NEWS PROVIDED BY
Reid Saunders Association
Dec. 15, 2022

SALEM, Ore., Dec. 15, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a truly historic moment, Reid Saunders shared the Gospel from the platform at a public outdoor event in Hanoi, Vietnam. According to local leaders, this is the first time the government has granted a foreigner a permit to host an event at a public park.

Like in other parts of the world, Christmas is enthusiastically celebrated in Hanoi. The local churches joined the Reid Saunders Association (RSA) team to coordinate the Love Hanoi Christmas Festival, an evangelical outreach. The event featured local musical artists and BMX performers to draw the citizens of Hanoi to Gamuda Park.

At the outreach, the BMX team performed flips and tricks to the amazement of the crowd, and the artists sang their hearts out. Following the entertainment, Reid shared the amazing Good News of the One whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, Jesus Christ. Affinity events included outreach dinners for women and for youth, and a BMX event at a government school with over 1,500 kids.

More than 30,000 people attended the outreaches in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and 169,900 watched virtually via live stream. Overall, 2,000 people indicated they had accepted the Good News. The local churches are overjoyed to follow up and engage these individuals in discipleship.

This outcome results from four years of working with the local churches in Vietnam. In previous years, Reid had partnered with churches in Ho Chi Minh to coordinate two Christmas outreaches. From those experiences, the government of Hanoi felt confident to grant the necessary permits and allow the outreach to happen. Reid plans to return in 2024 for outreaches in Da Nang and the Mekong Delta.

Here is a testimony from a young man: "I'm 18 years old and my parents are Buddhists. I was invited by friends to come to the festival tonight. I was having troubles in my life and felt lost. When I heard the message, I knew God would help me and lead me. I prayed with Pastor Reid and came forward. Now I have a sense of peace, and know when I feel lost, God will lead me."

"After Covid, people were avoiding crowds" says Pastor Nhượng, Senior Pastor of Word of Life church. "Getting permission early from the city officials to share the message of Christmas, was the first time a foreigner has been allowed to preach outdoors and in a public park. Uniquely, had one church asked permission, it might've been easier to get a permit; but as a collaboration of more than 250 churches representing the body of Christ in Hanoi, we were thrilled that the city said 'yes.' This collaboration speaks volumes about what the Lord is doing in Vietnam."

About Reid Saunders Association
For more than 20 years Reid Saunders and his team have proclaimed the Good News in more than 90 countries through outreach events, festivals, and media. Their work is possible because of the vital partnership of local churches. For more information, go to www.reidsaunders.org.

SOURCE Reid Saunders Association

CONTACT: Hannah Georgen, 503-581-7394, [email protected]