The 800-seat theatre in Huynh Thuc Khang Street was filled with Protestant followers and a general audience, including Chief of Hanoi Police Major-General Nguyen Duc Chung and representatives from the Department of Protestant Affairs under the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

With a Christmas focus, music, songs and dances from all five continents were performed during the concert to celebrate and pay debts of gratitude to the life of Jesus – founder of the religion with the largest share of religious followers in the world today. A Saxophone Solo ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ by Nathan Oliviera from Brazil, African Christmas by HIF African Band, Korean Drums by Hanoi Korean Church and other performances made a joyful Christmas night for both Vietnamese and foreigners in attendance.

Adding to Christmas celebrations during the concert were activities in support of those less fortunate currently living in Hanoi, which included collection of donations and auctions for charity. These activities created another meaningful way of reflecting and following Jesus’s treatment of those with disability, the rejected or those in desperate need.

This Christmas charity event was approved by Hanoi authorities and co-organized by Hanoi International Fellowship and Hanoi Evangelical Church, in partnership with several non-profit organizations and corporate donors, to benefit Hagar International and Quynh Hoa Centre.

Hagar International has been working towards restoring the lives of the extremely disadvantaged in society, such as women, mothers and children who have been victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Meanwhile, Quynh Hoa Vocational Centre, located in Thanh Tri district (Hanoi), is caring for hundreds of people with disabilities.

According to the event organizers, the concert aimed to raise a minimum of USD17,000 for those two projects./.

Tri An