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EASTER IN VIETNAM
from Harvest Force 2023 issue 1
by MMS1
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Rev Leslie Lim, Missionary Pastor and Country Director for Vietnam. He is excited to welcome all the COVID-19 kids – those physically conceived and spiritually born again during the pandemic.
Once upon a time in the Western Christianised countries, Easter was when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, on the third day after His death. The tradition of gifting eggs symbolises “new beginnings”. They may no longer celebrate Easter for that reason. Yet to others in different countries where Christianity is not a major religion, Easter is not a public celebration at all. Amusingly, Easter may just be for them buying coloured eggs in decorated boxes and learning to appreciate hot cross buns!
2022 Easter baptism of Jorlan who is from the Philippines.
2021 Easter baptism of baby Jordan who is a miracle son for his parents from the United States.
2022 Easter baptism of a member from Australia who received Christ during the COVID-19 lockdown.
2021 Easter baptism of baby Joe who survived COVID-19.
2021 Easter baptism of Trina Sipetu and baby Tiffany. Trina and her husband are from Indonesia.
Baptised members of ICF are from near and far including countries like Australia and Philippines.
This Easter season offers International Christian Fellowship (ICF) an opportunity to reflect on and renew our faith. Therefore, in our own tradition, we have baptism on Easter Service. It is a very suitable time for our new believers to identify with the death of their old self to sin and to rise up to a new life of faith in Christ Jesus.
Easter is a time of renewal and new beginnings. It is not about eggs nor hot cross buns. The celebration of Easter is about the Christ who died but resurrected from the dead. He is alive forever more! He has triumphed over death, the greatest enemy of mankind. Death is not the end of our existence. Those who believe in Christ as their risen Saviour will be spending eternity with Him. That is our blessed hope.
What a wonderful Easter gift - the gift of new beginnings!
May you be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit that raises Jesus from the dead and be filled with the glorious hope for the Lord Jesus to return.
Easter is a time of renewal and new beginnings.
