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Morris Ruddick
Vietnam is emerging from the catastrophic economic conditions
of the eighties and nineties into a time marked by a mix between
much growth on a macro-level; that offers opportunity for some,
but still is not more than slim survival for far too many others.
Despite the odds, the ratios of new startup successes for those
following God's ancient pathways far exceed those of the
general population.
Simultaneously, the uncertainty and change, along with the pathway
modeled by God's entrepreneurs has provoked unusual spiritual hunger
among the people. Pre-revival stages are being witnessed across Vietnam
as the general population seeks the meaning and purpose that is lacking
in Vietnam's spiritual void.
In keeping with our plans to offer briefings to Western
churches who have a connection with and are praying
for the church in Vietnam, this trip report will be an attempt
to capture highlights from not only our most recent efforts,
but to describe the dynamic emerging within the settings of
Vietnam's committed and faithful brethren.
In the Face of an Ancient Stronghold
Recent months have seen widespread increases in the
persecution against the home church movement. Upon
arriving, we traveled to an area where these pressures
have been severe. As we prepared to leave for our first
meeting, I began discerning that in this locale was the
seedbed of the hidden power of darkness that has long
been gripping this land. With centuries of devastation
and turbulence; this was its place of entrance. It is the
launch pad of the centuries-long spiritual turmoil over
this land.
Despite our having to come in and leave under the
cover the darkness, this gathering reflected a cross-section
of respected pastoral and business leaders, as well
some young adults from the emerging generation. Some
traveled as far as 200 kilometers to attend.
What was most significant was that these leaders were
from both the registered and unregistered segments of
the church; doctrinally diverse people who not unlike
those in the West don't normally relate very well, no less
come together for a gathering. Yet, here they were
together, as one, hungry for the message of God's economy.
An Emerging Unity
Some have concluded the upswing in persecution to be
tied to an increase of a strategy of security police: of
promises to one Christian group who betray another.
The premise being that in return for informing on the
activities of "other Christian groups," the betrayers' activities
would not be monitored.
In other words, it's been a game of dividing and conquering.
One respected pastor has recently lost his passport because
of this. Jesus warned His followers about betrayers.
Regardless, those who compromise for their own benefit
and gain are dancing with the devil; where there is no back door.
Despite these attempts to divide, our strategic gathering
saw a very healthy number of leaders from diverse groups
come together without incident, as they eagerly and joyfully
embraced a meaty message that taps the reasons the Jewish
people have not only survived, but have excelled against adversity.
This is the message of God's economy that restores the model
and the mandate that have been in operation by God's people
since the days of Abraham. At the core of this message is the
wisdom needed to employ righteous power in corrupt settings.
It embraces the wisdom that God always has a strategy for
His people, who don't compromise, even under the most
impossible of situations.
One pastor summed it up this way: that our message was like
heavy artillery against the difficult odds of the strongholds they
have had to contend with. Before leaving, each one eagerly
committed to being a part of our return for more of our foundational
message of God's ancient paths; the pathways God has used
to make His people to be the head and not the tail.
Strangely, within two days of our departure, a huge typhoon
erupted, centered over this very area. It was almost as if, in
our slipping past the enemy's gatekeepers and imparting this
strategy and evoking this unity, that the enemy suddenly awoke
to roar his confusion and displeasure.
Orphans for Jesus
Later in this mission, in getting reacquainted with a leader we
worked extensively with in 2008 and 2009; we were able to
witness some unexpected collateral fruit from our efforts. This
man's activities have included a small home for orphans. Some
of these orphans, all raised as believers, are starting to assume
their roles in the workplace.
Six of them have been training at a very successful beauty
shop in their community. 
They have advanced in their trade and trust to the level, that
they are actually running the shop in the owner's absence.
The owner, who has plans to immigrate to the West, has made
the decision to sell them the shop.
Although they are all yet teenagers, they are competent and
confident, knowing that the Lord will be their Senior Partner.
It was a great joy to pray together with them, as they become
one more example of the Lord making His own, even the most
unlikely, to be the head and not the tail.
