Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – In 2021, the fourth wave of Covid-19 forced first Hồ Chí Minh City and then Hà Nội into lockdown. During those months, the Community Development Ministry represented God’s people in the church in sharing love during the lockdown with people in quarantine, believers in special circumstances and families who lost work because of the pandemic.
See photos: photos of visits and gifts for believers on the Community Development Ministry fanpage
50 Gifts for People in Quarantine in Củ Chi
In late May 2021, the pandemic in Hồ Chí Minh City was very serious. Many people classified as F0 or F1 were suddenly sent to a centralized quarantine site in Củ Chi, facing many daily difficulties.
On the morning of May 29, 2021, the Community Development Ministry partnered with Oneway Radio to give 50 gifts to people in quarantine, staff serving there and several believers at the Củ Chi field hospital. Though far away, believers in Hà Nội wanted to show their care and pray for brothers and sisters going through that hard time.
Gifts Delivered to Believers’ Homes
When Hà Nội began its lockdown in late July 2021, the ministry launched a series of “Sharing Love” programs for believers in special circumstances in the church. On the afternoon of July 29, 2021, the first delivery was made in heavy rain, but the task was completed smoothly. Team members always followed distancing rules to keep everyone safe.
By the end of August, the ministry had given another 13 gifts to brothers and sisters in special circumstances in the church. The gifts came from the hearts of believers in the Covenant family, sent to encourage them and wish them good health and peace.
This became a monthly activity throughout the period when Hà Nội applied pandemic measures. In October 2021, the ministry visited and gave 35 more gifts to believers. On some rainy, windy days, the team still made their way through narrow alleys to deliver gifts by hand. In return came heartfelt thanks and moved faces, making the team forget they were soaked.
Helping Two Single Mothers
In late August 2021, the ministry learned of two single mothers raising young children who had both lost their jobs because of the pandemic. After talking with them directly to verify their situation and needs, the ministry made a list of essentials, making sure there was enough nutrition for the children under 5.
On the afternoon of August 31, 2021, each family received rice, cooking oil, fish sauce, eggs, meat, vegetables, fresh milk and sausages for the children. The ministry hoped these small gifts would ease the families’ hardship and help them see God’s love and provision in a time of trouble.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1–2)
Doing Good, Especially to the Family of Faith
During the pandemic, the church could not gather as usual, and many families were isolated at home. At such a time, concrete care between believers became all the more precious. The ministry recalled the words of the Apostle Paul:
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
These gifts reached each person thanks to the generosity of many believers inside and outside the church. The ministry thanks God for His provision and thanks everyone who loved and gave so the ministry could share with its neighbors.
Prayer
- That God will give new strength to the brothers and sisters taking part in visits and deliveries.
- That God will comfort, heal and uphold those who fell ill or lost loved ones to the pandemic.
- That God will bless those who gave to the ministry.
Alongside caring for believers, the ministry also ran the “Connecting and Sharing Love” program for migrant workers. Read more in Community Development and Church News. Contact the church office: 0942 248 688 (Zalo available).
