In the south central part of Vietnam, the presence of various ethnic tribes has led to a diverse religious landscape. Recently, some Christian tribes have undergone a conversion process, shifting from Christianity to Buddhism. In light of this situation, there is a pressing need for good training programs that provide sound doctrine and a Christ-centered approach to support and guide these tribes.
Since 2002, a report from the Institute of Religious Research states that Vietnamese Buddhism places significant emphasis on evangelizing ethnic minorities. The initial number of ethnic minority Buddhists was 1,644, but by 2009 it had increased to 6,000 people, who were mainly from Lam Dong, Dak Lak, and Kon Tum provinces (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Religious Studies, January 2023).
This story reminds me of the parable of the empty house: “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” (Mat 12:43-44).
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