The Convergence of Light and Darkness
Going back to the stronghold unmasked, at senior government
levels today there is a great struggle taking place between the
progressives who have opened the doors to the West and the
old-guard whose abuse of power was the foundation for the
years when 70 percent of the boat people fleeing their oppression
were from the Northern provinces. It is the age-old stronghold of
corrupt power that oppresses and results in operating essentially
like the old middle-ages, feudal type of society.
Yet, Light displaces darkness. So it was that as these leaders
we ministered to, joined their hearts as one, that the prevailing
principality began losing it grip. Indeed, it is the simple things
that confound the wise. So it has been that as this program has
been implemented in locale after locale, that everyday people
are witnessing the reality of God operating within their midst and
are unleashing the faith and the hope that redefines their pathway.
Navigating the Turbulence
After another of our workshops, the mix of pastoral and business
participants organized to employ our strategy of small groups that
nurture and incubate small businesses, while mentoring the
spiritual maturity needed to become spiritual community-builders.
Our follow-up strategy parallels the role of the Jewish minyon in
providing a means of prayer, helping its participants become
successful and serving to proactively help the broader community.
In short, a very real thrust of our program has been to open the
gates to a higher order of things spiritually. Our agenda consistently
has been releasing and setting things in motion across the many
locales we have served in this nation.
Yet there's been a strong witness in our hearts that the Lord has
even more, in terms of new dimensions for us and for those we serve.
Grasping and setting in motion these new dimensions has been at
the heart of some stretching-level turbulence that we've been
navigating on this trip.
Indeed this trip has been filled with the unexpected. That is the
reality when you venture into new territory. Some of the unexpected
things have been challenging. Still, they've also seen glimmers
emerging, unexpected surprises from the Lord.
New Gateways
First, we unexpectedly were connected to a wonderful Indonesian
church in Vietnam. Even more so, the ones we met at this vibrant
fellowship come from the ranks of those called as modern Josephs
and Daniels; an incredible group of brethren poised and prepared.
This dovetails with a very key part of the turning underway and the
unexpecteds, which has been landing on this key marketplace
leadership dynamic.
In still another unexpected, a modern-day Vietnamese Josephina
has not only graciously hosted us for two nights at her "to dream-for"
facilities, but has connected us with a local university interested in
employing our talents. While this opportunity didn't quite align with our
"next-steps" goal to put together a business-with-values school, for the
broader community of Vietnamese hungry for "something more" with
entrepreneurship; the exchange with this university director triggered
something I've long desired to master: sharing deep spiritual truths
with non-Christians.
The idea that began germinating was very simply to put an article
together for one of the respected English-language Vietnamese
economic magazines. Our program has matured to a level that
putting together a scholarly article on "enduring economic dynamics"
for what's emerging in Vietnam is not beyond the realm of possibility.
As we began wrapping things up, while visiting a restaurant, I
experienced one of those deja vu's that seemed to accentuate
a reality tied to our quest for "something more," the new dimensions
that God has before us. In this restaurant was a passage with a
transparent glass you had to walk over, which traversed a two story
drop. The deja vu was an image from the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
There is a scene in which the next steps in the "quest" appear to be an
impossible precipice, but when taken by faith and acted on, the impossible
hurdle was really an illusion and turned out to be a glass walkway.
Having spent more than a year in Vietnam since Easter of 2008,
we have a tangible track record, fruit that is replicating itself; and
in fact is bearing fruit.
So it is that there are steps that lie before us, unexpected
dimensions from the Lord 
that are only on the threshold of our ability to see them.
Indeed, we're poised, prepared and praying. We likewise very
much need your prayers. We also need invitations to speak at
churches praying for Vietnam.
There was an unusual joy that accompanied our departure; a
joy tied to unseen foundations being established; a joy of
expectation. Despite the challenges, the twists and the turns;
before us lies the turning that carries a parallel to the turning
for the Vietnamese believers we've been working with, as they
employ the ancient strategies needed to make them the head
and not the tail. It is a turning into dimensions that ONLY GOD
could bring to pass. Again, thank you so much for praying and
making this all a reality.
Gratefully in Him,
Morris Ruddick
Global Initiatives Foundation
www.strategic-initiatives.org
www.strategicintercession.org | 
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