Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has met Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, in the capital Hanoi recently.

It’s the first time an evangelical Christian speaker has been allowed to visit outside of a religious holiday, but his second time preaching in the country.

Speaking at the meeting, he said: “I am grateful for this, and thankful to the Deputy Prime Minister and the government for allowing me to come and preach in Vietnam a second time.”

“This weekend I am looking forward to being in beautiful Ho Chi Minh City, where we are working with more than 300 churches for the Spring Love Festival. All are welcome to attend these free events where I will share a message of God’s love for the people of Vietnam.”

On Thursday, the evangelical leader met the Ministry for Home Affairs and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs again, to discuss the work of churches throughout the Covid pandemic.

More than 900 pastors and church leaders from 60 denominations attended a pre-Festival event. According to local leaders, this was the first time so many denominational leaders had been under one roof.

“Those are the kind of doors God’s opening right now for the churches to come together,” said Derek Forbes, director of Asia Festivals for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). “It’s a very unique time to be here.”

One example of Christians sharing the light of Christ was during the pandemic. At a time when many feared for their lives, pastors carried food and offered comfort to isolated church members.

“That was the love of Christ pouring out,” explained Forbes. “Pastors love their people, they love this land, and they give themselves for it in so many different ways.”

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