Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng (R) hands over the recognition decision to Pastor President of the Church Phạm Đình Nhẫn of the Vietnam United Gospel Outreach Church

Attending the event included Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Nguyễn Tiến Trọng, Pastor President of the Church Phạm Đình Nhẫn, representatives from the US and Indonesia Embassies to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh municipal authorities and members of the Church from 36 provinces and cities throughout the country.

Guests at the event

During the event, Head of the GCRA’s Protestant Affairs Division Thiều Thị Hương proclaimed decisions on recognition of the Vietnam United Gospel Outreach Church, approval of its Charter, and personnel of its Executive Council for 2023-2027 tenure.

Speaking at the event, while extending congratulations to the leadership and all members of the Church, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng stated that the recognition decision is an important milestone in the development process of the Church.

The Deputy Minister informed that since granted the registration certificate according to the Law on Belief and Religion in 2018, under the guidance of the United Gospel Outreach Church’s Executive Committee, the Church community has well observed the Church’s regulation and State laws and proactively participated in patriotic programs in localities. Over the past five years, the Church has practically launched social and charitable projects for providing wheelchairs, clean water and other supports to poor people in remote areas, upholding our country’s moral tradition “lá lành đùm lá rách” (the intact leaves protect tattered ones) and the Party and State’s guidelines and policies  so that “leave no one behind”, he stated.

Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng expressed hope that with the new legal status, the Church would have favorable conditions to affirm its operational guideline for following God's teachings, serving the homeland, accompanying the nation and observing to the law. He urged the Church to continue guiding its followers to become outstanding citizens, enhance cohesion amongst the Church community, promote patriotic traditions, and make further contributions by launching charitable programs supporting the disadvantaged in localities.

At the recognition ceremony

On behalf of the Vietnam United Gospel Outreach Church, President Phạm Đình Nhẫn thanked the Vietnamese Party and State for favorable conditions extended to the Protestant Churches in general and the United Gospel Outreach Church in particular, and highly appreciated the guidance and support from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the GCRA in order for the Church to be granted the official recognition as a religious organization.

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