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Hanoi Church History
"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
Joshua 1:9
HISTORY OF THE HANOI SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
In 2010, the Hanoi Adventist Church was officially established after receiving a license for religious organization from the Government Commitee. Initially, the church was located on Kim Giang street, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi. During the first few years, from 2010 to 2013, the church's place of worship was a small room, 15 square meters. In 2013, the church location was moved to a larger room, about 25 square meters on the 4th floor of a house at 98 Kim Giang Street.
In 2010, the Hanoi Adventist Church was officially established after receiving a license for religious organization from the Government Commitee. Initially, the church was located on Kim Giang street, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi. During the first few years, from 2010 to 2013, the church's place of worship was a small room, 15 square meters. In 2013, the church location was moved to a larger room, about 25 square meters on the 4th floor of a house at 98 Kim Giang Street.
Elder Hai led the church from the beginning. In 2010, the congregation included Elder Hai's wife, Thien Ly, their two little daughters, and a few adult members.
In 2013 a few young members from other provinces of Vietnam who were studying and living in Hanoi begin to join. The members of the early church were faithful and at every Bible class, Sabbath worship service, and other events. Ladies between 50 and 60 years old, although each one of them had to face their own health, family, or financial difficulties, always maintained a strong faith in God, loved Him, and kept His commandments with all their heart, with all their mind, and with all their soul.
In 2013 a few young members from other provinces of Vietnam who were studying and living in Hanoi begin to join. The members of the early church were faithful and at every Bible class, Sabbath worship service, and other events. Ladies between 50 and 60 years old, although each one of them had to face their own health, family, or financial difficulties, always maintained a strong faith in God, loved Him, and kept His commandments with all their heart, with all their mind, and with all their soul.
Church in Tommy Manawan's home, 2012
In 2014, Pastor Phuc and his wife moved from the South of Vietnam to Hanoi for Missionary Ministry. The participation of Pastor Phuc helped the church to have more exciting activities which more members to participated in, and also invited their friends to attend.
Potluck in Kim Giang, 2012
From 2014 to 2015, many evangelistic programs were held in Hanoi, with pastors coming from other regions of Vietnam or from other countries, and many persons were invited. Many of them were given Bibles and wanted to learn more about the church. Church members all contributed their talents such as playing the piano and singing hymns in every session of these programs.
In 2015, one year in mission (OYIM) youth volunteers came from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. They organized a number of voluntary activities such as giving porridge, distributing warm clothes to the homeless people, caring for the elders and holding cultural activities in nursing homes, as well as organizing
In 2015, one year in mission (OYIM) youth volunteers came from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. They organized a number of voluntary activities such as giving porridge, distributing warm clothes to the homeless people, caring for the elders and holding cultural activities in nursing homes, as well as organizing
picnics, outdoor camping, Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas events. These activities took place throughout 2015 in Hanoi and attracted the participation of many college students.
The period 2014 to 2015 was also a time when many members of Hanoi Seventh-day Adventist Church encountered many trials and tribulations in life, especially with elderly members and even young members. Ms. Quyen passed away from tetanus; Ms. Que had a tumor and had to be hospitalized for a long time; Ms. Hoa had financial issues and her health was increasingly weak; Ms. Van had to take care of her adult son and daughter and grandchildren; Uncle Liem had a problem with his spine that made him unable to sit up; sister Ha’s father had a traffic accident and was seriously hospitalized, and her mother fell into a heavy debt.
The period 2014 to 2015 was also a time when many members of Hanoi Seventh-day Adventist Church encountered many trials and tribulations in life, especially with elderly members and even young members. Ms. Quyen passed away from tetanus; Ms. Que had a tumor and had to be hospitalized for a long time; Ms. Hoa had financial issues and her health was increasingly weak; Ms. Van had to take care of her adult son and daughter and grandchildren; Uncle Liem had a problem with his spine that made him unable to sit up; sister Ha’s father had a traffic accident and was seriously hospitalized, and her mother fell into a heavy debt.
Many members, due to disagreements with other members or leaders of the church, or due to personal events, were unable to continue to keep their faith or to worship God. The Hanoi Seventh-day Adventist Church went through a very difficult time. During that time, Pastor Phuc and Elder Hai had held many fasting and prayer sessions on weeknights and called for the participation of all members, to pray for the health of the members, to pray that members would keep their faith strong in God and overcome any difficulties, as well as to pray for evangelistic programs and activities of the church.
Church gathering in Hanoi Club hotel, 2015
TESTIMONY – MY LIFE IS NOT MY OWN
Hanoi SDA Church – June 2013 to December 2015
Following a belief that was different from my family’s tradition was not easy; being a decent Christian in Vietnam was not easy, and it was even harder to be an Adventist. My life was not my own. It was affected by the people who lived around me and by other believers at my church.
