The Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam (SECV) hosted the celebration of 100 years of Protestantism in Vietnam in the central coastal city of Da Nang on June 14.

Addressing the three-day event, Politburo member and Minister-Director of the Government Office Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that the history of the church was written with not only the belief in Jesus but also the patriotism and sacrifice of martyrs who are Protestant followers.

Over the past 100 years, the church had developed from a small one in Da Nang to the biggest one in the country with around 700,000 Protestant followers in 34 southern cities and provinces, Phuc said.

Since it was legally recognised in 2001, the church had been facilitated by authorities at all levels with the building of many worship places, the establishment of a Bible theological institute and the publication of a bulletin and books in a number of ethnic languages, he said.

Head of the SECV Pastor Thai Phuoc Truong reviewed the development of the SECV over the past century, saying this was a major event for the Protestant Church and an opportunity for the present generations to remember those who brought Protestantism to Vietnam.

He took the occasion to thank the Government, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, ministries and branches for facilitating Protestant followers’ activities.

Similar celebrations will be held in Hanoi on June 20 and Ho Chi Minh City on June 24 and 25./.