VZCZCXRO5500
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH
DE RUEHHM #0967 3011132
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271132Z OCT 08
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5073
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 3390
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 5302

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000967 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF PHUM VM
SUBJECT: SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS CELEBRATE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  Religious leaders and officials gathered at the 
Seventh Day Adventist's main HCMC church on October 23 to 
celebrate the denomination's first General Assembly since it 
became nationally registered in December 2006.  Government 
leaders praised the church's moral and humanitarian message 
while foreign representatives focused on the church's global 
mission.  End summary. 
 
Officials Praise Protestant Values 
---------------------------------- 
¶2. (U) National Committee for Religious Affairs (CRA) Deputy 
Director Nguyen Thanh Xuan, HCMC CRA Director Huynh Ngoc Thanh, 
HCMC Fatherland Front Vice President Tran Trung Tin, and 
Communist Party Propaganda Section Deputy Director Tran Ngoc Bao 
were among the GVN leaders present at the Seventh Day Adventist 
(SDA) General Assembly.  National and HCMC Ministry of Public 
Security Officials and several provincial CRA representatives 
also attended, and the church received a congratulatory letter 
from President Nguyen Minh Triet. 
 
¶3. (SBU) CRA Deputy Director Xuan reviewed the statistics 
proving a productive relationship between CRA and Protestant 
groups in recent years, including more than 1,000 registrations 
nation-wide, the opening of several theological schools and the 
printing of Bibles in ethnic minority languages.  Xuan said 
1,200 Protestant congregations are now operating in the Central 
Highlands "without difficulty" and pledged to continue the CRA's 
work of "creating favorable conditions for religious activities 
in Vietnam."  He praised Protestants for promoting important 
values like diligence, thrift, charity and adherence to the law. 
 HCMC CRA Director Thanh also expressed his hope that the 
Seventh Day Adventists would "follow the Ten Commandments and 
national laws and regulations." 
 
Adventists Emphasize Worldwide Mission 
-------------------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) The SDA's South Asia Pacific Secretary, Rev. Joshua 
Wone Mok, said Vietnam's recognition of the Seventh Day 
Adventists and other Protestant groups was in keeping with the 
country's growing role as a regional and global actor.  He noted 
that Vietnam's Seventh Day Adventists are now part of a global 
community of 16 million followers in 203 countries.  Australian 
Rev. Ronald Walter said the main mission of the church was 
non-political and focused on carrying out good works through the 
denomination's network of hospitals, schools and Adventist 
Development and Relief Agencies (ADRA).  Rev. Walter added that 
he hoped the SDA's new status in Vietnam would make it easier 
for the church to acquire additional properties.  Coming full 
circle, Vietnamese American Rev. Le Cong Giao expressed his joy 
over returning to celebrate the revival of the SDA church after 
having left during the war. 
 
Historical Note 
--------------- 
¶5. (U) The Seventh Day Adventists came to Vietnam in 1916 and 
established their first church in 1929.  They had about 4,500 
followers in 1975, but when the war ended most of the SDA's 
leadership left Vietnam with the exception of ten pastors. 
1976-1985 were difficult years for the church and most 
activities were held in secret, but the church continued to 
attract new followers.  By 1985, they had 10,000 followers with 
80 meeting points.  Since 2006, they have baptized approximately 
400-500 new members annually, and now have six main 
congregations and 121 meeting points (81 registered) 
representing 13,397 followers throughout the country. 
Approximately 74 per cent of the denomination's adherents are 
ethnic minorities.  The General Assembly is usually the last 
step to take place before a denomination receives national-level 
recognition. 
 
¶6. (SBU) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. 
 
FAIRFAX