Hanoi SDA Church – June 2013 to December 2015
Following a belief that was different from my family’s tradition was not easy; being a decent Christian in Vietnam was not easy, and it was even harder to be an Adventist. My life was not my own. It was affected by the people who lived around me and by other believers at my church.
Church in Graovac's home, 2012
I remember the first Sabbath I came to the Hanoi SDA Church after becoming a believer, there were only the Elder and his wife, four elderly ladies and me. The space and the people in this church of my hometown was so different from El Monte SDA Church that I attended, which had a beautiful sanctuary and many children, teenagers, young adults and adults. Nonetheless, this place brought an unexplainable peacefulness to my heart – the feeling of being at home. I looked at the people who sat around me, the Elder was a middle-aged man who was blind; his wife and four ladies all had some problems with their health and background. It didn’t seem like a church at all, but God didn’t look at the outside appearance like the way we see, He saw deep inside the hearts of people.
Later my contemplation told me that this was the place I belonged to. The 60 year-old ladies here were really role models of being believers for me to look up. Some of them didn’t even know how to read and write for most of their life, but because of loving God so much, they eventually learn how to read the Bible and write verses. Their lives were overwhelmed by all kinds of obstacles: being abandoned by loved ones, having troubled children and even grandchildren to take care, having financial difficulties, being in poor health for so long without any cure. However, every Sabbath day I saw them climbing from the first to the top floor so they could be on time for Bible study, I saw them talking to other people about Jesus Christ, I saw them praying really long and hard not only for themselves but also for their children and the people they witnessed, I saw them helping to clean the room even though they weren’t strong. Sometimes, a young person like me had to reflect back to myself to see if I really had a faith like that, a faith that helps you to overcome anything.
My church was built on the foundation of these ladies. I know it will be a big one in the future with more young and strong members, but I couldn’t forget the lessons they taught me about faith in Jesus; I was blessed to know and be with them. Unfortunately, one of them passed away in loneliness, one is in coma for more than a year, and one is going down hill with her health. I hope they have the chance to see new church we had prayed for so long, their children giving up on harmful lifestyle and the people they witnessed claiming their faith. I wanted to tell stories about them to many visitors and believers who later come to Hanoi SDA church, the stories about “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Tihomir's baptism at the Hanoi Club hotel, 2013
TESTIMONY – FULL MOON
In August 2015, It was the first time my local church held a Moon Festival for a number of children selected around the neighborhood. I was so moved when seeing nearly thirty children came on time, far from our expectation. A grandfather and a mother even took their kids to our church an hour earlier than the time we started. We planned this event only a week before, but thanks to the strength the Most High gave us, we completed it successfully.
In August 2015, It was the first time my local church held a Moon Festival for a number of children selected around the neighborhood. I was so moved when seeing nearly thirty children came on time, far from our expectation. A grandfather and a mother even took their kids to our church an hour earlier than the time we started. We planned this event only a week before, but thanks to the strength the Most High gave us, we completed it successfully.
Church gathering in Hanoi Club hotel, 2015
Within a small room and some activities like singing, telling stories, answering quiz questions and playing games, we hoped to bring the children joy and good memories about Mid-Autumn Festival this year. If it was two years ago, I didn’t think we could organize something like this due to the lack of young people. Two years ago when I first came to Hanoi SDA church, I was the only young person there with very few members, mostly were old ladies with difficult backgrounds. Then another sister came who made me so thankful to God that I at least had a companion; we lifted each other up about keeping the faith, overcoming obstacles and temptations, sharing what we learned from
the Bible and praying together. In two years, I kept praying about having more young people at church especially male youth so they would help to complete certain tasks. But the most important thing was, I hoped that there would be a future pastor for our next generation at church because we never had a SDA pastor from the North where I was living.
Half year ago, my only sister at church travelled to the South of Vietnam for a mission. In the meantime, I really struggled with my life. I felt very discouraged in praying for more young people because I saw no result. I didn’t go to church for more than a month as I worried too much about earthly things. Right at the point of giving up what I had prayed, a lady at church called me and excitedly told me that during the month I had been absent from church, a new pastor came. I burst into tears, almost forgetting what I had been praying for.
Church group in Kim Giang, 2012
Thinking about going back to the house of the Lord made me so embarrassed about myself. I finally came back for a Bible study after long time of being absent, and I also met this young brother. He seemed very simple at heart and had the ability to remember verses very well. Even though I didn’t speak out loud, the answer to my prayer came back to me making me so happy for waiting all that long. Besides him and I there were young members of the local church and a brother and sister both from other parts of Vietnam are staying in my city for their studies.
Church gathering in Hanoi Club hotel, 2015
I am so grateful to God that He always provides us what we need at the right moment, as well as knows how to bring things back to where they are suppose to be.