. Studies, and so my research thesis title is ? ?A Few Significant Protestant Christian Denominations Officially Recognised By The Vietnamese Government In The Approach Through Socio- History From 2007 To. .. an awareness of other significant Protestant Christian denominations that have been officially recognised by the Vietnamese GCRA These denominations are the intangible herritage in the history