{"id":52416,"date":"2025-01-07T14:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T05:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=52416"},"modified":"2025-01-07T14:35:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T05:35:59","slug":"vomk-report-331","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2025\/01\/07\/vomk-report-331\/","title":{"rendered":"VIETNAM: RURAL CHRISTIANS ARE USED TO DENIAL OF MEDICAL SERVICE DUE TO THEIR FAITH, BUT THIS FAMILY EXPERIENCED A MIRACLE"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52415″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Christians in rural Vietnam are accustomed to denial of medical service due to their faith, but a Christian couple there recently experienced a miracle after praying for help when their child was unable to receive life-saving treatment from their local hospital for a heart ailment. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\u201c<\/span>Dong<\/span>*, who grew up in a Christian home, <\/span>and his wife<\/span>, who converted to Christianity when <\/span>the couple married<\/span>, have a child <\/span>with <\/span>health problems, so they took her to the <\/span>local <\/span>hospital,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley. (<\/span>*<\/span>The names and location of the family have been withheld for the family<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s safety.) <\/span>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 <\/span>of faith and witness with other C<\/span>h<\/span>ristians.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>One of the challenges for <\/span>believers in some parts of rural Vietnam <\/span>is that when doctors discover <\/span>they are C<\/span>h<\/span>ristian, <\/span>they may <\/span>delay or <\/span>deny <\/span>them treatment <\/span>or <\/span>give them an <\/span>estimate<\/span>d cost that is much higher than the Christian can afford,<\/span> so that the patient <\/span>is unable to obtain even urgently needed care<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]She says that <\/span>the doctor told <\/span>Dong and his wife that <\/span>their child <\/span>required<\/span> heart <\/span>surgery<\/span> which <\/span>was well beyond what the family could afford<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>A<\/span>nother <\/span>doctor approached <\/span>Dong <\/span>and said she might be able to <\/span>perform the surgery<\/span>, but in return, <\/span>Dong <\/span>would have to do <\/span>some significant <\/span>favors for her<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>But <\/span>Dong <\/span>did not want to compromise his faith, so he <\/span>declined <\/span>the offer.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Instead, <\/span>she says<\/span>, the couple did what Dong had been taught to do since he was a child: P<\/span>ray for God\u2019s <\/span>help<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> trust<\/span> h<\/span>im to lead them.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201c<\/span>Dong grew up under the care of loving Christian parents in rural Vietnam<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>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 de<\/span>ad relatives <\/span>and offer food to them. They also burn incense and <\/span>claim to <\/span>communicate with them. By doing so, they believe they <\/span>will <\/span>receive protection and peace.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52412″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”(File photo from Voice of the Martyrs Australia) ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that d<\/span>ue to this cultural adherence to ancestor worship, Christians are <\/span>suspected <\/span>of<\/span> bring<\/span>ing<\/span> bad <\/span>luck<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>They are called traitors for betraying their ancestors<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>So<\/span> w<\/span>hen bad things happen to <\/span>Christians<\/span>, like what happened to Dong\u2019s daughter, it is <\/span>often <\/span>seen as punishment.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]According to Representative Foley, <\/span>Dong and his wife <\/span>were accustomed to regular <\/span>rejection from their community.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>They <\/span>had been <\/span>called many hurtful names because they were Christians. <\/span>E<\/span>ven close relatives refused to help them, accusing them of betraying their ancestors<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> she says<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]When Dong\u2019s wife married Dong<\/span> and<\/span> bec<\/span>a<\/span>me a believer herself, <\/span>her family <\/span>immediately<\/span> cut <\/span>all <\/span>ties with <\/span>her.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The authorities in th<\/span>e <\/span>rural <\/span>areas <\/span>brainwash the local people <\/span>against<\/span> Christianity<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>They say Christians are like a virus spreading across villages and <\/span>that <\/span>people <\/span>should not <\/span>even talk to them. <\/span>So<\/span> when Dong and other Christians go to villages to share the gospel, people <\/span>immediately<\/span> avoid them and refuse any dealings with them.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that <\/span>local authorities have <\/span>even <\/span>hired thugs to attack Dong.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>On one occasion, <\/span>Dong <\/span>had to run and hide from people who wanted to beat him<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>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\u2019s hands.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]After praying<\/span> for their daughter, Doug and his wife <\/span>decided to travel to a hospital in another area, about a two-hour bus ride away.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Along the way it rained continually<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>When they arrived at the hospital, the building was flooded, and only a few <\/span>staff<\/span> were working. The family was afraid that no one would be available to help them. However, they were <\/span>met <\/span>by a physician who examined their child. <\/span>He<\/span> told them that surgery was needed <\/span>immediately<\/span>. <\/span>He<\/span> didn\u2019t<\/span> ask if they had money<\/span>. <\/span>The hospital staff <\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span> ask where they were from or whether they were Christians.<\/span> They just <\/span>proceeded<\/span> with the operation.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52409″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”A typical rural dwelling for Christians in Vietnam. (File photo from Voice of the Martyrs Australia)” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The surgery was a complete success. <\/span>Afterwards, <\/span>Dong went to the doctor to thank him and ask<\/span> him about the costs. The couple was shocked by the doctor<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s reply.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The doctor told <\/span>them that they <\/span>didn\u2019t need to pay anything\u2014someone had already <\/span>covered the costs,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>He said the <\/span>only thing they needed to do was rest, and once the child had recovered, they would be discharged from the hospital.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]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. \u201cDong says Psalm 23 came to his mind: \u2018<\/span>The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He leads me beside still waters<\/span>\u2019,\u201d says Representative Foley. She says rural Vietnamese Christians regularly report <\/span>similar stories<\/span> of God\u2019s miraculous provision.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201cVoice of the Martyrs Korea works with our sister mission, Voice of the Martyrs Australia, to provide care and support to persecuted Christians in Vietnam,\u201d says Representative Foley, \u201cBut 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.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Individuals interested in learning about or supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s work in partnership with the persecuted Christians of Vietnam can visit <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/vietnam<\/span><\/span><\/a> or give via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

KB Bank: 463501-01-243303<\/span><\/p>\n

Account Holder: (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span><\/p>\n

Please note \u201cVietnam\u201d on the transfer.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52415″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Christians in rural Vietnam are accustomed to denial of medical service due to their faith, but a Christian couple there recently experienced a miracle after praying …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":52414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52416"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52420,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52416\/revisions\/52420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}