Hanoi (VNA) – Vice President and Secretary Generalof the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC) Hau A Lenh offeredEaster greetings to Protestants while visiting the Evangelical Church ofVietnam (North) in Hanoi on April 22.
Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac, head of the EvangelicalChurch of Vietnam (North), said that the church is the biggest Protestantorganisation in the north of the country, with more than 170,000 followers, 21branches, and 13 churches across 29 northern provinces and centrally runcities. It also has 600 sites licensed to host religious practices.
Notably, the church was licensed to set up theHanoi Bible College, which has helped affirm its stature over the last sixyears, he said, noting that authorities have created favourable conditions forits activities.
In recent years, Protestants in many provinceslike Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, and Nam Dinh have actively engaged inenvironmental protection and climate change response. They have also developeda number of environmentally-friendly tourism models attractive to domestic andforeign visitors, he added.
Appreciating contributions by the Evangelical Church,the VFFCC Vice President and Secretary General said that as a member of theVFF, the church has strongly responded to patriotic emulation campaigns andmovements, thereby contributing to the country’s development and the greatnational unity bloc.
At the meeting, Lenh offered Easter greetings tochurch leaders, pastors, and followers.
He asked Pastor Mac, as head of the religiousinstitution, to continue encouraging dignitaries and followers to actively takepart in the VFF, executive boards of organisations, people-elected agencies, aswell as social activities and patriotic emulation movements.
The official also called on the church tocontinue the coordination programme with Protestants on environmentalprotection and climate change in specific localities, and encourage its followersto comply with the Law on Belief and Religion and socio-economic developmentpolicies.–VNA
VNA