Numerous health initiatives have been started in recent years to spread diverse, holistic lifestyle approaches and guidance with respect to enhancing the quality of health in various Vietnamese communities. The Adventist circles in this area have focused on building relationships with the community through this medium.
A culmination of health programs occurred at the Forward Venture Community Center (UCI) in Hanoi, Vietnam, on November 18–19, 2022. The UCI was inaugurated in 2018 and is a seven-story building that houses a bookstore, health food store, foreign-language school, music school, health center, the ADRA Vietnam headquarters, and meeting halls for two congregations.
Six literature evangelists were dispatched to the city ahead of the meeting to lay the groundwork and make the required arrangements. These people ran food programs, fun runs, ardent soccer club meetings, and culinary lessons.
This event is significant, particularly for the largely Buddhist and folk-religious nation. Adventist congregations in Vietnam have only been able to carefully share on a small scale in previous years. This initiative to reach the community through health programs has led the way for two individuals to accept Jesus through baptism.
More than 40 attendees joined the meeting in response to the invitation to the mental health seminar. After the pandemic had been going on for more than two years, many people experienced significant mental health problems. These gatherings inspired the Vietnamese communities to seek help, advice on their health, and all-encompassing actions to lessen mental health symptoms.
The two-day mental health seminar was organized by the Southeastern Union Mission (SEUM) under the direction of Pham Nguyen To Phuong, director of Health Ministries. "Organizing a meeting in Vietnam was challenging, but with the help of the government and several meetings, we were able to plan appropriately for this gathering, and this mental health seminar was put together," said To Phuong. She claimed that this meeting was the outcome of persistent prayers because everything proceeded smoothly under God’s direction.
Several visitors from the Southern Asia-Pacific region attended the session as well. Dr. Lalaine Alfanoso, director of Health Ministries, and Jo Ann Amparo, director of Adventist Healthcare, attended the seminar and were present for this important meeting.
Dr. Torben Bergland, a distinguished guest speaker from the General Conference, provided incisive comments on mental health and spirituality during the session. He gave a reminder from Genesis 1:26–27 in the opening remarks of the session. Bergland explains the importance of being made in God's likeness and how our entire humanity reflects the God we worship. The idea that "our character should manifest Jesus as we are created in His likeness" is reiterated by him as well.
“There are so many in our cities who are tired, depressed, lonely, confused, weary, torn, broken, and dysfunctional, and our approach should address their needs,” Alfanoso said. “I would like to challenge our dear pastors to incorporate comprehensive health ministry in their modality of evangelistic approach, and it would break prejudice and will serve as an entering wedge for the gospel ministry.”
Alfanoso said the center of influence in Hanoi is significant in hosting several health programs for the community. According to her, these programs increase the Adventist’s influence in the community and open opportunities to share services and information to improve their lifestyles further.
Before the meeting, a fun run was facilitated in Ho Chi Minh, and mental health training was organized in Vung Tau.
Vietnam is one of 14 countries in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. Vietnam Adventist Mission is home to more than 14,000 Adventist members in 19 churches and 169 companies.
The original article was published on the Southern Asia Pacific Division website.