“Dong*, who grew up in a Christian home, and his wife, who converted to Christianity when the couple married, have a child with health problems, so they took her to the local hospital,” says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley. (*The names and location of the family have been withheld for the family’s safety.) Her organization has an ongoing partnership with their sister mission, Voice of the Martyrs Australia, to provide care and support to persecuted Vietnamese Christians and to share their stories of faith and witness with other Christians. 

“One of the challenges for believers in some parts of rural Vietnam is that when doctors discover they are Christian, they may delay or deny them treatment or give them an estimated cost that is much higher than the Christian can afford, so that the patient is unable to obtain even urgently needed care,” says Representative Foley.   

She says that the doctor told Dong and his wife that their child required heart surgery which was well beyond what the family could afford.  

“Another doctor approached Dong and said she might be able to perform the surgery, but in return, Dong would have to do some significant favors for her,” says Representative Foley. “But Dong did not want to compromise his faith, so he declined the offer.” 

Instead, she says, the couple did what Dong had been taught to do since he was a child: Pray for God’s help, and trust him to lead them. 

“Dong grew up under the care of loving Christian parents in rural Vietnam,” says Representative Foley. “They lived in a village where Christians were a small minority. Most of the villagers in the highlands worship their ancestors. They erect altars for their dead relatives and offer food to them. They also burn incense and claim to communicate with them. By doing so, they believe they will receive protection and peace.” 

Representative Foley says that due to this cultural adherence to ancestor worship, Christians are suspected of bringing bad luck.  

“They are called traitors for betraying their ancestors,” says Representative Foley. “So when bad things happen to Christians, like what happened to Dong’s daughter, it is often seen as punishment.” 

According to Representative Foley, Dong and his wife were accustomed to regular rejection from their community.  

“They had been called many hurtful names because they were Christians. Even close relatives refused to help them, accusing them of betraying their ancestors,” she says. 

When Dong’s wife married Dong and became a believer herself, her family immediately cut all ties with her. 

“The authorities in the rural areas brainwash the local people against Christianity,” says Representative Foley. “They say Christians are like a virus spreading across villages and that people should not even talk to them. So when Dong and other Christians go to villages to share the gospel, people immediately avoid them and refuse any dealings with them.” 

Representative Foley says that local authorities have even hired thugs to attack Dong.  

“On one occasion, Dong had to run and hide from people who wanted to beat him,” says Representative Foley. “They eventually caught him and beat him, but he did not retaliate because he knew God wanted him to extend love even to those who persecuted him. He also believes that his life is secure in God’s hands.” 

After praying for their daughter, Doug and his wife decided to travel to a hospital in another area, about a two-hour bus ride away.  

“Along the way it rained continually,” says Representative Foley. “When they arrived at the hospital, the building was flooded, and only a few staff were working. The family was afraid that no one would be available to help them. However, they were met by a physician who examined their child. He told them that surgery was needed immediately. He didn’t ask if they had money. The hospital staff didn’t ask where they were from or whether they were Christians. They just proceeded with the operation.” 

The surgery was a complete success. Afterwards, Dong went to the doctor to thank him and ask him about the costs. The couple was shocked by the doctor’s reply. 

“The doctor told them that they didn’t need to pay anything—someone had already covered the costs,” says Representative Foley. “He said the only thing they needed to do was rest, and once the child had recovered, they would be discharged from the hospital.” 

Representative Foleys says Dong and his wife received the news of the miraculous treatment and payment as an answer to the prayers they had prayed back in their home village. “Dong says Psalm 23 came to his mind: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He leads me beside still waters’,” says Representative Foley. She says rural Vietnamese Christians regularly report similar stories of God’s miraculous provision. 

“Voice of the Martyrs Korea works with our sister mission, Voice of the Martyrs Australia, to provide care and support to persecuted Christians in Vietnam,” says Representative Foley, “But in fact we always receive more from them than we give. Through their calm faith and trust in the Lord Jesus even when they and their children are facing life-threatening situations, we are challenged to grow in our own faith.”   

Individuals interested in learning about or supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s work in partnership with the persecuted Christians of Vietnam can visit www.vomkorea.com/en/vietnam or give via electronic transfer to: 

KB Bank: 463501-01-243303

Account Holder: (사)순교자의소리

Please note “Vietnam” on the transfer.