I would hardly have made it through the ten days of ministry in Vietnam, on top of my usual three-week trip through Belarus and Russia, had it not been for the energy and inspiration I drew from my truly amazing ministry partners in Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, and Hanoi.
Orthodox monks and priests, Evangelical pastors and missionaries, university faculty members, lay leaders, and ordinary church members went out of their way to arrange my presentations, take care of my lodging and transportation, and even translate my materials for non-English-speaking audiences.
Actually, I was pleasantly surprised by how many of my audiences in Vietnam were Russian-speaking people—so far away from our homeland! Some of them later admitted that they had come to hear a “visiting professor from Russia” out of sheer curiosity and a bit of nostalgia. 0
The Lord had a surprise in store for them as well: through Scripture, history, and personal testimonies which my ministry partners and I were able to share, He revealed the evidence of His existence, care, and love.
Once the historical foundations of the biblical narrative had been established, most of the questions at the end of my events naturally turned to matters of personal faith and Christian living.
The presentations I gave in English to international students and visitors from all over the world, on the other hand, taught me how differently the same material could be received and understood across cultures. Some, for example, received historical facts and archaeological findings as providing a full and sufficient demonstration of the truth of the biblical narrative—nothing else really mattered, and nothing could shake their confidence in it.
Others might nod in agreement at every point and yet remain reluctant to place their trust in “mere facts,” waiting instead for God to reveal Himself to them personally and decisively in their own experience. I entrusted each of these individuals to my local ministry partners for follow-up and continued guidance on their spiritual journeys, praising God for the honor and joy of taking a few important steps alongside them.
I am looking forward to my last two days in Hong Kong, which promise to be just as productive and, I am sure, will teach me something new about the local culture and religious traditions.
I am, however, already missing my new Vietnamese friends and hope the Lord will someday bring me back there. Next time, I will have my materials translated into Vietnamese and will be able to teach classes at the History Department of Hanoi State University, as well as at local churches and Bible colleges, following the official invitation I received.
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