Several years ago Tung was known as the "great
persecutor" by local Christians in the central Vietnamese town where he lived.
The Communist police officer had earned his infamous name because of his
reputation for harassing house-church Christians.
Tung had little toleration for such people. As far as
he was concerned, these "lawbreakers" deserved to be punished when they
continued to conduct their "illegal" religious activities by meeting in their
homes.
But God had other plans for Tung. Despite his
animosity toward the local Christians, several believers began to persistently
pray for the police official. Some even dared to share the Gospel with him.
Gradually, as they continued to win his trust and
friendship, Tung's heart began to soften. Finally it came to the point when he
could no longer reject the truth of the Bible. Tung became a Christian. Like the
apostle Paul, the policeman had become one of the very people he had previously
persecuted.
Tung's outlook on life was transformed. Many of the
villagers could not believe that this was the same man who had been so filled
with enmity toward Christians.
Tung's spiritual life continued to flourish, and he
soon began to move into a leadership role in his church. Some time later he
attended a theological training seminar for church leaders. Tung returned to his
hometown, determined that his life should be used by God to further the Gospel.
Since that time many have come to know Christ through
Tung's ministry. He now oversees two house churches and is involved among the
highland tribal people of central Vietnam.
Open Doors, Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth
Sherrill, The Narrow Road, Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 2001, p. 173.
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